Santa Barbara Green Spot is now GreenFixes

Many of the conscious spending blog readers are also fans of Santa Barbara Green Spot, so I wanted to let you all know that Crystal's bitchin' blog has officially been changed to GreenFixes, located at http://www.greenfixes.blogspot.com/.

This blog has a national focus in environmental issues, thus the name was changed to best communicate/fit the solutions presented in the blog.

If you were a subscribed reader, please change your saved website link to the new one.

Green Fixes is for all things related to sustainable business industry trends and best practices.

The green fix blog and business goal: Uniting businesses with our natural environment by allowing them to value the services provided by a rich and diverse natural environment while still remaining profitable, competitive, and valuable to shareholders.

:0)

The Impact of Plastic Bags

My fabulous friend Samantha emailed a great link to me today - remember to be conscious when you use those eco-icky bags and watch this!

It's very important to understand what plastic bags are doing to our environment and the health of the planet. When you watch this link and you will be amazed...We need to kick the plastic bag habit!

I know many of our blog readers are already "converts" and try to no longer use plastic bags, but we can always have further convincing...

Many countries around the world and some cities in the USA have banned the use of plastics bags. If your town doesn’t have a ban, get one!!!

Please forward these photos and information on the damage to our earth and its life caused by plastic bags (made from an oil by-product).

4 Ways to Reduce E-Waste

Co-Op America emailed out a GREAT checklist on easy ways to reduce e-waste!

1. Check your television. – Many TVs made after 2003 were equipped with digital tuners. Look for a label that says "Integrated Digital Tuner," "Integrated Digital Receiver," "Digital Receiver Built-in," or "Digital Receiver Built-in." If you have a digital tuner already, you're all set.

2. Use a converter box. – If you don't have a digital tuner, a set-top converter box can still keep your TV from becoming e-waste. Each household is eligible to receive two vouchers, valued at $40 each, to use toward purchase of a converter. Check out www.dtv.gov for more information.

3. Recycle your television – If you must purchase a new television, make sure your old one isn't simply carted to a landfill. The Basel Action Network provides a list of recyclers who have pledged not to export hazardous e-waste. Also, Sony is offering a free take-back program for all Sony electronics in the US.

4.Speak out about the e-waste nightmare -- Finally, take our action to tell the FCC that you're concerned about the coming deluge of e-waste that may be triggered by the digital switch. Tell the FCC to require manufacturers to follow Sony's lead and take responsibility for their products throughout their entire life cycles.

BONUS ENERGY-SAVING STEPS: If you must purchase a new television, look for an LCD (liquid crystal display) model, marked with the Energy Star label. LCDs use six times less energy than plasma screen models. You can cut your energy use further by unplugging your TV (and its attached appliances) when you're not watching it; this prevents your electronics from consuming electricity even while not in use.

Please forward this blog post to all your friends and family. We need as many people as possible to understand how to reduce the impact of the digital switch, and we need a groundswell of pressure on the FCC and the electronics companies to manage the e-waste problem better.

Send an e-mail to the FCC today and visit our Responsible Shopper.org to find contact information for major electronics manufacturers, and links to the TV TakeBack campaign.

Electric Bikes = Happy Environment

We stumbled upon a great article on Santa Barbara Electric Bicycle's blog about The positive Impact Electric Bikes have on our environment

According to the post, "Using an electric bicycle instead of an automobile greatly reduces your carbon footprint! The average car emits 1 pound of CO2 for every mile driven. By using an electric bike you will be reducing pollution in the form of CO2, as well as NOX, tire and brake lining fragmants."

So you reduce carbon emissions AND get fit - how coolio is that? :)

You can learn more about electric bicycles at http://www.sbebc.com/ or on their blog http://electric-bicycle-sb.blogspot.com/

Natural Glue - Egg Whites!

Hey Conscious Spenders!
It's been a loooooooooooong time since I posted...but I just got re-inspired by a really cool tip on an egg white blog (of all places!) that inspired me to post about non-toxic glue! Hope this is a handy tip!

From the Organic Egg White Blog powered by Eggology:

Egg Whites are Not Just for Eating!
Did you know that you can use egg whites as a glue substitute? Use it to glue paper or light cardboard in place of white glue.

So while you are buying natural, healthy food, you can re-purpose it for glue - how conscious is that! :)

20% OFF Spring Dresses and Skirts at Greenloop

Eco Fashion Baby! Save 20% on spring dresses

User Code: DRESS20. Offer valid until Sunday, April 13th, 2008

www.greenloop.com

First ever Seattle Green Festival at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center

Co-op America is extending a special invite for their first ever Seattle Green Festival!

A two-day party with a purpose, the Green Festival celebrates what’s working in your communities — showcasing the latest in renewable energy, recycled products, sweatshop-free clothing, Fair Trade, organic food, and much more!

With admission to Green Festival you will be offered a FREE Co-op America membership. You will receive the National Green Pages™, Guide to Socially Responsible Investing, Real Money Newsletter and Co-op America Quarterly for FREE.

All you have to do is stop by the Co-Op America booth and sign up!

Their roster of more than 150 visionary speakers this year includes Amory Lovins, Bishop Steven Charleston, Frances More Lappe, Gifford Pinchot III, and Amy Goodman. We'll have more than 300 green business exhibitors, Clothing Swap-o-rama-rama, Community Action Center, delicious organic cuisine, cutting-edge Green films, Fair Trade Pavilion, green shopping, and hands-on workshops on everything from green buildings to green careers.Come experience the best of the green economy, all under one roof.

If you are in Seattle, this weekend, take advantage of this special opportunity!

16 Ways to Heal Your Home

Co-Op America sent an email today with great new links to help your home...

From Co-Op America:

"Did you know that here in the US, about 80,000 industrial chemicals are registered for use in all of the products we eat, touch‚ wear‚ and use to furnish our homes… but that fewer than 20 percent have been tested for their impact on human health and the environment?

These include ingredients in our food, household cleaners‚ and body care products. They include chemicals used on and in toys and furniture and clothing and bed linens.

Wouldn't it make more sense to prove a chemical is safe before running the risk of harming people who use the product‚ workers who make it, and the communities where the manufacturing facilities are located?

That’s the idea behind the Precautionary Principle. It turns right-side-up the upside-down way our society makes decisions about risk. The Precautionary Principle requires proof that products are safe‚ and errs on the side of caution."

Co-Op America added a Healthy Home Center to their website, pulling together the best "healthy home" articles from our green-living newsletter‚ Real Money‚ along with new tips and strategies from the spring issue of our Co-op America Quarterly magazine.

Check out their great 16 Ways to Heal Your Home link...

New Guide to Ending Sweatshops

Co-Op America recently launched their 2008 Guide to Ending Sweatshops. They want to make it easier for you to avoid the worst companies, reward the best, and take action to keep sweatshop labor out of the supply chain.

Be a conscious spender, be aware, make good choice, support Co-Op America so they can help us!

Great Green Tips - Love the Daily Green!

The Daily Green has great green tips and we love the one easy thing section.
Latest tip: Inflate your tires to increase your fuel economy and help le planet...

Earth Hour will be the largest voluntary power down in history

Tonight, March 29, the world will take a stand. Millions of people from Australia to America and buildings including the Sears Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge will turn off their lights for one hour to show how working together we can make a difference in the fight against climate change. Staring in Christchurch, New Zealand, Earth Hour will roll through 14 time zones, wrapping up in the Pacific Time zone representative San Francisco, CA. Traversing more than 25 cities in 10 countries, Earth Hour will be the largest voluntary power down in history.


Please consider participating in this effort by, that's right, shutting off your lights tonight from 8-9.


Who's Involved?

World Wildlife Fund

Sports Teams and Corporations

Phoenix Suns

Chicago Bears

Hewlett Packard

Esurance

National Geographic Channel

McDonald's will turn off its golden arches in over 480 locations in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.

Flagship Cities

Aalborg, Denmark

Aarhus, Denmark

Adelaide, Australia

Atlanta, United States

Bangkok, Thailand

Brisbane, Australia

Canberra, Australia

Chicago, United States

Christchurch, New Zealand

Copenhagen, Denmark

Dublin, Ireland

Haifa, Israel

Manila, Philippines

Melbourne, Australia

Montreal, Canada

Odense, Denmark

Ottawa, Canada

Perth, Australia

Phoenix, United States

San Francisco, United States

Suva, Fiji

Sydney – Australia

Tel Aviv, Israel

Toronto, Canada

Vancouver, Canada


Find out more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Hour


Spread the message.

Push Large American Mutual Funds to Use their Clout to Push Companies in Climate Change

Co-op America needs our support...help them help you by pushing some of the largest mutual funds in America to use their biggest weapon (their wallets!) to push companies on climate change.

This just in from Co-op America's email:
"Mutual funds like American Funds, Morgan Stanley, Pioneer, Vanguard, and more have a history of abstaining or voting against climate resolutions. Tell them with us that the time to act is now.

Push mutual funds to act on climate change »"

Big deals at Patagonia

Patagonia, one the the goodest (I know that's not a word, but it's our blog and we can do what we want to) companies on the planet. If you need any great gear that will last a lifetime, then check out their uber-fab dealios:

From a Patagonia email:

After your downwind paddle, glide on over to the Web Specials* section of Patagonia.com and dig in to some discounted gear. The list below is just a sampling of the off-season and special make-up items you'll find at 30-60% off retail prices. Styles, colors and prices change periodically so check back often.

M's Synchilla® Marsupial - Special Was $80 NOW $40

M's Micro Synchilla® Jacket Was $99 NOW $49

M's Nooner Jacket Was $138 NOW $70

M's Buckshot Flannel Shirt - Special Was $78 NOW $39

M's Super Guide Jacket - Pro Patrol Was $165 NOW $82.50

M's Lightweight Stand Up Shorts® - 7" Inseam - Special Was $50 NOW $29

M's Capilene® 3 Crew - Special Was $44 NOW $26.40

W's Retro-X Jacket - Special Was $175 NOW $105

W's Braata Flair Pants Was $50 NOW $30

W's Brushed Vitaliti Blazer Was $90 NOW $54

W's Synchilla® Marsupial - Special Was $80 NOW $40

Overhead Shed Was $245 NOW $125

Critical Mass® Bag Was $99 NOW $49

Kids' Synchilla® Marsupial - Special Was $59 NOW $35.40

You can now shop by size or browse all Web Specials

Organic Style Early Bunny Special: Tulips + Chocolate Giveaway

Hey Conscious Spenders! If you are in the market to send flowers, go organic!

Organic Style sent an email out announcing a special flower deal with OrganicBouquet.com - they are offering a FREE chocolate gift with Easter Tulips!


Organic gifty fabulousness!

Contact Your Senator Today to Vote YES on Toy Safety Amendment

Three Leaf Cards loves the Breast Cancer fund because they work so hard to get to the root of breast cancer issues - it's all about research and education and health issues start early....

I never think about toys being toxic, but they can be and you can help. From a recent BCF email:

"What started with lead in children's toys has become much more—and forced us all to look more critically at the toys and teethers we buy for our kids.

Yesterday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced an amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act that would ban six toxic chemicals called phthalates from children's toys and child care articles. A vote on the amendment is expected this week.

Phthalates, a family of industrial chemicals used to make plastic soft, have been linked to birth defects in baby boys, testicular cancer, liver problems and early onset of puberty in girls—a risk factor for later-life breast cancer.

The European Union and 14 other countries, including Japan, Argentina and Mexico, have already banned these toxic chemicals from children's toys. In October 2007, California became the first state in the nation to enact a statewide ban on phthalates in children's toys, and now about a dozen states are following suit.

Urge your senator to vote yes on the Feinstein amendment, and to oppose any weakening amendments.

Contact your senator TODAY »
USA Today: "Everywhere chemicals" in plastics alarm parents »
Ask friends and family to take action »

Our way of life is killing the planet

I rarely use the blog to rant - it is my job to give you ideas about how to spend consciously, but I had a crude awakening over the weekend that I wanted to share as I think it applies to some of our planetary pitfalls and if we don't become more aware of the connection of our lifestyle and the impacts of it on the planet, we will hose ourselves.

Okay, here I go....

I travel a lot for work and as a conscious spender, I work to offest my impact with things like Terrapass to offest my carbon emissions for driving, 41pounds.org to stop junk mail, I use eco-friendly cleaning products and I support conscious businesses....BUT...I was strapped for cash last weekend and selected a more budget hotel (vs. a sustainable hotel) this weekend (I was teaching in the Bay area) and because I had time alone to think and observe, I really got a nasty taste of our time-crunched culture and how our way of life may be a direct link to the negative dent on the planet....

Let me explain....

I stopped to get gas as I drove up the coast and the places I stopped at for gas only sell junk...plastic water bottle everything, packaged foods, ick. I watched as my fellow travelers purchased dozens of plastic bottled goods and body-toxifying items (that really aren't food when you think about it) All the junk being sold at "convenience stores" have packaging that can end up in landfills OR hopefully some plastic will get recycled, but it's really disturbing when you look hard at it...

I will not name the hotel I stayed it, but I can tell you that I am NEVER staying there again! I got up for my continental breakfast and I was abhorred by:
1. All the crap that was out for breakfast
2. That ALL the serving utensils were plastic or foam!
3. All the trashable crap that was in my room from coffee making items, toiletries and more.

To help diminish my eco-impact at breakfast, I went up to my room and got my personal cup for coffee but I was really freaking out as I watched my fellow travelers eat fast, eat stupid and worst of all - waste, waste, waste.

Shame on the hotel for not being mindful of the products they put out, but

SHAME ON US for our time-crunched culture where we all move so fast and multi task and eat on the run so we make so much waste. I really believe that our culture is the culprit and until we change our lifestyles, we cannot make the best choices for our planet and future generations.

It's hard being a single girl on a budget...it's not always easy to support eco-friendly hotels when you have bills to pay, but frankly, I'd rather be poor in paradise then go cheap and stay somewhere like I did last weekend.

We CAN make a difference if we care and are aware. I want everyone to think about ways they can ease the time crunch so you have time to fill your own reusable cups before you hit the road, actually eat while sitting down so your body gets the nourishment it needs and you can take a moment to breathe and remember to recycle, make conscious choices and give a damn...

I welcome all opinions - I need ideas, thoughts, challenging opinions!

NO PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES!

Yep, you heard me...no plastic water bottles :) I committed to not buying plastic water bottles as part of the no Plastic Water bottle Challenge hosted by the Brooklyn Green Team and that is my story, and I am sticking to it!

I am 11 days into my commitment and it's been no problemo. I even walked my desk-ridden bum down to the water dispenser (a few blocks away from the home office) this week with two gallon jugs and paid my 60 cents to refill them then walked home. Eco-friendly, low cost workout for a healthy planet and healthier body!

Your future Brooklyn green friends (SIGN UP) send reminders once you commit to the challenge and I love the great tips. Here's one from this week:

"Remember to use a ceramic or glass mug for your liquids throughout the day and when you need water on the go, look for a #1 or #2 plastic to avoid leaching. OR try Swellz a company that makes water sacks, hand-made in Spain (the original birthplace of water sacks) using latex interiors hand sewn with soft leather with a handy-strap for carrying. They're good for hot and cold and they age like a favorite baseball glove."

Three Leaf Cards is also supporting the challenge by donating a free one-year e-card membership every week until Earth Day for individuals who join the challenge. Our eco-cool cards are nature-inspired online greeting cards (tree-free!) and we donate 10% each of annual membership fees to nonprofit organizations.

Erase waste, reduce, reuse, recycle! And join the no water bottle challenge - I DARE YOU!!!

JOIN THE CHALLENGE NO DISPOSABLE WATER BOTTLES
Kick the Disposable Lifestyle this FEBRUARY - APRIL
To Join, email brooklyngreen@gmail.com and write SIGN ME UP! (please include your first and last name or at least last initial)

A GreenSage Guide to Indoor Air Quality

Elaine Ireland did a great post for GreenSage.com, Where Every Issue is a Green Issue (love that!) on Indoor Air Quality.

Did you know that one of the WORST places we can be for toxins is inside and worse, in our homes (eeek!) We have to think about this stuff...environmental issues are not just political, they are emotional because they impact our health!

Per Elaine's post:
"Thousand of pollutants are found indoors. Chemicals, particulates and biological contaminants can wreak havoc on occupants. Indoor exposure concentrations are one to five times, and sometimes as much as 100 times, more polluted than outdoors. Here's the Guide to what these pollutants are and what you can do."

Check out the GreenSage Guide to Indoor Air Quality

Consciousness starts with awareness - pay attention to your environment (and I'm not just talking about outside!!!)

Santa Barbara Sustainability Blog

A super cool Santa Barbaraian, launched a Santa Barbara Sustainability Blog that we wanted to share - it is a blog with passion and purpose:

"This project is to educate and inform while providing consultation and "green" ides to companies so that they may make better strategic business plans that include "go-green" eco-friendly ideas that will support our surrounding environment and will save companies money."

The blogger, Crystal, is a student at Antioch University in Santa Barbara, Ca. It is so cool to see great resources like sustainability blogs pop up online! Bookmark this blog babes - this blog will be a wealth of information!

The Story of Stuff - You HAVE to watch this!

One of my super great friends just sent me the link to the Story of Stuff - so cool!

The site http://www.storyofstuff.com/ explains the video well:

"From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever."

You owe it to yourself and family to watch this and be a conscious consumer!!!

Kenneth Cole Launches New Fashion aWEARness Blog

Kenneth Cole has always been a trendsetter, not only with his stellar style, but also in his social, political and environmental activism.

Now Cole has an aWEARness (how cool is he?) blog to communicate and generate awareness about social issues and more.

It's about time fashion REALLY met function. Support companies like Kenneth Cole who are gusty enough to flex the art of fashion and the power of media to influence greater good.

Check out the new aWEARness blog by Kenneth Cole.

This YouTube Video put on by the Kenneth Cole team made me cry at my desk. This is what it's about conscious spenders - being aware and learning to care...

Patagonia & UClimb invites rock climbing beginners to Joshua Tree

For many people interested in learning to rock climb, the most
daunting hurdle is finding a safe and cost effective first experience
more than the physical challenge of climbing itself. UClimb, an
organization designed to bring people closer to the outdoors by
teaching rock climbing in comfortable small-group settings, is an
ideal entry point for those with the desire to do just that. One of
four national UClimb events occurring in 2008 will be hosted in Joshua
Tree, California on April 12-13.

Sponsored by Mountain Gear and Patagonia, the Joshua Tree UClimb event
will include professional climbing instruction. Instructors will take
small groups of climbers to get hands-on experience while learning
climbing techniques, how to use the gear, knot tying, belaying and
etiquette.

"UClimb is dedicated to not only getting new rock climbers involved in
the sport, but also getting people enthusiastic about outdoor
activity," said Phil Bridgers, UClimb event coordinator.

Registration for the weekend event begins at $159 for youth ages 10-17
and $199 for adults. Registration includes professional climbing
instruction, camping at Indian Cove Campground on Friday and Saturday,
transportation from the campground to the climbing areas, a barbeque
on Saturday and a pancake breakfast on Sunday.

For more information and to register, call 800.829.2009 or visit:
mountaingear.com/uclimb/eventdetails.aspx?eventid=5

Day 7 of the No Water Bottle Challenge!

I am on day 7 of my commitment to not use disposable water bottles challenge I have successfully re-used my containers for gym water and have not purchased any plastic bottles!

I walk my gallon jugs to a little water refiller in Summerland, Ca where I live so I am even re-using my old gallon jugs.

Since I committed to the challenge, I have been really surprised at how aware I am of ALL the plastic water, gatorade, juice and tea that are everywhere. Dang, what happened to actually pouring or making a beverage and not having to throw it in our eco-raper cars and drive to our next "thing" Yeesch.

As I work on my issues with our time crunched nation and societal norms and consumption, I will continue to blog about the challenge and anything green and great!

Be aware, make great choices and think not just about the now but how our actions impact the future!

Last Day of Patagonia's 50% Savings on Warm Gear!

Hey Conscious Spenders!
If you need (note - NEED) any winter or warm gear that will last through the ages (Patagonia stuff lasts forever!) Then you can still find super steals and deals on fall/winter Patagonia clothing.

The Winterfest Sale ends today!

Shop Patagonia Sale

Tell America's Banks: Clean Energy Now!

Co-Op America, one of my favorite non-profit organizations on the planet (that serves to help the planet!) is urging us to tell America's banks that we want clean energy now. We CAN make a difference and sway the organizations we support to continue to serve our wants and needs.

The tide is turning for coal, which is a devastating environmental call (if you have ever seen a coal plant live, it is the most disgusting thing ever!) Good new is that three of America’s biggest investment banks – Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and J.P. Morgan Chase – announced that they have developed new “Carbon Principles,” calling for increased investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and limited investments in coal.

The door is still open for these three banks to invest in coal – if it can be shown to turn a profit – and their new standards don’t go far enough in limiting other polluting technologies, or in funding green energy solutions, so we need to communicate our desire as customers of all institutions that we won't settle for pollution.

A recent study released by Ceres ranked the world’s banks on their commitment to addressing carbon emissions, with European banks taking the top five slots in their survey. And compared to community investing banks and credit unions nationwide, which set the standard for lending that helps communities and the environment, America’s largest banks are in the dark ages.

Help Co-op America help you as a banking and financial services customer, to reach out to four of America’s largest banks – Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Wachovia – and tell them they need to do more on climate change. They need to end all financing of coal, set targets for the reductions of CO2 emissions for all their borrowers, and set targets for investments in energy efficiency and renewables.

A few years ago, 150 new coal-fired power plants were proposed across the country. Co-op America’s members and e-activists raised their voices to say to no to the utilities that propose coal plants and the banks that finance them, and in the last two years, 15 plants opposed by Co-op America have been canceled – with dozens more canceled after local and national opposition. We need to keep the momentum up to convince banks that coal is never a good investment.

TAKE ACTION SEND YOUR LETTER NOW!

WorldofGood.com eBay community is LIVE!

I am so excited to share with you all that we have a great new conscious spending resource! WorldofGood, powered by eBay, is an awesome online community where individuals can create positive change through commerce, as part of a global community.

The founders saw the need for education and collaboration so people could be more empowered with the choices they make to better impact people and the planet. World of Good partnered with eBay to marry passion with web power and voila! Super conscious community!

What I love about the site is the people-powered component. It's all about collaboration, trusted information and transparency into how and where products are made.

Three Leaf Cards blogs periodically on World of Good, and I encourage you to bookmark their site and create an account and make a difference!

There was a great interview on Treehugger.co, about the founder - check it out! Treehugger Interview: Robert Chatwani, eBay’s Greenest Rising Star

Day One of No Water Bottle Use

It is day one of my no water bottle usage committment. I would like to thank my new friend Amanda from the Brooklyn Green Team (how eco-hot are they, by the way?!!!) for emailing me back so fast when I pledged my committment. Y'all rock!

Day one is off to a good start. I have this old Starbucks almminum mug that is going to come with me everyhere to spare any desire to buy or use a water bottle.

Right now it is full of coffee, but nonetheless, I have not used a water bottle yet.
I will also commit to bringing my own pre-filled water bottle to they gym to spare any desire to buy a plastic water bottle.

If you haven't signed up for the NO WATER BOTTLE CHALLENGE, get on it! Every little thing makes a BIG difference!

WATER BOTTLE CHALLENGE

Laurie David, one of our eco-heroes and founder of www.stopglobalwarming.org, sends a superb enewsletter (if you are not on the list go to www.stopglobalwarming.org and get on it)

One of her email topics was proposing that we commit to NOT USE WATER BOTTLES between now and Earth Day. The following is straight from Laurie's email:

"Inspired by our friends at Brooklyn Green Team, who are running their own "No Disposable Water Bottle Challenge," we would like to challenge our virtual marchers to give up disposable water bottles. Start with a commitment not to purchase any plastic bottled beverages between now and Earth Day (April 22).

Every year, Americans throw away over 22 billion plastic bottles, the majority ending up in landfills. Across the country, only 10 percent of plastic water bottles are recycled, says a report from the New York state Department of Conservation. Bottle production requires millions of barrels of oil, and the bottles create toxic air pollution as they are incinerated with regular trash. As the Brooklyn Green Team puts it, it's time for us all to "kick the disposable lifestyle."

I am ready to try this out...it's just me and my aluminum bottle baby! Anyone else who is in, please post a comment to this blog. If we get a strong response, we'll donate free online greeting card memberships as prizes to support the No Disposable Water Bottle Challenge!

I want to see some support!!!!

'Mood lighting' can still save energy

I get a great eNewsletter from Community Environmental Council and they had a great tip on mood lighting!

"Dimmable lights in your home or office can have their bulbs replaced by highly efficent CFLs. Learn where to buy them on www.GetEnergized.org"

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

THREE LEAF CARDS LOVES YOU!
We want to wish all our great clients, partners, and non profit partners (Breast Cancer Fund, Sustainable Conservation, Co-Op America, Mountain Institute, 1% for the Planet and Conservation Fund) a wonderful heart day!

We love you all - thank you for your support of our great online greeting cards. We love serving a greater good :)

Oh, and it's not too late to send a fabulous Valentine's Day eCard!

Last Minute Valentine's Day eCards

I have been buried, hence the lack of posts this week, BUT I was a good girl and sent all my loved ones Valentine's Day eCards with Three Leaf Cards. Who has time to send paper cards these days anyway?

It's not too late, save time and trees and support great non profits - give a great nature card...and give your people a moment of nature zen with those fab cards :0)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! May you all be conscious spenders even on this Hallmark holiday! Give a plantable plant, something that makes oxygen, an online greeting card, organic dinner, wine...green can be romantic you know!

20% OFF at Greenloop for Valentine's Day - Ends Soon!

Valentine's Day is coming and Greenloop is offering 20% off green Valentine's Day gifts! The coupon good through February 10th. Use code: GREENLOVE

Patagonia Walks the Talk with Freedom to Roam Initiative

Patagonia is one of our favorite companies.
1. They have AMAZING outdoor products that we use when we are shooting photos for our online greeting cards
2. They are a socially responsible company (Three Leaf Cards is a member of 1% for the Planet)
3. They are an environmentally active company.

They have an initivate called Freedom to Roam that is dedicated to establishing migration wildways for animals between protected areas. Patagonia’s partners in Freedom to Roam include other companies, conservation organizations and recreation groups.

I got this email from Patagonia that explains the purpose and passion:
"Climate change threatens to drive more than a million land species to extinction, according to the Extinction Risk from Climate Change study. Habitats for mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, and butterflies will become warmer. If these species remain trapped in warming habitats due to human development, one-quarter of them could disappear by the end of this century.

Providing species (like this grizzly) with greater freedom to roam between shifting habitats can do much to support their survival. In North America, this means protecting and restoring wildlife corridors along the Pacific Crest, the Continental Divide, the Appalachians, and several other smaller, but equally important, locales.

Freedom to Roam is a partnership of conservation organizations, recreation groups and corporations dedicated to establishing migration corridors between protected areas."

Learn more about the Freedom to Roam partnership and SUPPORT COMPANIES that CARE!

You can vote with your wallets conscious spenders!!

Organic Style Magazine - PaperLESS Edition!

Organic Style Magazine now has a paperless digital edition so we can still get their great organic style news AND Save Trees!

Read the free edition of Organic Style and make a conscious choice to recycle any magazines you do not read anymore.

Good recycling magazine tip - to get more life out of the printed magazines, take mags you have read already to your gym so your guy buddies can share!

Give TOMS this Valentine's Day

Conscious Spenders,
Since Valentine's Day is coming, I thought I'd focus my posts on socially responsible companies that serve a greater good (Since Three Leaf Cards is all about making a difference, we'd feature companies in our same camp!)

If you give Tom's shoes as a gift (gifts to yourself are ok too!) every pair you buy = one given to a child in need.

Oh, and let's not forget to mention that Tom is a megababe, we can consciously support cute do-gooders - woohoo!

Be well!

Send Meaningful Valentine's Cards Online!

Hey Conscious Spenders,
I rarely plug Three Leaf Cards but since it's almost Valentine's Day (and it is my blog and I can do what I want to!), I have to suggest conscious spending by getting an annual membership to send great online greeting cards that serve a greater good!


Three Leaf Cards has GREAT Valentine's Day Cards that have amazing imagery and beautiful quotes...have fun making cards and you can schedule them in advance so you can hit up all your loved ones!!!

Don't Hate Me Because I am Eco-Beautiful

Eco Friendly Fashion never looked hotter! ShopBop.com has three pages of eco-friendly pages which is a great step towards fashion getting green.

Be a conscious spender and wear what is already in your closet. If you NEED anything else, then buy eco-friendly clothing and make a conscious fashion statement!

You can find other eco-friendly fashion on inhabitat.com

and Stewart and Brown - Organic Fashion Pioneers

and if you want to eco-fluff the heck outta your interior design, then Livingreen is a hot shop!

There's a bitchin cool flower in my teacup

I got a sweet gift (my friend is buying all his gifts lately from remindyourlove.com to consciously show his love of his fave ladies) and I am enthralled with the Adagio tea bags that I got - the tea bag opens up to a blooming flower in your tea cup. It made my gloomy afternoon! eeeee!

Check these flower tea blossoms out!

I love the Hotel Triton so much that I want to marry it

Well, after a post like that I don't really know how to follow, but I'll give it a go! I was up in San francisco this week and stayed at my favorite hotel EVER! Hotel Triton is owned by the Kimpton Hotel Group. They are a socially responsible company. Their mission says it all:

"Be a leader in the hospitality industry in supporting a sustainable world, by continuing to deliver a premium guest experience through non-intrusive, high quality, eco-friendly products and services."

I love supporting Kimpton Hotels 1. Because their hotels ROCK and 2. Because of their Earth Care committment:

"Kimpton Hotels has made a life-long commitment to environmental responsibility. Being environmentally responsible is not a one day job. It is a commitment and one that Kimpton is dedicated to for life. Every three months, new products and practices are introduced to Kimpton EarthCare, furthering our vision to reduce our impact on the environment. Of course, all the while we protect the high quality hotel experience our guests expect."

The service is stellar, the eco-friendly emphasis makes me feel good about where I put my moolah and I am surronded with conscious care.

Sustainable Furniture - New Conscious Choice

When I attended last year's Co-Op America Conference in San Francisco, I walked away inspired and committed to making choices about where my money goes to help make a difference.

My conscious choice of the week was investing in new office furniture, but not just any office furniture, sustainable office furniture!

I am buying National Office Furniture not because it's a cheap deal (oh noooo!), but because they are a company that cares and I am buying (or should I say investing) in a QUALITY product that I will have forever. Plus, my home office will look really sexy and that's a plus too!!!

If you want to make conscious choices, support companies that WALK THE TALK. Need advice on how to find these companies? Check out members of 1% for the Planet. Three Leaf Cards is a member of 1% for the Planet, a very conscious choice that counts to consumers who want to support companies that put their money where their mouth is!

Ernesto Soy Lube for Bikes

Ernesto is trying to build name recognition with a soy-based bike lube. It’s biodegradable, and you can even send the empty bottle back when it’s gone to get it refilled.

If you’re looking to lower the environmental footprint of your bike, this might be the only way to increase your righteousness while winding a cargo bike through streets crowded with SUVs.

A 4oz bottle of Ernesto Lube is only $6.

Kudos to a Santa Barbara Day Spa Owner for Recycling!

I stumbled upon a Busy Working Moms Blog run by a day spa owner in Santa Barbara. Check out her cool tips about recycling.

I LOVE business people that care!!!

Read the Recycling Made Easy Article from the BusyWorkingMom blog and support conscious business people where you live!!!

Conscious Hotelling

Greetings from the Georgia Tech Conference Hotel in Atlanta (it snowed here today!) I had a conscious moment when I checked into my room...

So much of the toiletries go to waste..do we REALLY need to open soaps in the shower and bathtub?

Help minimize your hotel consumption:

1. Only use one soap during your stay (it won't kill you to pick the soap up from the sink and take it to the shower!)

2. If the hotel has a linens program where you can request that they don't clean your linens daily, opt for that!

3. Turn off all lights when you are not in the room!

Free Envirosax Shopping Bag with a $50 Greenloop Purchase

Need clothes? Buy green! Greenloop has sustainable clothes that look as good as they make you feel AND they are giving away sweet bags with a $50 purchase! Just enter code ENVIROSAX into the Order Comments box under your Payment Method at checkout, and Greenloop will include 1 FREE Envirosax Shopping Bag for each $50.00 of your purchase.

Shop on conscious spender!

Great Site - www.uptownliz.com

Hey Readers,
I wanted to share a new site from my new blog pal, Ramona Russell.

www.uptownliz.com was created in memory of Ramona's 28 year old sister, Liz who sadly lost her life from breast cancer last year. The site that supports giving back through shopping.

Uptown Liz (www.uptownliz.com) promotes products from companies whose proceeds directly give back to charitable organizations.

Check it out and support fellow conscious business people....our dollars can make a difference!

Conscious Spending Tip - Online Bank Statements!

Quick tip of the day - Save time and trees and make a positive eco-decision today.

Set all your financial statements to be online only!

I received several tax statements in my email inbox today and went and changed all my banks statements to be web only...no more papers to file, no extra mail, one step towards saving trees.

What are you waiting for? Go make the change! :)

Confessions of a Conscious Shopper

Sometimes it's tough being a wild web woman. You live behind a computer screen, your only interactions with the outside world are via email or web conferencing and you feel all alone in your little wild web world. Now, don't get me wrong...my lack of commute and work flexibility is great, but sometimes you just have "one of those days"...

...And sometimes when the going gets tough, the tough just has to go shopping....

So I was at a meeting (yes, an actual get in the car and meet people in person meeting) and the shopping mall was on the way home...going back to my home office and sitting behind the laptop was not desirable and since I was already in the shopping area, I realize that it would be less impactful to shop now versus make a second driving trip (you are hearing all the shopping excuses already!) back to the mall, so I make a conscious shopping choice to STOP, SHOP and ROLL....keep rolling with me as I confess my not-so guilty shopping sins....

Let me first pat my conscious spending self on the back for taking my canvas bag with me before I started my shopping extravaganza. Go me...ok, rolling on...

First shopping stab - AVEDA. I love Aveda so much I want to marry them. Their products are amazing, the company is cool and most importantly, they are dedicated to making a difference. I try to consciously support companies that do good and Aveda is top on my shop therapy list. Did you know that they are the first beauty company manufacturing with 100% certified wind power?

So, I walk into Aveda feeling pitiful and tired and I am overwhelmed with a stellar customer service "Welcome to Aveda!" greeting. As I sip calming Aveda tea, I get pampered with makeup help (and honestly, I needed some help in the beautification department) a hand massage and overall stellar service. After I look like a naturally glowing goddess thanks to my Aveda superstar, I use my Aveda points (BTW, I am going to Jamaica on Aveda points, mark my conscious spending words!) and as the women are ringing me up, they thank me profusely for bringing my own canvas bag. Getting shopping support when I try to be green really rocks. Then we proceed to talk about their new wind energy movement, my goal to go to Jamaica (a la supporting Aveda) and I'm off....

My seond shop therapy stop was lululemon athletica. I had a gift certificate to the store burning a hole in my pocket and there was no better time than now. Conscious spender note - lululemon has great shopping bags I use as a gym bag or lunch bag and they give you $.50 off when you bring in any shopping bag. I love stuff like that!

I find some great workout wear that is in line with my gift certificate amount and I bought basic black so I can wear this stuff forever. Suggestion for conscious fashionistas - buy classic and the shelf life of clothing will be super long...saves shop time because you have the basics you need and you don't have the trend factors that kill clothing shelf life. lululemon has a great manifesto
that is very pro balance, health and what really matters. Another cool company that I am happy to support.

Once my canvas bag had new workout clothes and Aveda goodies, I was consciously shopped out and wanted to call it quits. I supported two great companies, felt good about my choices and now feel some redemption from my conscious shopping confessional......

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......

Win a free trip to the Seattle Green Festival!

One of Three Leaf Card's nonprofit partners, Co-Op America, wants you to join them at their newest Green Festival this spring in Seattle.

They are giving you a chance to win a trip for two during the weekend of April 12 and 13, to enjoy visionary speakers, hands-on workshops, green shopping, live music, fun family activities, and more at our famous two-day party-with-a-purpose, co-produced with Global Exchange.

The Green Festival shows you what a truly green economy would look like – Fair Trade, renewable energy, organic food, sweatshop-free clothing, recycling and composting, and much more.

For your chance to win, simply answer their short survey about your green living steps and you'll be entered for the getaway. Tell three friends about the getaway and you'll get three more chances to win. (See rules and restrictions.) The survey questions help COA plan the articles for their e-newsletter, print newsletter, and magazine for you all year long, so don't hold back.

The Seattle Green Festival Getaway prize includes airfare for two to Seattle, two weekend passes to the Green Festival, a weekend stay at a green hotel, dinner at a green restaurant, public transportation passes to help you get around Seattle car-free, and carbon offsets to make the whole trip totally carbon neutral!

Visit http://lists.coopamerica.org:8383/t/1534122/315554/42248/0/ for more information about the contest or click here to answer their survey -- and to enter for your chance to win the Seattle Green Festival Getaway.

Conscious Gifts for Valentine's Day

Heyheyhey Conscious Spenders!
I hope you are well. I'm loving this shiny new year...we can all start the year out right by making wise spending choices and STICKING TO THEM!

Although I am normally not one to be a big "Hallmark holiday" supporter, I do have to share some conscious gifting ideas for those of you who honor Valentine's Day so you spend consciously!

Need great Valentine's Day gift ideas? Shop Co-op America's Green Businesses for conscious companies so your gifts give back and make a difference.

You all know how giddy I was over my gifts from the holiday from Organic Bouquet - I'd support them again ANYTIME. Other great Valentine's Day gifts can be found too!

And for those of you who actually want to be really conscious with spending on the day of love, take your loved one for a walk and have a picnic and save resources and moolah!!!!!!!!

OrganicStyle.com Offering 10% Discount!

Don't Panic - Organic Style is offering a 10% Discount! I got an email from them today - follow this link to get 10% off (they build the discount in and you see it in the shopping cart.

Organic Egg Whites From Eggology

As a conscious spender, I always want to buy products that are healthy, safe and make me feel like my money is well spent. I found a good one this week!

I went to Lazy Acres, a local store in Santa Barbara, Ca where I discovered Eggology.com's organic egg whites.

Eggology's egg whites are 100% fresh egg whites - NOTHING else added (unlike some of the not-so yummy egg beaters-type egg whites that give egg whites a bad name).

I have been making egg white omlettes, adding low fat protein to my smoothies and baking with Eggology. I never thought I'd like the taste of egg whites, but I do!!

Go to www.eggology.com - you can order online and get GREAT healthy low fat recipes

eco-friendly acne treatment - tea tree oil

It's a shiny new year (YAY!) but my shiny new blemish is not rocking my new year world. I am a HUGE advocate for tea tree oil, an extraction from the Melaleuca tree.

It is a natural antiseptic and antifungal and it kills my blemishes! You can get
tea tree oil at any health food store and it lasts forever.

Tea tree oil is one of those great must-have items to use on cuts, when you make all natural cleaning products for the household, to kill zits and more!

Super Cool Holiday Gift from Brad Pitt

Yep, I got a Christmas gift from Brad Pitt. Okay, it came from my parents though Pitt's foundation Make it Right, but what woman is not going to pass up the opp to make a statement like that? (sigh)

I did a post on conscious holiday shopping where I talked about trying to get my parents off the "thneed" holiday gifting and I was so impressed and excited when my mom and stepdad make a donation to the Make it Right Foundation in my name this year!

The mission of Make it Right is to be a catalyst for redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, building sustainable homes and preserving the spirit of the comunity's culture. They want to move fast and I love that Brad Pitt is exercising his celebrity visibility to help a great cause.

And my mom and stepdad rock for 1. giving a conscious gift and 2. supporting a good cause, embracing the real meaning of the giving season