The Endangered Species 72% Dark Chocolate Bar with Cranberries and Almonds is, without question, one of my favorite sweet treats.   This three ounce chocolate bar is made with totally natural, shade grown, ethically traded cocoa. Smooth on the palate, this is the perfect combination of slightly tart dark chocolate, mixed with sweet dried cranberries and crunchy almonds.  Endangered Species chocolate is ethically traded ensuring cocoa farmers are paid a fair wage.  The package is printed on 30% post-consumer FSC-certified paper and the candy is certified Kosher, vegan and gluten-free.  If you are a dark chocolate fan like I am, try this bar - you won’t be sorry!

With the 4th of July quickly approaching, there are some things to consider if you are hosting a holiday bash. While it may be impossible to make your celebration 100% eco-friendly this year, you can definitely make an impact with just a few simple changes to the way you eat on Independence Day. Here are some tips to lighten your footprint this 4th of July:

1.) Serve organic food. This is one simple and delicious way to “spruce up” your celebration. Here are some wonderful recipes that reduce carbon emissions (when you buy local, organic foods) while adding a healthy spin on normal Independence Day eating:

• Organic Blueberry Cobbler from Whole Foods Market or
• Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie from The Daily Green

2.) Buy local and/or organic beer or better yet - make your own organic beverages like the recipe below:

Lemonade+Mint Iced Tea Recipe:

3.) Ask Guests to bring their own cups (or better yet…their own reusable bottle!)

4.) Use washable tableware if possible, or buy recycled plates and silverware. Always recycle when you can.

Most of all - have a safe, fun and thankful celebration of our Independence Day!

Although you likely have all your gift wrap finished, in the unlikely event that you still have more to wrap, Simply Green Giving by Danny Seo has 50 quick, simple and unique eco-gift wrap ideas.  Using items around the house, you can learn how to create beautiful wrap from the Green Guru.  Some ideas include:

*Recycling oversized gift calendar pages turned into gift wrapping

*Old silk flowers reborn as stunning flowering bows

*Luxury store bags turned into personalized gift bags

*Jazzing up boring gift store cards

*Making organic soy treasure candles

Check out this slideshow for visual inspiration. 

Happy Holidays!!!

Source: Crafting A Green World.

Rolling hills covered in precise rows of vines peering through gray fog in the morning is what home feels like to me.  If you’ve never experienced it first hand, you may have had just a taste if you’ve ever riden the Soarin’ Over California ride at Disneyland, watched Sideways or Bottleshock, and you might be able to relate if I were to tell you that the beauty of vineyards gives me chills and warms my heart at the same time.   

Having grown up amongst vineyards, California’s distinctive wine country is home to me and all the gushing sentiment could have much to do with the fact that when you live there you take it forgranted; and when you move away you wish you wouldn’t have. 

Nestled amongst rolling hills in California’s beautiful Mendocino County, you’ll find almost 400 acres of Bonterra’s Certified Organic Vineyards.  They passionately believe growing their grapes without the use of artificial fertilizers or synthetic chemicals is the key element to their award-winning wines. 

 Bonterra Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon description from their site:

“This Cabernet offers aromas of Bing cherry, currants and raspberry, with spicy notes of cedar and dried cranberry, with slight vanilla notes. In the glass you’ll find juicy red berry flavors, and a very approachable, rich and full mouthfeel with a lingering, thoughtful finish. Good structure, polished yet soft tannins promise an ever more pleasing wine to come, with lively acidity and subtle spice.”

Whether or not you’re hosting or attending, Bonterra make a great compliment to any gathering.  Find the Cab Sauv for $12.99 here. 

Want a fun way to get family & friends together?  Host a DIY Holiday Gift-making party!  Have everyone bring their own ingredients and containers (you might want to supply the labels) and have a fun night of making batches of affordable gifts while sipping organic hot chocolate or cider.  Here’s another recipe, courtesy of Martha Stewart that is on my list of things to do this season:  

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon beeswax pellets

2 tablespoons carrier oil (grapeseed, olive, sunflower or Vitamin E) [My tip: buying olive oil in bulk seems to be the most affordable]

A few drops of essential oil(s) (Eucalyptus, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon, Tangerine, Peppermint, Rosemary &/or Star Anise) [Tip: Star Anise smells like black licorice]

Lipstick shavings in desired color [My tip: make sure you use natural or organic lipstick like this]

Instructions:

1). Put beeswax and carrier oil in jar and close lid.  Heat the jar in a pot of water over medium-low heat until wax has melted. Remove jar from pot carefully.

2). Stir mixture with metal spoon.  Using a pipette, add essential oils, 1 drop at a time, until strength of scent is to your liking.  Stir in lipstick shavings, 1 at a time, until desired shade is achieved and color is even throughout.

3). Using another pipette, transfer lip balm to containers.  Let set for 1 hour. 

4). Add labels.

5). Gift to special special! 

Source & Image credit: MS Living

I recently picked up the Christmas issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine and was pleasant surprised to find a great Do It Yourself article called “Natural Beauties”.  The guide includes beautiful photos and instructions on how to make homemade bath & body treatments that “let you give the gift of relaxation”.  This is one of my faves (and I’ll most likely be trying out myself very soon):

DIY Body Scrub Recipe:

Ingredients:

2 cups Epsom salts or organic cane sugar

1 cup carrier oil (grapeseed, olive, sunflower or Vitamin E) [My tip: buying olive oil in bulk seems to be the most affordable]

8 drops essential oil(s) (Eucalyptus, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon, Tangerine, Peppermint, Rosemary &/or Star Anise) [Tip: Star Anise smells like black licorice]

1 drop natural food colorant [My note: Avoid synthetic food coloring, like FD&C and D&C colors as they’ve been linked to neurological toxicity]

Instructions:

1). Stir together Epsom salts or sugar and carrier oil in a bowl, mixing well.

2). Add essential oil(s), 1 drop at a time.

3). Add natural food coloring, and stir until color is even throughout.

4). Spoon into glass canning jars. 

5). Print & adhere labels (use salt or sugar labels).

6). Gift to a loved one! 

Source & Image Credit: MS Living

Instead of filling a child’s stocking to the brim with candy laced with artificial colors and ingredients, why not promote leafy greens and juicy fruits early on?  Its surprising to me that more parents don’t realize they are the ones that form their children’s taste buds (for the most part) or that a child’s behavior can be directly related to what they are consuming on a daily basis (candy, soda, dessert, excessive amounts of fruit juice, white bread, cookies, etc.).  If this is the case, why give them sugary treats, caffeine and empty calories?  I know I sure feel and act differently when eating these things, so why would it be any different for kids? 

It’s no secret that Europe has more stringent standards than the U.S. in terms of restrictions on ingredients and they’ve always been ahead of us in terms of nutrition, alternative medicine and a more natural way of life.  According to The LA Times, earlier this year the UK’s  Food Standards Agency (the British equivalent of our Food & Drug Administration) asked food makers to voluntarily recall six artificial colors in food products by 2009.  And in July, the European Parliament voted to add warning labels “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children” on foods containing the same six synthetic red and yellow dyes, which spurred large manufacturers such as Nestle to re-formulate their products rather than risk suffering a drop in sales. 

Unfortunately parents now also have to watch out for lead, PVC and BPA in toys.  Gifting a child with veggie & fruit toys is a subtle message, one that should be followed up with actually feeding them with the real versions, but the subliminal message may encourage them to think more highly of them.  Under The Nile offers some cute teethers and toys for young children that would undoubtedly make great stocking stuffers or small gifts for the children on your list. 

You’ll find great stocking stuffer ideas for under $6 here: Mushroom, Green Bean, Grapes, Tomato, Brocolli , Carrot, Banana and Eggplant.  Or find an entire organic veggie crate for $30 or an organic fruit basket for $28.50.  If you prefer wooden toys this non-toxic natural wooden set for $38.49 from Germany is absolutely adorable. 

For even more great baby gifts, check out this Waldorf Maple Teether and this Organic Pop-Up Puppet from our sister site, Family Time. 

Lake Champlain Organic Fair Trade Hot Chocolate $10 

Made with their famous chocolate, many swear this is one of the best hot chocolates ever.  Full-bodied, rich and deeply satisfying.  A great small gift or stocking stuffer for just about anyone (except chocolate haters). 

SkinnySkinny Rose & Almond Soap $10

I have a soft spot for this adorably wrapped, handcrafted pure soap.  It foams beautifully, has a wonderful aroma and is made from at least 98% organic ingredients.  No wrapping paper needed!  Just add a small gift tag and this little package is good to go. 

Sjaak’s Organic Vegan Chocolates $29.80

Sjaak’s is a family & vegetarian run business that pays careful attention to fair trade practices, non-GMO, organic gourmet chocolates.  Last year I gifted these boxes to two loved ones and they were a hit. 

Azuri Organic Cotton Scarf $34

Marked all the way down from $200, this scarf is available in an extensive variety of colors and is offered from NIMLI, a great eco-boutique.

da Rosario Black Truffle Organic Oil $41.50

For over 20 years chefs have come to rely on Rosario Safina to bring them the highest quality truffles and truffle products.  Featured in The New York times at the beginning of the year and in Forbes Find Of The Day just a few months ago, this USDA certified organic oil is infused with real truffle pieces and may just be the perfect unique gift for the foodie in your life.  The gourmet line also offers truffle butter, salt and honey. 

In case you haven’t noticed, the deals are flying in from every direction and while I wouldn’t advocate spending just for the sake of spending, many of us are attempting to be more frugal this holiday season.  Here are some deals I’ve stumbled across that may help you check off one of the guys on your list:

1). American Apparel Organic Cotton T-shirt $6.89

 Guys need basics too and if you’re like many families, Christmas is a time to replenish the socks, underwear and t-shirts of the male species in the family (stocking stuffer perhaps?!). 

2). Econscious Men’s Hoody - 80% Organic Cotton / 20% Recycled Polyester $16.20 

A great deal on any sweatshirt, much less one made from organic cotton and recycled fabric!  Normally $46, you’ll find this great price in select sizes.  A basic pullover hoody with kangaroo pocket, cotton/spandex ribbed cuff and and hem, enzyme-washed for minimal shrinkage. 

3). Men’s Simple Eco Sneakers (starting at) $30.99

Whether you’re trying to find something for the eco-conscious guy in your group, boost up Dad’s cool factor or get something for your skater brother or son, these should do the trick.  Hemp uppers, lined with organic cotton, recycled car tire soles, PET laces and footbed made from recycled plastic bottles and recycled bike tire sidewall. 

4). REI Organic Cotton Men’s Lounge Pants $32.99

I think its important to have family traditions.  We have a standing one that everyone opens one gift on Christmas Eve and its always the same thing, just an updated version.  My mom buys everyone pajama pants and shirts (that usually match).  We all sleep in them and then wake up on Christmas morning coordinated.  These look like the pants she bought the guys last year.  Why not start your own pajama tradition???

5). Levis 539 Men’s Red Tab Vintage Straight Leg Eco Jean $39.99

Regularly $58, these jeans are made from 100% organic cotton.  Customers rate them with 4.75 out of 5 stars.  Available in four washes (I prefer “Everest”).   

1). Don’t shop:

Instead spend the day with family enjoying each others company and leftovers.  If you have to work on this day, I feel for you and you may want to look into this Stress Relief patch to help you deal with crazy shoppers. 

 2). Wait until Saturday or Sunday:

You’ll still have to fight your way through crowds and play shopping cart bumper car, but the sales will still be going on {in this case, you may also want to look into this survival patch}. 

 3). Shop online:

I don’t know about you, but my blood pressure rises when I have to turn sideways to get through a crowd {”excuse me, excuse me, excuse me“} or when a checkout line is more than ten people deep.  I’d much rather shop in the comfort of my home, where I can find the best deals without having to waste gas hopping from one store to the next, have my gift wrapped for me and shipped free of charge {because this weekend the free shipping deals are going to be flying}.