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. 

This wind-stopping jacket can be worn by itself or underneath a shell in the most frigid of temps.   Patagonia’s R3 jacket is their warmest non-laminated jacket (thus more breathable) with two zippered hand-warmer pockets, one zippered chest pocket and a high zip collar to keep neck and chin warm.  The Polartec fabric used in construction is made from 56% recycled polyester and the entire jacket is 100% recyclable through their Commons Threads Recycle Program. 

You can be sure Patagonia is an environmentally-friendly company.  Since 1985 they’ve committed to donating 1% of all sales to preserve and restore the environment and now Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia’s founder has launched a non-profit corporation whose sole purpose is to prompt other businesses to give back to the environment as well .  Sunshine is abundant at company headquarters in Ventura, California and they’ve gone completely off-grid; that is they don’t rely on the power company for their electricity, they rely on the sun via solar panels. 

Patagonia’s Mission Statement sums up their purpose & passion perfectly:

“Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.”

Leaves are not the only things falling around here.  Temps have already dropped to the low 30s.  I couldn’t believe my eyes one morning last week when the thermometer read “ 38.5″.  I had flashbacks to the end of last winter when I was so happy to see two-digits temps again.  This week I began compiling a list of some winter wardrobe essentials as that time is rapidly approaching again. 

The 3/4 length, fitted and lightly lined Patagonia Mor Coat in Espresso or Stonewash is a perfect Fall staple.  The wind & water-resistant outer shell is made of 100% recycled polyester while the interior is insulated with Thermogreen™ (90% recycled).  The stand-up mock collar helps ward off a chill while the hand warmer pockets are lined with microfleece to keep you cozy. 

Right now get 20% off this jacket with Code 200 and get free shipping!  

To learn more about Patagonia’s environmental efforts, click here. 

What started out two decades ago as an experiment, became the inspiration and vision behind what MATT & NAT’S fashion-forward, design-centric and animal-free handbag line is today.  The experiment was to embrace a vegan diet for just 30 days, but little did Creative Director, Inder Bedi know that it would set off a series of events that would lead to the birth of a super chic handbag line influenced by modern design and architecture. 

Serious, structured, edgy & incredibly modish describes the brand new Fall ‘08 handbag collection from this widely popular Montreal-based company.  Taking its cues from menswear this season, its heavy on hardware and boasts a deep color palette.  The Feutre series is made of recycled plastic bottles that have been transformed into felt.  Absolutely perfect for that Fall getaway!       

Prep your dorm room desk with items you love to look at and ones you feel good about, because you’ll likely be spending a lot of time there.  Stay organized in the midst of a crammed class load to help keep you on track.  Check out these essentials for your in-room study area: 

Foray 5-Subject Recycled Notebook  

It’s unavoidable, you’ll be using lots of paper to take lots of notes so why not use recycled paper to reduce your contribution to cutting down trees.  Make a statement with this notebook made completely from used paper.   

Pendaflex Recycled Multi-Color File Folders 

Forego the standard (and boring) manilla folders!  Spice up your desk with some color and a touch of organization with these recycled folders. 

‘We Are Happy To Serve You’ Mug

Whether you a NYC native, admirer or transplant, you know that ‘We Are Happy To Serve You’ cups are everywhere.  This ceramic version is the brain-child of TreeHugger founder Graham Hill who wanted people to realize just how many paper cups they were throwing away each day/week/month and who is also a New York resident.  Rest (not) assured that you will be cramming for finals and staying up all night, so be sure to keep this cup filled with some fair-trade organic coffee! 

I’ve always loved the designs & concepts from russell+hazel, a company who obviously adores paper and organization as much as I do. And as such, they realize that cutting down trees is not something they what to perpetuate, so each and every product they offer is made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials and most are biodegradable and/or reusable; from the spirals in their notebooks to the covers of their binders.

The ultra-stylish Audrey Tote is perfect for students to keep track of assignments and homework, teachers who take papers home to grade or any savvy business woman.  This tote allows you to stay organized on the go in style. 

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. 

Nothing says summer like fresh squeezed lemonade!  So refreshingly sweet and sour.  Stir up a batch of this delicious lemonade for any occasion:

 Feel free to adjust sugar, honey and lemon amounts to taste.

• 6 cups filtered or spring water
• 2 to 2 1/2 cups organic raw sugar or 2 cups mild organic honey or to taste
• 2 to 2 1/4 cups fresh squeezed organic lemon juice, strained to remove seeds and pulp (about 12 organic lemons)

Make sugar syrup by heating the water to hot and adding the raw sugar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow this to cool for about 1/2 hour. If using honey, heat the water to hot. Remove from heat and add the honey, stirring until completely dissolved. Allow this to cool. Stir in the lemon juice. Pour into a recycled glass serving pitcher , add thin lemon slices and chill in the refrigerator until cold. 

Make ice cubes with lemon verbena leaves or raspberries frozen inside for that little extra touch.  Present to your guests in these lightweight recycled glass tumblers that are oh-so-stylish.   

Oh, the dilemma…do you go for the cheap white or green plastic outdoor furniture that seems like easy maintenance but will get tossed around in high winds, likely crack and get “chalky” in the sun?  Do you opt for the real wood version that requires more maintenance and may splinter and fade?  Or should you get the metal set that will probably rust in a year or two?

What if you had another option that was virtually maintenance free, built to last  and was sustainable?  Well now you do!   Poly-Wood is made from recycled milk jugs, bottles and containers.  The heavy duty HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic is formed to look and feel like real wood and then cut into slats that are used to build their chairs & tables assembled with rust-proof stainless steel screws.  (This same material is also used to build weather-resistent decks & benches as well).  The lightest chair weighs in at approximately 40 pounds, so you don’t have to worry about these blowing around in the wind.  They come in a variety of six bright summery colors and guaranteed not to fade.  With very minimal maintenance (wipe down with soap & water occasionally), these are built to last and resist outdoor elements.  Leave them in the yard, on a porch or even on the beach and they won’t fade, warp or lose their color. 

Poly-Wood Adirondack Chairs:

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.