Must see tonight on AC360

Every now and then, you'll see me post something that does not have anything to do with being eco-chic, but instead reflects my personal interest in another area. After all, this is a blog about my life!!! So with that said, I cannot wait to watch this special on AC360 tonight about how children view race! Here's the preview for the show:



Parents - I think that it is extremely important that you talk to your children about other ethnicities so that they have an understanding and appreciation for other cultures. My daughter is mixed and even though she's only 18 months old, I make sure that the books she read and the toys she plays with reflect all the different cultures in our society so that she does not develop a one-sided view of the world. You guys should tune in tonight and let me know how you feel about this issue.

Friends and Family Event - 20% off Beauty.com

Starting tomorrow, Beauty.com will be offering 20% off any purchase on their Web site for their Friends and Family event. They have a great selection of products in their Naturals section that offers certified organic and natural beauty products, so if you're like me and trying to become a better citizen of the world by purchasing eco-friendly products, now's a great time to stock up on some beauty musts for the summer! This offer is valid thru Friday.

Best “green” cleaners, paper products for your family

The thing I struggle with the most in trying to convert to an eco-friendly lifestyle is knowing which products to use that will either provide the same or better results than the current "not so eco-friendly" products that I've grown to love and cherish.

I ran across this article from Consumer Reports that rated the best "green" cleaners for your home, and everyone knows that when Consumer Reports says that it's the best, well it's gotta be the best right? I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and will purchase these on my next grocery run so here's the list of eco-essentials:

Dishwasher detergents: Biokleen With Natural Oxygen Bleach Powder, Method Smarty Dish, Ecover Tablets

Laundry detergents: For conventional top-loaders: Method Squeaky Green 3X Concentrated HE, for high-efficiency washers: Seventh Generation Natural Powdered HE

Dishwashing liquids: Ecover Ecological Dishwashing

Shower cleaners: Green Works Natural Bathroom Cleaner

Paper products: Nonrecycled TP and paper towels still get the top overall scores in our tests. But we recently found that a few recycled brands are catching up in price and performance.

Toilet paper: Marcal Small Steps

Paper towels: Smart Pick White Cloud Green Earth

Sheets and towels: Textiles like sheets and towels with green claims are now easier to find and more affordable. But there are no standards for terms like "natural" or "eco-friendly." Here’s how to find legit green products:

* Look for organic labels USDA-certified organic textiles must be grown without most synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Organic cotton is an especially green choice because regular cotton is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops.

* Check processing methods "Organic" textiles can be processed with chemicals like formaldehyde or synthetic dyes. The "Oeko-Tex Standard 100" certification offers some assurance that formaldehyde and other chemicals are restricted.

* Don’t be misled by claims on "bamboo" products The origins may be natural, but turning those fibers into fabric isn’t. It usually takes strong chemicals to convert bamboo into rayon fabric—a process that’s not environmentally friendly.

Sade - Eco Friendly Graphic Canvas Tote Bag

I think Sade is sooo beautiful....she's a real artist and anyone who knows me knows how much I love this lady. So I was thrilled to see that the people over at Baostudio.com are offering a Buy 2 Get 1 Free - Eco Friendly Sade tote Graphic Canvas Tote Bag (Style no. ct321) pictured here:

It's a limited time offer, so hurry up and get yours before it disappears. Solider of Love is my theme song right now...the lyrics say it all:

Something new - Onesta Hair Care Products

My cousin Rochelle owns her own hair salon, Rochelle Rochelle Hair Studio, and has recently traded in all of her Redken hair care products with this new organic line called Onesta.  
 
Since I'm on this new eco-friendly kick and I've always supported her in everything she does, I purchased the Strengthening Shampoo, Super Conditioner and Create Setting Mist. I'm two weeks into using the products and I gotta say that I'm digging it!

Here's what their Web site has to say about their products: 

Onesta has a commitment to sustainable living, as well as exciting new products! Onesta’s products are always free of parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, propylene glycol, DEA, TEA, colors, dyes, animal ingredients, and animal testing.
 
All Onesta products do not effect the environment, are hypoallergenic and have never been tested on animals. What makes Onesta products different from other hair care items is the fact that they are free of any parabens, dyes and preservatives. This way when using their products you can not only get stylist quality hair, but you can also protect the rest of your body as well from the harmful effects of chemicals.
 
Onesta products are especially good products since they are gentle on the hair and scalp while being safe for use on color and chemically treated hair. So no matter what hair type you have you will be able to use Onesta products. Rather than using chemicals, Onesta products use natural surfactants and humectants to help clean and condition hair.

All-natural skincare for your baby

I am such a victim of promotional e-mails! So I get into work this morning and the first e-mail to greet me in my inbox is this one from Sephora introducing a new all-natural skincare line for babies. Has anyone tried this yet? I just completed my order, so I'll let you know what I think of it in a few weeks.

Introducing the ultimate in green living - The EcoManor

Last week, I attended Piedmont Park's 2010 Landmark Luncheon where Laura Turner-Seydel, Ted Turner's daughter, was the guest speaker and talked about the importance of being green. She has completely turned her home into an EcoManor, and that's exactly what she refers to it as. The concept of her home is amazing but let's not forget that her dollars can probably stretch 10,000 Olympic size swimming pools around my measly little funds! I don't think that I'll transform into Captain Planet overnight, but she definitely gave me a vision to aspire towards.