Effective August 1st, the majority of Badger products will bear the USDA Certified Organic seal.  They have been selling totally pure body products for more than a decade, but now they have made it official.  They offer a vast assortment of mostly balms but also offer body lotions, oil and bar soaps as well.  You may have seen their adorable tins or tubes featuring storybook scenes in your local store, but if not you can check them out here.  Featured in glossies such VOGUE, Esquire, Runner’s World & Vegetarian Times, these products are ultra effective and totally safe.  They make a balm for almost every imaginable need.  Here’s a glimpse of their collection:  

-Beauty Balms for Beautiful Beings: includes Evolving Body Balm, Foot Balm & Cuticle Care.

-Outdoor Gift Kit: 2 soap bars, Healing Hands Balm, Bali Balm, Anti-Bug Balm & SPF 15 Lip Balm.

-SPF 30 Sunscreen: Rated in the Top 5 Safest Sunscreens for ‘08 by Environmental Working Group.

-Bali Balm: Soothing After Sun Care

-Sleep Balm: A Calming Sleep Enhancer

Imagine yourself at your favorite spa, the one with rejuvenating treatments, pampering amenities and ultra plush towels that you use to dry off after that sauna session or steam shower.  Relaxation might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking about your home, but you can add some touches of the spa to your bathroom, so you can getaway even if you only have a half hour to spare.  These 100% organic SKAL certified towels by Ralph Lauren’s Spa Collection are totally plush and highly absorbent.  Finished with wide ribbing at each end, machine washable and crafted from the finest organic cotton in a variety of soothing colors, these will help you recreate the pampering luxury that you’re sure to find in only the world’s most renowned luxury resorts.   

Did you know? According to Josh Dorfman, author of The Lazy Environmentalist, 25% of all pesticides are used on cotton crops and those pesticides remain in the cotton for the life of the fiber. 

What is organic cotton and why is it better?  Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Conventional cotton is the most pesticide-intensive crop in the United States and is anything but earth-friendly.  Through the production of organic cotton, soil fertility is replenished and maintained and use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers is reduced, which is a very good thing since they can seap into our soil, water and air.  Apparently 1/3 pound of pesticides is used to produce the amount of cotton needed for just one cotton T-shirt!  So doing what we can to buy organic cotton is a very good thing (supply & demand)! 

This beautiful pintucked duvet cover from West Elm is certified organic, undyed cotton in it’s purest state with a beautiful design. Cotton grown without herbicides or pesticides is better for you, the people who farm it and the planet.  This will look amazing in your bedroom!

Until now, there hasn’t been a channel dedicated to all things green & eco-friendly.  In collaberation with TreeHugger.com, Discovery launched Planet Green one month ago on June 4th.  On the air 24/7, you’ll find a wide variety of shows to help inspire you to live more consciously.  Offering a broad range of perspectives and ideas, all backgrounds and ages will be able to find something appealing.  

No matter what shade of green you are, learn how to reduce your carbon footprint on Wa$ted, follow the residents of Greensburg as they rebuild their town that was completely destroyed by a deadly tornado and how they are implementing eco-friendly design into their plans.  If you’re a bit (or a lot) star-struck, check out Hollywood Green as host Maria Menounos reports on how the stars are going green.  On location at Whole Foods Market, watch Emeril Lagasse whip up some healthy meals with local and organic foods on Emeril Green.  Hosted by Tom Bergeon (Dancing with the Stars host), each week Supper Club features a celebrity chef who cooks up a green meal for four green celebrity guests while they discuss latest happenings and controversies in the green movement.  If you’re into home design and renovation, tune into Renovation Nation, Greenovate or World’s Greenest Homes for some great inspiration and ideas. 

 To find out what channel it’s on in your area, click here. 

Moms are busy and while wanting to keep their family safe and healthy, they might not always have the time to investigate each and every product.  And it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what should be focused on since there are so many opinions about what is safe & important for you to focus on as a mother.  The bottom line is, you want the absolute best for your family.  Keep in mind that any steps in the right direction is a good thing and try not to get too overwhelmed about what you’re not doing or what you could do better.  If you have just one minute to spare (maybe while the kids are napping), watch one Mom who found some great “green” finds for her little ones and I’ll show you where to find them below! 

1). Bath Ball Faucet Filter: Hang this from your faucet at bathtime, to reduce chlorine in your water by 95%.     

2). Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild Liquid Soap: Dr. Bronner’s has been creating totally safe & completely pure soaps for the past 60 years.  They are both USDA certified and Fair Trade certified.  Their liquid soaps are very concentrated, so they’ll last you a long time.  

 3). Under The Nile Organic Cotton Hooded Towel and Frog Washcloth puppet: One of the great organic cotton baby lines, they are Demeter certified (one of the highest level of biodynamic certifications; a step above organic) and USDA Certified Organic.  And the dyes they use are also certified organic.  Be assured this company has your baby’s safety and comfort in mind.

4). Under The Nile Fitted Crib Sheet: Rest easy knowing your baby is sleeping on totally pure bedding. 

 5). thinkbaby Bottles: According to Toxic Nation, BPA (Bisphenol A) is a hormone disruptor. Studies have linked low-dose BPA exposure with such effects as: permanent changes to genital tract; increase prostate weight; decline in testosterone; breast cells predisposed to cancer; prostate cells more sensitive to hormones and cancer; and hyperactivity.   Canada became the first country to officially ban the chemical from baby bottles.   California recently passed a bill to ban the substance (click here for more info).  Big companies like Nalgene, Wal-Mart, Toys ‘R’ Us, and Playtex have said they will no longer make or sell BPA-containing products. 

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