Sunday, March 24, 2013
In honour of Peter
Cottontail and the oncoming Easter season, I'm dedicating this post
to some of my favourite organic cotton items available right here
through Stylish Organic Family Living.
Cotton
is a great choice for clothing and many types of textile products
because it is soft, breathable and natural. It looks great, feels
great, and it can last for a very long time. But according to
the Organic Trade Association (2011), "cotton covers 2.5% of the
world's cultivated land yet uses 16% of the world's insecticides".
That's more than any other single major crop!
The alternative is to buy organic
cotton, which has all the benefits of conventional cotton but without
the pesticides. In short, organic cotton is better for you and better for
the environment. So without further ado, here are my top three
Easter weekend organic cotton picks!
-
I recently treated myself to one of these robes, and I absolutely love it! The jersey knit cotton is just the right weight for the spring and summer season and it is extremely soft against my skin.
My organic cotton robe is the perfect thing to throw on after a relaxing bath or a nice hot shower because it absorbs excess moisture and keeps me nice and warm. If I had my way of ways, I would never take it off! So if you love to lounge, then this is the organic cotton item for you. -
I don't have any little ones myself but I adore our animal alphabet organic cotton onesies (only available in USA). These fun and colourful bodysuits are a guaranteed hit at baby showers and are a great way to show your support for the momma to be!
-
I'm cheating a bit with this one because it's a blend of organic cotton and organic bamboo but I'm including it anyway. I simply love the figure flattering and feminine design of this halter dress by Jonano. It makes me all that much more excited for the warmer weather so that I can take it for a spin!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
This blog post is the third in a
three part series that I'm dedicating to the topic of creating a
healthier home environment. In this series I will be covering (1)
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal, (2) Green Cleaning Techniques and
(3) Improving Indoor Air Quality.
My goal is to make my own home a
healthier place to live. In so doing, I would like to share the
information and resources that I come across in the hopes that it
might be of some use to you and your family. By the same token, I'm
sure that many of you reading this will have some knowledge of your
own in these areas. If you have any helpful hints, anecdotal evidence
or words of advice please share!
Here's to creating healthy homes and a healthy environment with healthy and happy people.
Here's to creating healthy homes and a healthy environment with healthy and happy people.
Did you know that
on average Canadians spend approximately 90% of their time indoors
(hc-sc.gc.ca)? Americans are right up there too with an average of
90% or more of their time spent inside (epa.gov).
I was shocked when
I first read this, but when you consider that most people spend a
good seven hours a day in front of a computer or some type of screen
and then another 6 to 8 hours a night sleeping, it all starts to add
up.
All that to say
that indoor air quality is an important topic for us Canadians and
Americans, and one that doesn't get nearly enough attention. We all
know that clean air is essential to our good health but how do we
prevent it from becoming polluted? I doubt whether 100% clean air is
a possibility but there are some steps we can take to ensure better
air quality in our homes.
According
to Health Canada, there are two major sources of indoor air
pollutants: (1) biological and (2) chemical. Biological pollutants
consist of living organisms such as mould. Chemical pollutants are
gases and particles emitted from things like combustion appliances,
tobacco smoke, household products like cleaners and air fresheners,
paints, and personal care products like perfume and hair spray.
The
list below addresses each one of these problem areas and provides a
brief solution for eliminating the potential hazard:
- MouldThe best way to prevent mould is avoid excessive humidity in your home. If you live in a climate where this might be a potential issue then consider a dehumidifier or perhaps some ceiling fans (especially in the bathroom).
- Combustion Appliances (example: furnace)Make sure to have all combustion appliances checked once a year by a specialist. Without proper maintenance combustion appliances are at an increased risk of emitting carbon monoxide and other harmful pollutants. All houses should also be equipped with a working carbon monoxide detector.
- Tobacco SmokeThis one is an easy fix. No smoking inside!
- Household CleanersMany household cleaners give off harmful gases. For some green cleaning ideas that are both safe and effective, check out my earlier post here. If you must use chemical-based cleaners make sure you follow all the instructions on the packaging.
- PaintIt is now possible to buy VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) free paint. It might be a little more expensive but I personally feel that it is worth the extra cost. If you are using regular paint, make sure that you are working in a well ventilated area as many paints and varnishes will give off harmful gases, such as formaldehyde. It is also important to know that many furniture items are finished with varnishes and paints that can off gas even after they're dry. Click here for our selection of low VOC emission bamboo furniture.
- Personal Care ProductsAnything with artificial fragrances or scents in it is a no no. Lately I've been on a mission to rid my beauty regimen of all unnatural products. So far I've made my own body scrub, lip balm and facial cleanser and I'm on the look out for some natural perfumes to try out. Like with grocery shopping, the best way to go about buying personal care products is to read the ingredients list.
What did I miss?
Do you have any tips or recommendations on cleaning up indoor air
quality? If so, please share!
Friday, March 15, 2013
With Saint
Patrick's Day just a couple of sleeps away I'm sure many of you are
looking forward to a nice pint of beer (or two...) and some good, old
fashioned, toe tappin' Irish music. I know I am! But before the party
gets rolling, let's take a minute to think about how we can turn this
celebration into the greenest day of the year!
Here are my four
quick tips for a super fun and super eco-friendly St. Pat's:
Here are my four
quick tips for a super fun and super eco-friendly St. Pat's:
1. Wear Green
Wearing green on
St. Patrick's Day is a longstanding tradition, but this year why not
take it to the next level by donning something that is both green and
organic? There are plenty of reasons to wear organic clothing but the
long and the short of it is that organic farming is better for the
environment and better for people because it prevents harmful
chemicals from polluting our eco-systems. Check out my earlier post
on Three Good Reasons to Go for Organic for more info.
Another great way
to wear green this Saint Patrick's Day is to pick up something from
your local thrift or second hand store. After all, there's no sense
in letting good clothes go to waste.
2. Drink Green
Remember that nice
pint of beer we talked about? Well, here's a great opportunity to
support your local brewmaster and to do something good for the
environment too. Instead of ordering one of the big brand names that
likely had to travel many miles to get to your chosen watering hole,
ask your server if they have any local or organic beers on tap. Who
knows, you may just discover a new favourite!
3. Travel Green
If you're planning
on partying at home then you can go ahead and skip this one. But if
you're thinking about hitting the town make sure you take advantage
of whatever public transportation is available in your city. Public
transit helps cut back on carbon emissions and it's really the best
option if you're planning on having a couple drinks.
4. Eat Green
Some
of you aren't going to like this one, but if at all possible try to
stick to vegetarian cuisine. According to MNN.com, “the
average cattle ranch can produce as much sewage runoff as a small
city”. I don't know about you but the thought of that is enough to
put me off my burger entirely. But if you're still set on some
traditional Irish cuisine, look into whether you can get some organic
meat.
And there you have it! Four easy ways
to green your Saint Patrick's Day experience. Have you got any tips
of your own? If so, I would love to hear about them.
Have a happy and eco-friendly St. Pat's, everyone!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Refresh for spring with a set of
organic cotton or bamboo towels. On sale from now until Saturday
morning (sale ends 03/16/2013 at 9 AM ET), all towel sets have been
marked down to just $45! Available in a range of beautiful colours,
make sure you get your hue before supplies run out.
Each bath towel set includes one 13 x
13 wash cloth, one 15 x 30 hand towel, and one 30 x 56 bath towel.
Choose between 100% bamboo fiber or 100% organic cotton for the
ultimate in quality and luxury.
My personal preference is the bamboo
for its super absorbency and silky softness, but the organic cotton
is also divine.
Ready to take a look? Click HERE to view our fabulous selection!
Monday, March 11, 2013
Who says that
fashion can't be fun? I'm very excited to announce our new line of
handcrafted earrings, available in a variety of funky animal shapes.
These hand painted clay earrings are so cute they can't help but put
a smile on your face!
Each design is
unique and adorable in its own way, but I'm particularly captivated
by the Tiny Toucans. Colourful and fun, they make me think of
Southern sun and palm trees. Ahhh...I could definitely go for a
little beach vacation right about now!
Don't forget to
also check out the Smiling Parrots, Swimming Fish, Frog Princes,
Little Piggies, Adorable Armadillos, as well as the Lovely Ladybugs.
Any of these earrings would make a great addition to your spring
wardrobe or work very nicely as a little present for one of your gal
pals!
For our full
selection of handmade earrings click HERE.
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
One of the best
ways to get silky soft skin is to exfoliate regularly with a high
quality body scrub (source: SkinCare.About.com).
Of course there are plenty of store bought brands to choose from, but
they are often overpriced and full of synthetic fragrances and
preservatives.
Solution? Make
your own! You can use plenty of ingredients to make body scrubs, many
of which I'm sure you already have in your kitchen. But my absolute
favourite one to make is a combination of 1/2 organic coconut oil, 1
cup organic white or brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed
organic lemon juice (source: GreenAndCleanMom.org).
I love this scrub
because it's so easy to make and because it makes my skin feel
amazing after I use it. Simply mix the ingredients together in a
clean sealable container and away you go!
With spring on the
horizon this is just the thing to get you that glowing skin in time
for t-shirt weather!
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
This blog post is the second in a
three part series that I'm dedicating to the topic of creating a
healthier home environment. In this series I will be covering (1)
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal, (2) Green Cleaning Techniques and
(3) Improving Indoor Air Quality.
This eco-friendly
cleaning solution is great for the bathroom and kitchen. Believe it
or not, vinegar is an effective natural disinfectant and the added
blast of citrus helps to cut through grease and stubborn soap scum.
Plus it smells a lot better than cleaning with straight vinegar and
water!
My goal is to make my own home a
healthier place to live. In so doing, I would like to share the
information and resources that I come across in the hopes that it
might be of some use to you and your family. By the same token, I'm
sure that many of you reading this will have some knowledge of your
own in these areas. If you have any helpful hints, anecdotal evidence
or words of advice please share!
Here's to creating healthy homes and a healthy environment with healthy and happy people.
Here's to creating healthy homes and a healthy environment with healthy and happy people.
Coming home to a
clean and uncluttered house helps me relax and unwind at the end of a
long day, and I actually feel more peaceful as a result. The problem
is, many of the cleaning products I've grown accustomed to using are
both bad for the environment and bad for our health.
But thanks to
endless amounts of information via the World Wide Web, I've started
my transition from hazardous to healthy cleaning. Below I've included
two recipes, one for an all purpose bathroom and kitchen cleaner and
the other for unblocking clogged drains. These solutions are both eco-friendly and budget friendly!
Powerful Citrus &
Vinegar All-Purpose Cleaner
This eco-friendly
cleaning solution is great for the bathroom and kitchen. Believe it
or not, vinegar is an effective natural disinfectant and the added
blast of citrus helps to cut through grease and stubborn soap scum.
Plus it smells a lot better than cleaning with straight vinegar and
water!
What you will need:
- 16 ounce mason jar
- Citrus peel (I used the peels from 2 navel oranges but you can substitute with grapefruit, lime, lemon, etc.)
- White distilled vinegar
Instructions:
- Place the citrus peels of your choice in your glass mason jar.
- Cover the citrus peels with white distilled vinegar until the jar is full and put the lid on.
- Let sit for two weeks, giving the jar a shake every so often when you think of it.
- In two weeks time strain the vinegar from the orange peels into a spray bottle or the container of your choice. For a less concentrated solution add water.
Natural Drain Cleaner &
'Declogger'
I'll admit that I
have yet to test this one but I'm keeping it in my back pocket in
case of a drain cleaning emergency. I've always felt terrible about
pouring chemical-based cleaners down the drain so this recipe is a
welcome alternative (thanks to diylife.com).
What you will need:
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 cup salt
- 1/4 cup cream of tartar
- 2 cups boiling water
- Sealable container
Instructions:
- Combine the baking soda, salt and cream of tartar in a glass or plastic sealable container.
- Stir until mixed.
- Pour 1/4 of the dry mixture down your clogged drain followed by 2 cups of boiling water.
- Let stand for approximately 1 hour then run water from the tap down the drain.
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