Organic Living | The Conscious Snob

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Eight Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life

Jul 28th, 2008 | By Green Snob | Category: Sustainable Living

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Earth-Friendly Living We all want to be conscious of our actions, and it is more important than ever to be aware of how our actions impact the environment. Earth-friendly expert Sophie Uliano sorted through a ton of information about eco-living and published a lifestyle book that gives you everything you need to know on how to go green. Even if you never ate an organic fruit or can’t imagine bamboo as clothing, this book will tell you where to start.

Gorgeously Green creates an eight step program that covers beauty, home, fitness, style, food, travel and even gardening. From cooking a delicious dinner to purchasing a birthday gift to finding a great outfit for a night out, Sophie gives you the how-to guide to do just that and more. We’ve read it, and here is a breakdown of the 8 simple steps to be Gorgeously Green:

1: Becoming aware of what it means to be green. Chapter includes a “Gorgeously Green Lifestyle Checklist.” Being conscious of your actions is the key factor. Pay attention to the foods you eat and the products you purchase.

2: Green Goddess. This chapter covers what should be used and avoided in body care products and makeup. Check out Skin Deep, which ranks how hazardous the products you are using may be affecting your health.

3: Your Green Temple. Your body is your temple, and this chapter offers exercises that can be done daily for energizing and reviving your body. I’m a huge fan of yoga.

4: Soulful Shopping. The best time from this book about shopping is look at the item and seriously ask yourself “Can I live without this?” Usually you can, and you need to practice walking away before you break your bank. The chapter also discusses fair trade production and organic materials in clothing.

5: Your Palace. This chapter is all about making your home into a desirable and earth-friendly palace. Sophie provides information on non-toxic cleaners, recycling, and tips to reduce your energy and water consumption.

6: Every Last Bite. Some great recipes are included in this book that are healthy and organic. It also covers local food from farmers’ markets and other organic foods.

7: Out and About Having Fun. This chapter talks about saving gas and energy by finding creative ways to get around town. This includes going public in transportation, carpooling, and even riding your bike for fun on the weekends. Perhaps bringing carrots with you to the movie theaters instead of munching on buttery and salty popcorn.

8: Go Super Green. This is more of a push to constantly check yourself and find new ways to be green on a daily basis.

This is a great book to use as a reference. It offers a ton of useful tips that can easily be incorporated into your daily life. After time, your conscious efforts become routine, and that is absolutely fabulous. You can buy yours here.

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Go Green at Home, Even on a Budget

Jul 19th, 2008 | By Wise Snob | Category: Sustainable Living

Rating 3.00 out of 5

green4 Go Green at Home, Even on a Budget You don’t have to buy a Prius to be eco-friendly. In fact, there are a lot of other little things you can do around your home that can reduce your carbon footprint in the world. Here are some great ways to help the planet while still sticking to a good budget.

Use Reusable Bottles.

Commercial water bottles are so over-rated. 38 billion plastic bottles end up in the trash each year as opposed to the recycling bin. Instead, consider purchasing sturdy, reusable plastic or metal bottles and invest in a water filter. Brita has a great faucet filtration system that costs $20 and attaches directly to the sink faucet. Turn it off when you need to do dishes, and turn it on when you need to quench your thirst. It’s easy, simple, money-saving, and trash-reducing.

Wash Organic.

Doing dishes stink, but what stinks more is the large amount of harsh chemicals you end up washing into the sewers, and eventually, into the ocean. Earth Friendly Products’ Dishmate Lavender dish soap is one of my favorites. It gives you an honest-to-goodness, power-packed clean without toxins, petrochemicals, bleach, ammonia, phosphates or other harmful ingredients. It’s less than $4 and can be found at a local Trader Joe’s.

Make Your Home Energy Efficient.

Your home contains appliances that just suck up energy. From your refrigerator to the air conditioner, there are ways you can adjust settings to decrease the use of energy and to drive down your monthly bills. One trick I learned is to fill your freezer, because less space in there means less energy needed to freeze your goods. You can also adjust the temperature control settings in your home to 78 degrees instead of 75 degrees. This is a minor difference in temperature, but can be a significance difference in overall energy usage. Lastly, make sure you change your lightbulbs to the energy saving bulbs that use less energy but can last ten times longer than traditional bulbs.

To learn more about living green, check out A Field Guide to Buying Organic, which provides a ton of tips and information about knowing what to buy when you are out shopping. The bonus: this book is only $6. Go forth and spend accordingly.

How do you save energy while on a budget?