Summer offers an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies and I am a lover of salad, but not just your run-of-the-mill lettuce, tomato & carrot salad.  I like to load mine up with a ton of delicious and nutritious flavors, colors & shapes.  Something so important during these budget-crunching times is to know when you should buy organic.  The Environmental Working Group released a list, based on USDA studies, with the most to least pesticides found in produce to help consumers know what is more important to spend our money on.  It’s definitely best to buy organic whenever possible, but we don’t always have the option or the cash flow, so here are the top 5 “best & worst”: 

 Most Pesticides Found (in order)

1). Peaches (highest pesticide load!)
2). Apples
3). Sweet Bell Peppers
4). Celery
5). Nectarines

Top 5 Least Pesticides Found

1). Mango
2). Pineapples
3). Sweet Corn
4). Avocado
5). Onions (lowest pesticide load)

With this in mind, I’ll share with you one of my favorite salads.  Feel free to take this to your 4th of July bash this weekend…it’s sure to be a hit!  (Remember to buy local whenever possible…hit your local Farmer’s Market for some good deals on fresh finds):

California Summer Salad

1 head organic red leaf lettuce 

1 organic orange bell pepper

1 organic yellow bell pepper 

3 organic red tomatoes on the vine (according to the FDA, the ones on the vine weren’t found to contain salmonella and okay to eat)

1 cup snap peas (cut in half with ends snipped off)

1.5 cups shredded purple cabbage

1 cup organic shredded carrots

1/4 cup toasted slivered organic almonds

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

2 organic avocados (sliced & served on the side so it doesn’t get mashed in the bowl with everything else)

Balsamic Vinegarette Dressing

1 cup Organic Olive Oil

1/2 cup Organic Balsamic Vinegar

3 organic garlic cloves (mashed in a garlic press)

2 Tbls. Organic dried basil

*Wisk together; add salt & pepper to taste.  

Serve in a beautiful bamboo salad bowl:

Aaron Chang is a popular action sports photographer & avid surfer.  As such, he cares about taking care of the environment around him and states “Maintaining and loving our environment is paramount to the welfare of our planet and oceans. If we all band together, set aside the politics and do everything within our power to contribute to a global effort we can effect change.”

His line has until now only included traditional materials, but this Spring launched his eco line including bathing suits, board shorts and rashguards made of recycled polyester and t-shirts and cover-ups made of organic cotton! 

In addition, he’s decided to use recycled paper certified by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Rainforest Alliance for each and every one of his promotional material including catalogs, posters, hangtags, press kits and their POP displays.  

 A percentage of the proceeds from his eco-friendly collection will be donated to environmental and humanitarian efforts worldwide and his hope is to set an example to the action sports industry and its customers in order to inspire change. 

 Aaron Chang ‘Nola’ Bikini:

View the Spring/Summer line here or keep an eye out for his collection to arrive in your local Urban Outfitters soon.  Check out Aaron’s legendary photography here.   

Simple Shoes is, as they say, “a nice little shoe company” and I couldn’t agree more!  Their Green Toe line is perfect for summer and are made out of sustainable materials.  You won’t find an animal by-products (leather) in the bunch, but what you will find is a 100% post-consumer paper pulp footbed, hemp, certified organic cotton, bamboo and jute uppers and recycled car tires for the soles sealed together with water-based cements.  And they’ll ship them to your eco-self in a post-consumer recycled box. 

 The womens ‘Toepaz’ is perfect for pairing with that summer dress, jeans or shorts and great for travel.  I have to wear slip-ons when I travel (on a plane) so that I can smoothly & gracefully make it through the security line.  I have enough stuff to shove back in my carry-on; I don’t want to worry about lacing shoes or zipping boots.  (These are also great to throw in your beach tote!)  The Men’s ‘U.F. Toe’  flip-flop is great at the beach, lounging at the pool, taking on vacation or just about anywhere. 

So what more do you need besides a carry-on made of recycled bottles fillled with healthy snacks for your upcoming trip?  Below you’ll find some of my ”essentials” that help make my journeys a little easier…

 CleanWell Antibacterial Wipes

When you travel, you are exposed to so many more germs than you normally are and in contact with so many different people.  These generously-sized, thick wipes are biodegradable and non-toxic (no Triclosan), made with their own proprietary “Ingenium” ingredient made of essential oils and kills 99.99% of bacteria.  Throw a few of these in your carry-on, wallet or purse and clean up anytime. 

 Source Naturals Wellness Formula

If you haven’t heard about Wellness Formula, its great to help ward off any sick bugs that might be coming your way.  After all, who knows how many people on the plane already have the flu and the circulated air doesn’t help matters.  If you’re already sick and need to nip it in the bud so you can enjoy yourself, take these diligently and knock it out. 

Trillium Organics Travel Kit

This little kit contains four products that will keep your skin clean & hydrated.  Airplanes seem to dry out the skin, so that’s why its a good idea to drink lots of water on the plane and keep some moisturizer in your carry-on.  These four travel-size products are totally pure and smell amazing (and they’re less than 3 ounces so you’ll get through security in a breeze)!  Lavender Geranium (pictured here) is their most popular scent, but for summer I like Grapefruit.  If you’re a guy I’d highly suggest Cedar Sage or Lime. 

 What travel essentials can’t you live without???

I’ve compiled some of my favorite snacks that will have you passing up candy at the magazine rack and peanuts on the plane.  In most cases, you’ll find that these alternatives are not more expensive than their conventional counterparts.   Bringing healthy snacks is one of the most important things when I travel, because I know its unlikely I’ll find any at the airport, on the plane or soon after I land.  (Although I do map out the closest market or health food store to my hotel before my trip so I can plan to get some things for my stay).  It’s always important for me to plan ahead and shop in advance so I can pack them in my carry-on for easy access when I get the munchies on the plane (or before or after). 

1). Sensible Foods Organic Apple & Cherry Berry packets:

Equal to a 1/2 cup of fresh fruit, these ”crunch-dried” fruit snacks are 100% organic & GMO free and you’ll find nothing in the bag but the fruit….no preservatives, additives, coloring, sugar, gluten….nada!  Because snacks foods are usually laden with high (bad) fat, salt, refined sugar, and empty calories, the makers of Sensible Foods wanted to create an alternative.  So they created a process to extract the water from the fruit and keep all the enzymes and nutrients in tact.  They are delicious!  

2). Eden Foods Roasted Organic Pumpkin Seeds:

Forego the peanuts and munch on these! Just dry-roasted seeds with a bit a sea salt, make a super delicious and ultra nutrious snack.  You’ll get protein, dietary fiber, magnesium, much needed omega-3, 6, and 9 EFAs and 15% of your daily value of zinc per serving.  They also come in a resealable zip top so they don’t spill over over in your bag.  Studies indicate that pumpkin seeds may protect against kidney stones and parasitic disease, and may even help ward off depression.

3). Woodstock Farms Organic Mango slices: 

These are one of my favorite sweet treats!  They’re addicting and a rich source of Vitamin A with good doses of Vitamins B and C.  Mangos have more carotenoids than most other fruits. They’re high in fiber, and contain a small amount of carbohydrates, which the body converts to energy.
 

4). Oskri Organics Sesame Bar:

If you’re craving a candy bar, try one of these instead.  This is a sweet & nutty crunchy treat that will quench your sweet tooth.  You’ll find three thin vegan and kosher bars in a pack; high in fiber, iron, calcium and protein.  But what won’t you find?  Lactose, gluten, refined sugar & simple carbs.   Yum!

5). NOW Raw almonds:

There are so many amazing benefits of almonds.  Studies have shown that consuming almonds may have the same cholesterol-lowering effects as statin drugs.  With just 1.5 ounces you’ll get a great dose of Vitamin E and magnesium along with protein, fiber, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron.  They contain phytochemicals, which are plant chemicals that may provide powerful protection against heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases.  New research claims that almonds may be able to help fight obesity and diabetes.  (I wouldn’t put the whole 1 lb. bag in the carry-on.  Scoop a couple ounces out into a small bag and you’re good to go!). 

Not just for the plane….it’s great to stock up on these for road trips, camping, school lunches or keep a stash in your desk at work 

How about getting the man in your life some designer duds?  Joe’s Jeans is one of those conveted labels from everyday hipsters to celebs including Will Smith, Kate Beckinsale, Mary J Blige, Tom, Katie and Suri Cruise.  Although most of their line is made from conventional material, they’ve definitely caught on to consumer demand.  These ‘Rebel’ Relaxed Fit jeans are made from Certified Organic Cotton and have a great look.  Gift him with a pair of these and he’ll feel good knowing he’s stepping out in style all while supporting organic industry.  The more we buy organic, the more demand there will be for it which means less pesticides and fungicides in our air, in our soil and in our water.  Often times an increased cost is associated with going organic, but in Joe’s case the organic version is in the same range as the rest.  (In fact, right now they are 33% off!).  So why not go organic?!  And who said we have to give up style for “green”? 

If you haven’t already heard about the hip & eco-centric Pangea Organics, it’s time to get in the know!  Comprised of a small group of like-minded soap slingers in Boulder, Colorado they’ve got a lot of style, but even more integrity.  “Pangea” (pan-jee-uh) means “the whole earth” and describes precisely what this company cares so much about.  With a desire for businesses to become more conscious of their decisions and aware of their impact on the earth, after being prompted by a friend, founder Joshua Onysko decided to fund his dream of a learning center (Pangea Institute) with soap sale profits.  With an “Always Beneficial, Never Artificial” mantra, today he is doing just that…laying the financial foundation for a non-profit that will teach entrepreneurs and small businesses all aspects of sustainable living and business practices. 

The first bar of soap he made was at home with his mother and when he got such great feedback about his soap bars from family and friends he decided to sell it at local Farmers Markets.  Today, he is still very much passionate about sourcing the best organic ingredients from around the world, paying a fair wage for those ingredients and ensuring his packaging is recycled and/or recyclable.  The compostable cardboard boxes in which the glass containers arrive contain seeds so that when it’s planted it will grow herbs.  (How cool is that?!)  Today, the line has expanded from bars to include shower gels, lotions, liquid hand soaps, massage/body oils and a full skincare line.  (A children’s line is also in the works…shhhh!).   All of which you can be sure I’ll post more about in the future. 

Not only do I personally love their products for their purity and effectiveness, but their unisex packaging is cool & modern (so lacking amongst organic products) and looks great in the bathroom!

 If you’re waiting until the last minute to get the Dad in your life something unique, forego that polluted bottle of cologne and meet Pangea’s best seller, Canadian Pine with White Sage Shower Gel.  A hit with anyone who’s had the pleasure of smelling and sudsing with the highly concentrated woodsy gel that will last up to three times longer than conventional body wash.  My personal fave is Malagasy Ylang Ylang & Linden Flower.

 If you’re a Pangea convert as well, what’s your favorite scent???

If your dad loves golf, but your garage is running amuck with golf balls and dad already has more 30-packs than he knows what to do with, then give him a golf t-shirts instead.

Patagonia, of course, has a great selection. Check out their polo shirts that come in a range of colors and patterns. All are collared offering a cleaner, trimmer fit and improved finish details. Plus, dad will love that they’re super comfortable. Called the “A/C Shirt,” these tees are designed specifically for hot, humid weather, they’ll be sure to keep him dry and cool throughout a long day in the sun.

For cooler weather, Patagonia also makes the popular Puckerware Shirt. Made from a textured blend of polyester and organic cotton this shirt offers a bit more weight, while also keeping him dry and comfortable should he work up a sweat in that long walk to the 9th hole.

I am quite excited to announce that Pottery Barn is offering a collection of bedding, towels, robes and upholstery all made from 100% organic cotton fiber. Yay! This is great news! Not only is the cotton organic but is also certified and regulated by Oeko–Tex, a separate association of ecological textile research, testing and certification. Pottery Barn’s organic cotton is therefore certified as using no pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, fragrances or dyes.

With over 198 stores in the US and Canada, Pottery Barn also has an extensive reach. Sourcing certified organic cotton means thousands of pounds of organic cotton purchased—a helpful boost to organic cotton industry—and millions of pounds of pesticides avoided. Yay, Pottery Barn!

Pottery Barn’s efforts to offer a large selection of organic cotton products is notable. Considered the best one-stop-shop for quality house wares and wedding gifts, the brand is a true trend setter in a competitive industry. I hope that Pottery Barn’s move to organic cotton will inspire other large retailers to go green as well.

The organic cotton bedspread pictured here is a beautiful display of graphic botanicals outlined in tone-on-tone contrasting threads. According to Pottery Barn, the flowers are all hand-embroidered too. The pattern repeats on the quilted pillow shams.

There’s been a lot of recent hype about lipsticks and lead. According to, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a non-profit advocacy group that works to monitor toxicity in the cosmetics industry, several top brand-name lipsticks were found to contain lead.

According to TheDailyGreen.com, a website devoted to environmental and consumer safety issues, “ Lead is a proven neurotoxin that can cause learning, language and behavioral problems such as lowered IQ, reduced school performance and increased aggression. Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure. Lead easily crosses the placenta and enters the fetal brain where it can interfere with normal development.”

Although the Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association states that those products identified in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) as containing lead, are safe and meet the standards established by the The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some concerned consumers prefer to play it safe and purchase only “completely lead-free lipstick.”

Stay tuned for those lead-free lipsticks available on Pricegrabber.com.