Feelgood Style

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As a former publisher of a regional sustainable living magazine and as a perennial editor, writer and content producer, I get a lot of products to review. This is definitely one of my favorite parts of what I do. Not that they are all winners, but honestly most of what I’ve gotten has been truly interesting and largely useful.One of the cleverest new products to hit my doorstep lately is a new concept called ReProduct from a company called C2C, a cradle-to-cradle design company.

Re-Usable greeting cards?

When I first heard about the idea, I mistakenly thought it involved erasable ink and a new envelope. Wrong. I’m not as stupid as I sound, but this was not an easy concept to grasp initially, but now that I’ve seen the cards and read a little more about the process (if you’re anything like me, reading directions isn’t always the first thing I do), I’m pretty excited about the whole thing.

The cards in the pic here were designed by singer/songwriter John Mayer for ReProduct! So, not only is he hot, he’s talented in more ways than just the tunes AND he clearly cares about creating a more sustainable way of being.

Back to the cards and how it works . . . it’s a little like Netflix, and if you love movies and haven’t tried it yet - DO IT!!! The idea of mailing movies back and forth seems cumbersome and awkward or something, but they make it so easy, that once you try it, you are sold.

ReProduct has taken the idea of making re-mailing very simple and easy and applied it to the all-American custom of sending greeting cards. By the way, the cards are beautiful. First of all, the cards are made from healthy, non-toxic materials that minimize chemical waste in the manufacturing process and if folks follow this new concept, they don’t end up in landfills - or at least not for a VERY long time.

Here’s how it works:

Read the rest of this entry »

There’s a great new book on the shelves by award-winning author Renée Loux: Easy Green Living. Loux, who penned Living Cuisine and the Gourmand Award-winning The Balanced Plate, is a celebrated raw foods chef and host of the TV show “Easy Being Green.”

In her new book, Loux applies her whole-foods philosophy to our homes, gardens, and beauty routines, including lots of “5 Step” lists which make it easy to implement changes easily. Without being condescending or preachy, Loux conveys her philosophy about what it really means to live a “green” life, and how each little change we make contributes to a higher quality of life in every aspect. It’s inspiring as well as instructive.

The 416-page book is available at Amazon.com and you can read more from (and about) Renee Loux at her website, reneeloux.com.

While I wrote a preview of tonight’s episode of Big Ideas for a Small Planet this morning on sustainablog, Lucille’s right: it deserves a mention over here at Feelgood Style. So tune in (in about 45 minutes Central time) for the award-winning series’ focus on fashion tonight. Get a look at Del Forte Denim’s use of organic cotton, Nau’s sustainable methods of both creating and selling outerwear, and Revolution Cleaner’s greener alternative to traditional dry cleaning. And keep an eye on the extra coverage that appears during BIFASP, and the documentary that follows: word is that our own Jessa Brinkmeyer’s Pivot Boutique may be on tonight.

And while I’ve got you, throw your name in the hat for a green giftbag from the Sundance Channel. It’s easy to do: just subscribe to Green Options Media’s biweekly newsletter.

Impatient? Can’t wait 45 minutes? Here… take a sneak peak at tonight’s episode:

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The “green” cleaning products on the market are great, but they can be pricey. You know you should mix all your own house cleaning solutions, but it can be a hassle, and who knows if you’re using the right ingredients in the proper amounts? Finally, we found an easy way to make all the healthy “green” home cleaning products you need, all in one handy kit.

With the Eco-Me Home Kit, you provide the white vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, and water, and you’ve got everything you need to make an all-purpose cleaner, a wood polish cleanser, and a scrub cleanser, too — at a fraction of the cost of most store-bought non-toxic cleaners.

The Eco-Me Home Kit contains:
2 spray bottles for mixing spray cleaner and polish
1 jar for mixing scrub cleanser
1 natural bristle scrub brush
1 handy mixer
1 microfiber cleaning cloth
1 bottle Eco-Me Home Cleaning Essential Oil
1 natural fiber storage bag
Easy to follow instructions on how to mix ingredients (right from your own kitchen).

The essential oil contains contains tea tree, lemongrass, rosemary, and lavender pure plant oils, and helps purge surfaces of mold, mildew, grime, and water stains (plus it smells great!). The kit is available at eZoetic.com for $26.00, and you’ll also find an Eco-Me Baby Kit, Eco-Me Cat Kit, and Eco-Me Dog Kit there, too. Now it’s easier than ever to “green-it-yourself!”

Have you heard of Rescue Remedy?

Well, they say it is Yoga in a Bottle and many a holistic health practitioner will tell you the same. I like the idea of flower essences formulated to rescue someone all tied up in knots. The remedy claims to have “become every woman’s emotional ally for its calming and centering energy and is now relied upon by people around the world to provide unconditional support during demanding times.”

The site graciously offers tips on how to unwind in a bind with what they call: Cool, Calm and Relaxed: Read the rest of this entry »

Shown here is a feature from Crow Clothing a new online eco-boutique with a socially responsible mission. I find the Crow Clothing links very interesting. I see a commitment to environmental consciousness on the fabric page here, and movement toward social responsibility on the learning pages. There they explain:

“Crows make use of tools in their daily activities. They learn as they live- they adapt. Crows also come to the aid of unrelated crows in need or distress. Here are some resources to help you learn, adapt and help others in our world.”

Pictured here is American designer Rogan Gregory and one of his new organic designs for a partnership with Target that is set to create the next limited-edition collection for GO International, ® an innovative program designed to provide affordable fashion created by world-renowned designers.

Starting this week Barneys New York, will showcase an affordable Target collection from eco-conscious designer Rogan Gregory ~ Rogan for Target. The collection will be preview at Barneys New York in Manhattan from May 9 – May 11 and in Beverly Hills from May 16 – May 18. All cotton used in the collection is 100% certified organic.

Previously we highlighted a Loomstate event at Barneys. Rogan was actually once a designer for Loomstate, Edun, and his own CDFA/Vogue Fashion Fund award winning line. Read the rest of this entry »

Red Flower is an inspirational natural beauty care company that believes the tradition of bathing is deeply connected to nature. I’ve become quite intrigued with their blend selections and cleansing rituals. In a recent interview I asked:

1. What does the word “sustainability” mean to red flower? We all have different definitions, and honor and appreciate those organizations such as yours that are moving into a holistic healing approach to working and living. To Red Flower “Sustainability” means:

• sustainable sourcing locally.
• working with the lumber industry to use otherwise wasted material.
• producing at 100 percent wind powered plant.
• to use soy based inks, to use recycled and recyclable packages.
• to conserve water and energy.
• to meet the criteria of bio dynamic, bio compatible and bio degradable.
• to create petrochemical free, dye sulfate and paraben free products.
• to use whole essential oils and natural certified organic ingredients.
• to educate and learn.
• to stay on an ever evolving path.
• to consider the lifecycle of every product. Read the rest of this entry »

While her uncle’s Presidential record on the environment has been a scandalous disaster, fashion model Lauren Bush has created a 100% organic cotton and sustainable burlap bag — and an accompanying humanitarian initiative — exclusively for Whole Foods, launching today.

For $29.99, you can purchase Lauren’s “Feed 100″ bag: a lightweight, white, cotton tote that collapses easily into its rectangular burlap zippered pouch. The bag is created in facilities which ensure fair treatment of workers, livable wages, paid overtimes, safe and clean working environments, benefits, and vacation time.

Best of all, each bag purchased provides 100 nutritious meals for hungry children in the U.N. World Food Program, a program which feeds 88 million people in 78 countries around the world. According to a press release from FEED Projects, hunger and malnutrition kill more people than AIDS, malaria, and TB combined. In fact, every five seconds a child dies because he or she is hungry.

Starting today, you can spend $29.99, get an environmentally-friendly bag, feed 100 school kids, and get all those free samples at Whole Foods, too? That’s what I call “feel good style.”

The work of Byron Katie is brilliant! She has been tagged by the 11th Hour Action network as an expert on their list of gurus. Her mission is to end human (mental) suffering.

Byron has posted a number of talks to her site called The Work which  “is a simple yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches you to identify and question thoughts that cause all the suffering in the world. It’s a way to understand what’s hurting you, and to address your problems with clarity”

The Work begins with a four step worksheet: Read the rest of this entry »