I just saw this trailer yesterday and I have to see this!  This looks to be sort of an eco-version of the Super Size Me documentary, yet more funny and entertaining.  (I was mostly just grossed out and horrified by the latter).  “No Impact Man” is an extreme one year project by Colin Beavan and his family, in research of his book.  I love his wife in this trailer - so real and honest and how I’m sure the majority of us would feel if our man came to us and asked us to do such a thing.  It seems a little unbelievable that anyone could have absolutely “no impact” (on the planet) in one year, but I’m sure willing to watch and find out how this family tries to do so.

Colin can be found on his blog, or at Crazy Sexy Life (founded by Kris Carr, subject of the medical journey documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer). 

I’m still living out of my suitcase after three and a half weeks of traveling and about a week ago the Preserve Toothbrush made it’s way into my shopping basket just before I landed in a checkout line.  This toothbrush is simple, but I like it.  The forty-five degree ergonomic handle is perfect for getting to those hard to reach places.  Available in seven colors - I picked the green color.  The handle is 100% recycled  and made party of Stonyfield Farms yogurt cups.  The cool part is that when it’s time to retire the brush (after about three months of use), it can be sent back using this postage-paid label, and it will be recycled into plastic lumber for picnic tables, boardwalks and decks.

Love a sale?  I sure do and I bought mine for a killer deal - find your own Preserve Toothbrush now for 57% off here!

If you knew a guy in the nineties and you were in Junior High, High School or college for that matter, you know that this style of Vans were all the rage.  They’ve made a comeback (or perhaps they never went ‘out’?!) and this time with a new environmentally-conscious makeover.  I’m loving the Men’s Vans Organic S8 shoe in two-tone brown combo, complete with an organic cotton canvas upper and 20% recycled rubber sole while my man prefers these slide-ons in black.

As you know, 4th of July is just around the corner and there’s no better time to think about your Independence Day outfit than right now. If you’re not one to wear a big U.S. flag on your shirt or sport socks with fireworks on them - then try a different approach this year. Wear some really cute, really eco-friendly and versatile shoes on Saturday. These Simple ‘Entire‘ peep-toe flats would make quite the statement however you choose to celebrate the holiday.

What better day of the year to show your commitment to a sustainable lifestyle as the 4th of July. After all, if we love our country and the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S. - we should be committed to making sure we are treating it with respect. By sporting these ‘ecoSNEAKS’ - you could be making a fashion statement and an ethical statement both at the same time.

Simple has been committed to manufacturing shoes with a low impact on the environment for years and these adorable flats are no exception. They have been made with style and the environment in mind, starting with the use of certified organic cotton linings, recycled car tire footbeds and outsoles, and 100% post-consumer paper pulp foot forms. The top of the shoe is made with silk (an organic fabric) and they are shipped to you in a 100% post-consumer recycled shoe box. To top it all off, these shoes are getting rave reviews from the consumers who are wearing them - so you can be sure that your purchase will be a good investment. If you’re looking for ways to make this day of red, white and blue a little more “green” - one easy way to start is with your own wardrobe!

Alex and Ani Jewelry is becoming quite the media darling, and for good reason.  This unique brand creates pieces made from recycled material and aims to inspire the one who wears it.  Owner and Designer, Carolyn Rafaelian believes it is her calling in life to inspire others to relish what is unique and authentic about themselves.  This bohemian chic collection is made from recycled materials in the U.S., and has been spotted on many celebrities as of late:

Jessica Simpson likes to wear two sets of bangles together n stage, one gold, one silver.

Proving the pieces can be dressed up or down, Vanessa Hudgens wears Alex and Ani bangles with jeans (above) and was recently spotted at the MTV Music Awards sporting the expanding wire bangle set (below).

Seventeen Magazine just featured Miley Cyrus wearing hers to a trip to a smoothie bar.

Photo Credits: 

www.Styleholics.com

www.Seventeen.com

Summer is all about sunshine, and with summer sunshine comes heat and with heat comes rapid dehydration. Most people know that drinking plenty of pure water is the best way to stay hydrated, but doing so sometimes comes at the cost of using plastic water bottles to carry with us throughout the day. There is a better way!

I have been using Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles for a while now and I am officially a Kanteen convert. They are sturdy, eco-friendly, BPA-free, non-leaching, insulating and convenient. Stainless Steel and aluminum water bottles can be found in many mainstream stores nowadays, from Old Navy to the chain grocery store - I’ve seen them everywhere. However, not all non-plastic water bottles are created equal, so - as always - it’s important to be an informed consumer.

I chose stainless steel because I feel that it’s generally a safer material than aluminum for containing beverages. The stainless steel (18/8) used in Klean Kanteen bottles makes them extremely rugged so they will stand up to years and years of wear with little upkeep. This makes the initial investment a little easier to swallow (no pun intended.) If you haven’t yet made the switch to a non-plastic, non-leaching water bottle to contain your family’s hydration needs - there is no better time than this summer! Now…go drink your water.

No matter if you live on a coastline or live smack-dab in the middle of the country - you are bound to seek out time in or by the water this summer. One memorable part of growing up near the Pacific Ocean for me was the frequent trips to the nearby beach. We would play tag with the waves, find sea shells and make sand castles for hours on end. Here we are, several (I won’t mention how many) years later and kids are still finding the same great joy in creating works of art out of sand and water. Thanks to Green Toys, Inc. - parents can now offer their little beach bums a better, more eco-friendly choice for creating their masterpieces.

This Sand Play Set is made from milk containers that have been recycled into HDPE which is considered to be one of the safest plastics available. This adorable little set includes a bucket with a rope handle, sand castle mold, a shovel and a rake - everything you need to make one impressive fortress on the shore or in the sandbox.  Unlike chincy plastic beach toys you might find at the local drugstore, this set is sure to last for years and years so you don’t have to replace them every summer. Green Toys are completely BPA and Phthalate-free, rigorously tested for safety and sustainability and made in the U.S.A. to help reduce greenhouse gases from overseas transportation. To top it all off, every Green Toy comes in a 100% recyclable package with nothing extra and unnecessary. From start to finish - this is a company that cares about our world as equally as our children. So go pack up the car (or the bike) - it’s time to hit the beach!

Fields Organics is a new modern cleaning products company geared towards home with children.  Plant~based, phosphate~free and biodegradable are just a few of the reasons why parents will want to take note.  The Toy Cleaner is a great idea since the great majority of cleaning products are toxic and stamped with hazard signs; not exactly something we would want babies and children to put their mouths all over.  Available in two varieties, unscented and scented with tea tree, the Toy Cleaner is also packaged in a recycable plastic spray bottle and the labels are printed with recycled paper and soy~based inks.  Fields Organics also supports The Children’s Health Environmental Network, a non~profit whose mission is to promote a healthy environment and protect children from environmental hazards. 

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of KEEN Footwear. Not only are KEEN products comfortable, durable and perfectly stylish for the outdoorsy type, but they are made with the greater good in mind.  The folks at KEEN have prided themselves on offering their customers a product they can stand behind, and these adorable toddler shoes are no exception.

My nephew just turned 2-years-old this month, and for his birthday he received a pair of Mighty KEENdom Keen Coronado shoes from yours truly.  His mama loves him in bright colors, so I knew this adorable pair would be a hit with both of them. Three colors are offered in the Mighty KEENdom collection - Persimmon Orange (my fave), Black and Azalea Pink. Each color showcases an endangered species from somewhere in the world, which is the company’s way of encouraging young children to think about protecting our planet’s resources.

These shoes boast a specialized recycled PU and cork footbed - which is a renewable and more sustainable - and offers superior cushioning to reduce impact on little feet as they’re exploring the world. With a canvas upper, vulcanized eco-friendly construction, easy on/off hook and loop design and super fun colors to choose from - these shoes are perfect for the environmentally conscious toddler. As if that’s not enough - a dollar from every purchase on a pair of these shoes will go to the National Wildlife Federation. What better way to keep your child’s feet and future safe!

In between San Diego and L.A., you’ll find San Clemente, California ~ a surfer’s town with no lack of board shorts, flip flops and sun~kissed bods.  Locals take surfing seriously.  For some it’s a ritual, for some it’s a religion and others find it is both; and with that comes a deep reverence for the ocean. 

Based in San Clemente, footwear brand Ocean Minded can be found one block from the Pacific Ocean and wants everyone to be just that…mindful of the ocean.  Most of their staff are avid surfers and they strive to protect the Earth’s most precious resources, the oceans, lakes and streams and they coordinate frequent beach clean~up days.  In fact, just two weeks ago they cleaned up 115 pounds of trash from a local beach. 

They look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and make more sustainable footwear, including currently working on a completely glue~free shoe.  (FYI…shoe glue can be one of the most toxic elements in your footwear).  They’ve already taken steps in the right direction by using the following eco~friendly materials and/or processes: 

~Metal free leather and/or suede

 ~Hemp

~Water based glue

~Recycled car tire or recycled rubber outsoles

~Organic cotton lining and/or laces

~Made with recycled Croslite Eco material

When you buy a pair of Ocean Minded sandals or shoes, they’ll donate a portion of the purchase price to the Surfrider Foundation, a non~profit grassroots organization that’s dedicated to the protection of the world’s oceans, beaches and waves through conservation, activism, research and education.