Conscious Spending from Three Leaf Cards.com Members and Partners

Santa Barbara Green Spot is now GreenFixes

2008-07-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-16T00:49:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-28T23:26:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-04-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-09T23:20:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-08T23:04:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-01T21:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-03-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

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

2008-03-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-29T21:22:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-28T19:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-26T16:50:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-25T14:39:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-24T21:00:00.001-08:00

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!

2008-02-21T11:18:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-20T10:06:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-19T10:43:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-18T12:42:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-17T15:07:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2008-02-14T13:01:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-13T23:18:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-05T13:58:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-02T21:15:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-02T15:28:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-25T12:36:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-01-19T17:14:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-16T19:32:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-16T18:03:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-15T11:48:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-01-14T11:38:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-12T12:44:00.001-08:00

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!

2008-01-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-01-09T17:24:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-08T10:56:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-02T14:10:00.000-08:00

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

A great message to start the new year on

2007-12-31T14:54:00.000-08:00

I normally get royally miffed when I get forwarded messages from friends with "inspirational" messages but this message (written by George Carlin of all people) was so powerful that I had to share. It's a great kick start and ah-ha for the new year. Here's to a GREAT 2008! I hope you send this post around!

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares? "

--Dr Bob Morehead

Help People and Planet - Give to Co-Op America

2007-12-31T09:24:00.000-08:00

Greetings Conscious Spenders,
For any of you looking for that last taz write off before the end of the year, here's your donation location:

Help Co-op America advance their programs into 2008 and beyond!

Each and every donation goes toward:

Tackling the climate crisis
Building sustainable communities
Creating a fair trading system
Advancing green from coast to coast

Your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar. Give today!

Nature Rocks

2007-12-29T02:18:00.000-08:00

Nature rocks...literally. See some photos from my recent trip to Utah where I took to the open road and enjoyed time in canyons.
When you spend time in nature, it really makes you appreciate the environment...PROTECT IT! :)

Here's to a GREAT 2008!

Help Share Knowledge - Give to the Breast Cancer Fund by December 31

2007-12-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

The Breast Cancer Fund is all about research to aid in Breast Cancer prevention and they need funding to continue their efforts. This is a conscous request to help put any "I want to donate before the end of the year dollars" to a great cause. BCF released a great report called The Falling Age of Puberty in U.S. Girls: What We Know, What We Need to Know by Dr. Sandra Steingraber, and State of the Evidence: The Connection Between Breast Cancer and the Environment.

Any gift through December 31 in support of the Breast Cancer Fund's scientific work will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000.

Women and Men of all ages are at risk for Breast Cancer and you can help!

Click here to help Breast Cancer Fund Reach the $50,000 Betsy Gordon Science Challenge Grant

Green Holiday Recap

2007-12-27T10:13:00.000-08:00

Greetings Conscious Spenders,
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I am in Santa Barbara trying to not inhale all the ash that is STILL blowing around from the October fires and working to get settled back in from the holiday madness.

The holidays were great and my green gifting was a success. The people who received Organic Bouquet flowers from me couldn't rave enough. I will definitely use them for green gifts again. Quality company, amazing service.

I splurged and bought a pretty foofy foofy (but green!) gift from Organic Kitchen via Neiman Marcus that totally rocked my world. As a cleaning nut and green girl, this was the perfect healthy cleaning gift - too coolio. The Patchouli Grapefruit lotion is divine!

It was really positive to see all the green gifts and my mother-in-law even asked for all her gift bags back after her grand kids opened presents to recycle them for next year - I was a proud kid :)

Here's to a happy, healthy new year!

I shopped, I saved, I gave back (to Co-Op America!) I'm stoked!

2007-12-19T14:25:00.000-08:00

It's that fab time of year where all conscious spending goes out the window and we are not in the holiday "oh s-%$" gift-giving-madly mayhem. For those of you who had a list and stuck to it, I sincerely commend you.

I for one, thought I was on track, bragged in a previous post that I had omitted so many unnecessary gifts, yet here I am ready to leave for Utah for the holiday (I live in California) and as I blog, I am also frantically online buying last minute gifts for people I just realized I need to gift.

BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS ! You can still give gifts that give back that are meaningful. Co-Op America has a deal with Organic Bouquet where you get a 25% discount AND $10 is donated to Co-Op America!

So I supported a green company, gave beautiful gifts and supported a great cause.

Whew!!! Still consciously spending!

We will talk about ways to pay off credit cards in 2008! ha!

Happy Holidays!

Give the gift of Green Clean this holiday!

2007-12-18T12:55:00.000-08:00

One of my best friends on the planet is expecting her second baby and the first friend words out of my mouth at lunch last week were questions about the products she uses to clean her house for her 3year old and baby-on the way.

Homes are the MOST TOXIC environments, mainly due to the crap (TOXIC CRAP) that we use to "clean" our homes. Chemicals weaken immune systems, especially infants, kids and seniors (folks with weaker systems)

So, instead of giving a silly gift this year, give the gift of green clean - healthy cleaning products! It's creative, caring and makes a difference.

I lovelovelove www.livingreen.com owned by Ellen Strickland, green pioneer and healthy living advocate extrodinaire. She has stores in Santa Barbara, Montecito and Culver City and now you can shop healthy cleaning products online with them.

Give a great gift this year - help make healthier homes!

Skip the Mall - Shop online and support the Breast Cancer Fund!!!

2007-12-13T12:41:00.000-08:00

Do yourself a favor and spare some stress this holiday season. Make a cup of tea, get on your computer and skip the mall and do your shopping online - who wants to go to fight the parking wars and shop for silly thneeds anyhoo?

You can shop online AND support the breast cancer fund! If you buy through their online shopping mall, they get a percentage of donation with every purchase.

The Breast Cancer Fund supports science and research to help stop breast cancer in the first place. One of my best friends is a breast cancer survivor, I have seen the impact this disease has and I LOVELOVELOVE causes like BCF that work for prevention!

Support a great cause, find great gifts and if you still have not sent cards this year, it's not too late. You can send nature-inspired, video holiday greetings online through Three Leaf Cards. 10% of every annual membership purchase goes to the non-profit organization of your choice, you can choose The Breast Cancer Fund.

Happy Holidays and Here's to Conscious Shopping!

Give the Gift of Feeding a Child for a Year

2007-12-12T20:45:00.000-08:00

Blake Mycoskie (the absolutely handsome) owner of TOMS Shoes, sent out an email today announcing the FEED BAG PROJECT.

For every bag purchased, one child is fed for 1 full school year through the World FOOD Program. The FEED bag is designed to raise awareness and funds for hungry children and to help them get into school and out of hunger. Each FEED bag sold will provide a school year of meals for one child in need and give them the hope of an education and a regular meal. Whether you tote your FEED bag to school, work, play, or shop, remember that your bag helped to FEED and educate one child for one school year.

Need a cool gift? Buy these! Everybody needs a new grocery tote (saves paper and plastic) and it's for a good cause!

Great Conscious Spending Oprah Segment

2007-12-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

I was surfing the web for conscious spending resources to keep the motivation for conscious holiday spending in the air and I came across a great clip from Oprah.

See Oprah's Conscious Spending Segment

It's an older TV segment, but the tips are still valid. It's about spending money with thought and reason.

There is a conscious spending quiz and video clips.

Invest in yourself for the new year, revamp your conscious spending savvy!

Green Gifts - Don't let your gift giving kill you

2007-12-10T19:56:00.000-08:00

It's the time of year where we max out our credit cards in the name of "holiday cheer" and go crazy buying "thneeds"
four our friends, family, coworkers, contact and loved ones.

I am going to be on my green gifts soapbox until the holiday, so I thought I'd kick off my rant by suggesting how you avoid buying holiday gifts period.

I worked in retail (Saks Fifth Avenue) for years and spent my holidays selling, wrapping, selecting and taking returns for all the thneeds that people bought over the holidays. The stress kicked in, conscious spending went out the door. It never failed, I watched people get Christmas coo-coo every year and as much as it made my commissions soar as a shopgirl, it started my loathing for stupid holiday shopping and my start of scaling the madness.

Here's how I started saving my green for the holidays:

1. I stopped the gift exchange stupidness - who needs to buy a gift to get a useless one in return? It ends up in the trash (bad for landfills) or takes up space OR you give a nice gift and get one that is so-so in return. Stupid, done, off the purchase list.

2. I asked my family to stop gift exchanging and give to charity instead. This took my parents years to break the habit (but you know, two years after getting a card that says "I donated to charity" that was not attached to a gift and they come around). I live in a teeny condo, this change has saved my wallet, my space and my stress. It's tough to get this in place, but it is SO worth it.

3. Give gifts to kids under 15 ONLY. The holidays are for kids anyways! Some on, put your moolah into giving to the lives that love this time of year - the smiles you get in exchange are so worth it.

4. Give the gift of connection. I try to take my holiday cash and put it into visits and dinners with family. We don't need a damn thing for the holidays, treat the ones you love to conversation and a great meal. So worth it!

5. When you do give, GIVE GIFTS FROM CONSCIOUS COMPANIES. I give client gifts as I am so grateful for my great work partners and I give gifts from companies like Aveda (Aveda candles are a PERFECT gift)!

Make the holidays meaningful - start by being a conscious spender! Be green and save green!

A truly reSOURCEful toothbrush

2007-12-09T17:37:00.000-08:00

We live in a time crunched world...when we lack time, we tend to naturally lack time to think.

Thank goodness the folks at RADIUS TOOTHBRUSH took the time to think about the fact that 80%, yes 80% of the materials used by standard toothbrushes do not have to be replaced Post thought, they created the source toothbrush. The handles are made with renewable resource bio-plastic handles that are made from recycled wood or flax mixed with post-consumer polypropylene.

SO COOL and uber conscious.

It's the same concept with razors, you only need to replace the heads of those, so why not only replace the heads of toothbrushes? I know, ah-ha!

The next time you get a new toothbrush, get a eco-friendly toothbrush!

I didn't panic when I bought expensive jeans that were organic

2007-12-08T22:17:00.000-08:00

It's been a wild week, plus it's the start of the chaotic holidays. So, what's a stressed out girl to do? SHOP! (Duh!?) So even though I spent a LOT on my new organic bootcut jeans, I feel good that they are 100% organic cotton (and they make my butt look good, thank gawad) Even better, the online clothing boutique that I bought my jeans from, Kate Boutique, donates 1% to Heal the Ocean. Poifect!

Dear Conscious Spending Goddess:
I bought quality over quantity today but and I will wear these timeless jeans forever. I will wash them with my Cleanut Vegan soap only after I have worn them several times because I don't need to wash them every time I wear them. I will wait at minimum four wears. I will wash in cold. I will be a conscious spender. I am grateful for conscious shopping therapy.
Amen.

Spare yourself card sending drama - Send online greetings for the holidays!

2007-11-30T21:35:00.000-08:00

I'm going to do all of you conscious spenders a BIG favor...I am going to tell you now, honestly, that you will not have time to snail mail lots of meaningful paper holiday cards to all the people you care about this year OR you will buy a stack of cards and they will sit on your desk until 2008 and you will feel bad that you didn't have time to send them OR (and this may be the worst scenario) you will just sign the card (BTW, I hate getting a card with nothing but a signature) and stamp it and send the paper cards that have no special message and ends up in the recycle bin (I hope it at least goes into recycle) But don't feel the paper card ick any more...

Say no to holiday paper card lameness! Make a conscious choice to save TIME, TREES and MONEY and send meaningful holiday cards ONLINE with Three Leaf Cards. The owners are both artists, all the cards are custom video cards and the message will be truly meaningful. Plus, you save time, trees and money! It's only $19 for the whole year to send kick-ass online greeting cards (love that!)

With Three Leaf Cards, you can send great memorable cards and custom select the:
-Card
-Quote
-Heading
-Music
-Date (can schedule cards in advance)
-Logo of the non-profit partner who you support (Three Leaf Cards donates to Breast Cancer Fund, Sustainable Conservation, Mountain Institute, Co-Op America and the Conservation Fund.

Save yourself the stress of holiday greetings, be a conscious spender, get a Three Leaf Cards membership and start pre-scheduling those holiday cards now so you can spend more time ENJOYING the holidays! Plus, 10% or more of your membership goes to a GREAT CAUSE...Go!!

5 Easy First Steps You Can Do Today

2007-11-24T17:51:00.000-08:00

MSN now has a Green Section Hooray for that! I love seeing large entities take initiative and make a difference!

Check out the new green tips section on MSN AND their link to 5 easy steps you can take to simplify life and make a healthier life and planet

Part of being a conscious spender is being CONSCIOUS, yep, it's that easy. Think about your actions and your can re-train your brain to make savvier choices for a happier, healthier life.

Here's a recap of the 5 easy steps:
1. Bring a canvas or reuseable bag when you shop. I find it's easiest to have a few in my car at all times for grocery, farmers market, nordstrom (yep, I even bag my new clothes in canvas!)

2. Conserve electricity. I have a two light rule at home and I often find I only need one if I am home alone. Candles make a better light and mood at night anyhoo!

3. Save gas. Can you walk to the post office vs. driving there on your lunch hour? If so, DO IT! The planet and your tush will thank you for it!

4. Buy local. The waste involved in transporting produce is insane, support local farmers for healthier produce and to minimize impact. You are what you eat so eat quality!

5. Reduce your plastic water consumption. I say this as I just bought a six pack of Fiji water at the grocery store thinking I rocked for supporting a green water company however, it would have been better to buy larger quantities of Fiji water vs all the little ones.

I have some conscious choices to make too!

Bags of Change

2007-11-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

A fellow conscious spender referred me to Bags of Change (thank you for your great feedback!) a way to help alleviate all the plastic bage wastola AND support/get deals at organic, fair trade stores.

You can support your local shops and say no to plastic bags forever with Bags of Change. Even better, their organic hemp-cotton bag award you discounts on local, organic and Fairtrade goods at participating stores.

The organic, Fair trade stores are UK based.

Happy shopping!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

It's a day of rest and thanks, so all I have to post is this goofy photo (dare me to bake it???) and overwhelming feelings of gratitude. I am thankful for my great friends and amazing family, health and wonderful work partners. I feel hopeful for the planet and the future. Spend time with children, they are the reason we need to be conscious and caring and make better choices so when it's their time to cook Turkey dinner, they can do so in a healthy planet.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Be a Conscious Shopper - Use Reuseable Bags!

2007-11-21T16:49:00.001-08:00

I am sure a lot of us are frantically doing last minute Turkey Day Shopping. Before you get in the car, make a conscious choice to use reusable bags to reduce your impact on the planet!

Co-Op America awarded their annual People's Choice Award prize this year to ReusableBags.com, a member of their Green Business Network devoted to helping society overcome its addiction to the ubiquitous petroleum-based plastic shopping bag.

"Our ongoing mission since day one has been to change the status quo of society's use-and-toss mentality by providing sound, practical ideas and products," says Vincent Cobb, founder of ReusableBags.com. "We were thrilled to be nominated the past two years, and are incredibly honored to win this year's award."

In addition to being a GREAT company, the eco-friendly shopping bags are great. They are durable, make transporting goods easier and make the planet less landfill-y (it's late, I made that word up)

Buy a few eco-friendly shopping bags and store them in your car, then you never have an excuse to forget and you will spread the conscious spending love!

Buy Shoes that give back - TOMS

2007-11-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

The next time you need a new pair of shoes, buy from a company that gives back - TOMS.

TOMS just introduced their Fall TOMS Collection. With EVERY pair you purchase, TOMS will give away a pair to a child in need.

Companies that give back rock and retail therapy gets a whole new meaning!

Top Ten Green Toys for the Holidays

2007-11-20T08:36:00.000-08:00

One of Three Leaf Card's Nonprofit partners, Co-Op America, just released a Ten Green Toys for the Holidays list.

Start thinking holiday conscious spending - buy Green Toys for tots!

Still NUTS over my new cleanut detergent

2007-11-20T08:11:00.000-08:00

I am not one to gush over doing laundry, but last week I did a post on my new eco-friendly laundry detergent and I love it so much I want to marry it.

A week later, my clothes smell yummy and are really, truly softer than ever.

I am hooked on cleanut detergent. Vegan detergent, good for skin, organic ingredients. It makes laundry tolerable!

Play a Cool Online Game AND feed hungry people free!

2007-11-18T17:08:00.000-08:00

Greetings Conscious Spenders,
For those of you who need a constructive diversion from your day (great diversions include reading this blog too!!!) Check out FreeRice!

FreeRice is a sister site of the world poverty site, Poverty.com. They have two goals:

1. To provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
2. To help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

They do the cool site they do because of sponsors who advertise on this site.

What are you waiting for? Go play!

Gifts that make a Difference

2007-11-18T13:48:00.000-08:00

Aveda (one of my favorite companies on the planet) is using renewably-sourced paper in their gift sets this year to help brighten the future for families and forests. Aveda stated on one of their gift flyers that:

"Over 20% of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions worldwide are due to forest loss"

You can learn more about the Aveda partnership here in their video.

As a conscious customer, I love knowing that my dollars to Aveda give back.

Little Spending Choices can Light the Way

2007-11-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

Hola Conscious Spenders,
I have been reading a lot of articles and listening to people talk about ways we can help make the planet a better place by conserving and making better choices and one pattern I hear a lot is that small, simple choices can make a big difference (if we all take part!)

I thought I'd kick off the weekend with a simple conscious spending tip - when it is time to replace those light bulbs, buy compact.

There was a great article in Fast Company in 2006 Called How Many Lightbulbs Does it Take to Change the World? One.

According to the article:
"Compact fluorescents emit the same light as classic incandescents but use 75% or 80% less electricity.

What that means is that if every one of 110 million American households bought just one ice-cream-cone bulb, took it home, and screwed it in the place of an ordinary 60-watt bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people. One bulb swapped out, enough electricity saved to power all the homes in Delaware and Rhode Island. In terms of oil not burned, or greenhouse gases not exhausted into the atmosphere, one bulb is equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the roads.

That's the law of large numbers--a small action, multiplied by 110 million." (Source: FastCompany.com)

So if Home Depot is on your weekend shopping list, pick the compact fluorescents!

Now Accepting Climb Against the Odds 2008 Applications

2007-11-16T16:22:00.001-08:00

Want to make a great New Year's resolution that gives back in a big way?

Join the Climb Against the Odds mountain expedition hosted by Breast Cancer Fund. The event is for breast cancer survivors, supporters and others impacted by the disease —both women and men. They only take 40 climbers on the team, so slots are filling fast.

If you would like to join the inspiring journey for breast cancer prevention, now's the time!

Learn more and apply to climb today »

Event: Climb Against the Odds
Dates: June 15 to 21, 2008
Location: Mt. Shasta, Calif.

Note - the photo is two-time Breast Cancer Fund Climb Against the Odds team member Sherry Miller, 52, of Reno, Nev. She stood on the summit of Mt. Shasta in July 2006 while undergoing her fifth round of chemotherapy. Sherry died May 1 of metastatic breast cancer.

Urge Congress to Connect Diseases with Causes

2007-11-16T16:18:00.000-08:00

The information below came directly from the Breast Cancer Fund Newsletter. Help them help you...read below and take action!

125 million Americans live with some form of chronic disease, 3 million with breast cancer. Science points to our increased exposure to toxic chemicals as a contributing factor. Yet there is no nationwide system to track chemical exposures and link them to rates of breast cancer and other diseases.

Senator Hillary Clinton and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have introduced The Coordinated Environmental Public Health Network Act of 2007 to meet this urgent need.

Their bills would expand what we know about disease rates, the pollution levels in people, exposure to toxic chemicals and how they’re all connected—and to respond so we can prevent breast cancer and other diseases in the future.

Ask your legislators to support the Coordinated Environmental Public Health Network Act »

The average woman consumes one tube of lipstick a year - make it organic!

2007-11-13T22:16:00.000-08:00

In a former life, I was a cosmetics manager (a "get my butt though college" job that paid well!) and I recall learning in one of my sales trainings that the average woman consumes one tube of lipstick a year. That stat freaked me out (I wish I could recall the source) but it does make you think....

If you are going to wear lip color and you are going to ingest some of it, you better make it good for you!

I discovered Colorganics Lip Tint It is sheer, organic lip tint that is moisturizing with a slight hint of natural color, perfect actually. It's made with organic castor oil and moisturizing organic hemp seed oil.

For those of you who are really into safe cosmetics, ingredients are below.

Ingredients: Certified organic castor oil, certified organic beeswax, carnauba wax, certified organic hemp seed oil, certified organic jojoba oil, natural vitamin E. May contain mica, iron oxides, carmine, titanium dioxide (non-FD&C natural pigments).

Conscious beauty comes via conscious spending! May your next tube of lipstick be a quality one!

Help Spread the Word About Climate Change

2007-11-12T21:14:00.000-08:00

Hey Coolio Conscious People!

Since it's almost that time to give thanks, I thought I'd suggest that we give thanks for nature and the planet and take advantage of the power of the world wide web and:

1. connect with people you care about
2. help spread the word about climate change (it's not going away, awareness is the first step towards conscious change)

Check out the free powerful climate change cards on Three Leaf Cards and the slightly satirical climate change card and send the card around!

Have a great day!
P.S. The "Glacier Guy Free Video" was featured at an NRDC dinner

Nuts Over My New Laundry Detergent

2007-11-12T11:56:00.000-08:00

I recently purchased an eco-friendly laundry detergent that that I discovered at the Green Festival in SF last week. It's made with natural and organic ingredients, it's allergy free, and REALLY economical. Only 1 FL oz per load - too coolio!

The products we use on ourselves get into our water systems so we have to be conscious of what we use for our health and the planet.

cleanut has no dyes, no phosphates, it's safe for septic systems and IT WORKS. My clothes are softer and the smell is great.

We can can make easy choices that make for a better planet, respect the planet, respect the products that end up on your skin and support great companies that make good stuff!

Cleanut - The Powerful Soap Nut - Liquid Laundry Detergent - TWO bottles of 25 Fl. Oz. each - 50 LOADS (1 Fl. Oz./load = only $ 0.38/LOAD)

Do you NEED that Thneed? :)

2007-11-11T11:13:00.000-08:00

I am still riding my creative retreat high from all the insight I gained from the Co-Op America Green Conference and traveling home yesterday allowed me to reflect on what I learned from all the speakers and attendees about being a responsible customer, business person and community leader and the biggest a-ha and summary on what I can do to make a difference goes back to the basis that I learned from Dr. Seuss:

YOU DON'T NEED A THNEED.

What the heck does that mean? It's really quite simple. I challenge you to go back to life at the age of five and remember the wise lesson from Dear Dr. Seuss in his amazing book, the Lorax.

Dr. Seuss tells the story of the Lorax who wants to save the trees and fights the man who wants to cut down the trees while convincing the masses via savvy marketing that we need "thneeds". After the masses buy these silly thneeds and satiate their consumeristic needs, they end up with a polluted planet and ultimately, a poor quality of life. The little man who fought for what he felt was right in the Lorax is a persona that still exists out there today. These eco-protesters are taking the people and planet issues personally and commit to making their life's work to encourage us to step back and THINK. Yep, think, that's all we have to do to start making a change for the better. Think about the difference between wants and needs and ask yourself when you make purchases if you really need that "thneed" or if you can we re-use something. When we do need to buy something, ask:

1. Where it comes from?
2. Is is made/conducted by a responsible company?
3. Will is last years and years and years?
4. What is the value of the product/service?
5. What are the values of the organization?

The Lorax was right, he is still right, and when you buy that next piece of furniture or bedding or household cleanser or invest in that next fund, ask yourself a few questions first so you put your money into companies and organizations that think first before they produce products and offer services.

If we exercise our thought and take mindful action via conscious spending, we CAN make a difference.

And we all need a darn good excuse to take a healthy retreat back to kidsville, so buy The Lorax and read it to the kids in your world...getting consciuous can also be a hell of a lot of fun!

Green Loop Pre-Holiday Sale

2007-11-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

For those of you who need (need as in need, not want, okay, it's Saturday, maybe a little want is okay) Greenloop (Green Life, Green Style) is having a Pre-Holiday Sale on great vendors like Stewart+Brown and Emily Katz. Don't panic, most of the clothes are organic AND beautiful, so get your green clothes shopping on, or buy your green holiday gifts and save a little moolah so you have more to give to great causes this year!!!

Conscious Spending - Period (Literally)

2007-11-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

This is probably one of the most un-sexy posts I will ever do about conscious spending, but as a woman and someone that gives a damn about people and planet, I cannot NOT talk about conscious spending choices that relate to our periods, specifically healthy feminine hygiene products (phew, there, I said it)

Okay, getting your period sucks most of the time but what can suck even harder is putting toxic (toxictoxictoxic) bleached products into our bodies in the name of "hygenine". We have choices to make and women owe it to themselves and their families to make healthy feminine product choices.

The Seventh Generation site explains why we need to think and make better choices about feminine care products:

"Most conventional feminine care products are made with absorbent fibers that have been bleached with chlorine, a process which sends dangerous chlorinated toxins – especially dioxin – into our atmosphere, water, and soil. Over time, those chemicals may end up back in our bodies."

Worse, tampons are placed directly into our bodies, so we need to think twice and act by buying chlorine-free care products.

Stores like Whole Foods carry these kinds of feminine care products. Being conscious requires change (conscious awareness) - once you get in the habit of making healthier choices, it will become unconscious and your body will thank you for it.

Happy weekend! :)

Green Festival In SF

2007-11-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

My sister (who lives in SF and lived in my hotel room with me while I attended the Co-Op America Green Conference all day and night the last two days) emailed me with the great plug that was on Daily Candy SF for the Green Festival this weekend - If you are in the city this weekend, go!
From Daily Candy San Francisco:
Green Festival
What: Mingle with the ecognoscenti over art, politics, music, and food.
Why: Everything you ever wanted to know about sustainability but were too afraid to ask.
When: Fri., 2-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 8th St., at Brannan St. Tickets online at greenfestivals.org.

In the Co-Op America Inspiration Zone

2007-11-08T15:17:00.000-08:00

Greetings conscious spenders...It's been a few days (which is a rare thing for me to NOT have something say, as opinion is my middle name), but since I arrived in San Francisco Tuesday for the Co-Op America Green Conference, I have been on information overload (in a good way!) attending all the great networking events, socially responsible business sessions, break out sessions (great blogging/social media session hosted by David Anderson of Green Options Media) wining (organic wine of course!), dining (vegan and organic) talking to my fellow conference attendees about Three Leaf Cards tree-free holiday greeting cards and getting up the next day to get more green data in my noggin. So, the point of the run-on sentence is to say that all the inspiration has left me a little blog-less to say the least. I am so overwhelmed with excitement about being a part of this industry and now have so many new tidbits of great information to share, that I think I simply am at a loss of where to start!

I always attend events like these with no expectations, as half the excitement of attending conferences is that you never know who you will meet. I have met green decorators, green media companies, socially responsible business consultants, eco-friendly food companies, organic cosmetics companies and much, much more.

I plan to go through all my notes when I leave San Francisco and share all the conscious spending wisdom that I have collected. Stay tuned in the next few weeks.

The biggest overall takeaway so far from the conference is how important is to support companies that are working to make a positive impact to help people and the planet and that we have NO (I'll say it again, NO) EXCUSE to not make conscious spending choices because there is not a lack of any socially responsible service or product provider out there, it's just a matter of empowering ourselves to know who they are and support them.

Three Leaf Cards supports great non profit organizations that are truly making a quantifiable impact. Co-Op America is one of the companies that a member can choose to donate 10% of their funds to, and after seeing the team in action, I am beyond proud to support them as well as all of our great Non Profit partners

Companies are out there making a difference, I cannot wait to share all the great companies I have stumbled upon to keep conscious spending fun and impact-ful.

For anyone in SF, go to the Green Festival this Friday - Sunday and see for yourselves all the great green companies that you can consciously support!

How you can stop junk mail and save trees

2007-11-04T11:57:00.000-08:00

I did a post a few weeks ago on how to stop junk mail (after you click, scroll down) and since then, I have been taking the advice of 41pounds.org on ways to reduce my carbon footprint and stop the gastly inconvenience of junk mail.

I wanted to share some information that I didn't know until I had the help of 41pounds and wanted to pass along the wisdom....

#1. We have rights - we can stop junk mail. We just have to contact all the companies that send us junk mail and ask them to stop, or better yet, get companies like 41pounds to help you with the contacting (they make it really easy!)

#2. If you move, ask for a mail forwarding form NOT a change of address, as the post office sells your new address information (I feel so slimy thinking about that!) but really good to know huh?

#3. Supermarket club cards are an instant way to poof out that mailbox, they track our habits not to give us great savings (ok, maybe that's some of it) but they use it to market and cram our mailboxe full of landfill crap. No club cards anymore conscious spenders!

#4. When you donate, you have to request that they do not sell, share or rent your information as they most likely will.

Help save the planet, be mindful when you spend and know that as a conscious customer you have choices and there are great services to help stop junk mail

Green Guide

2007-11-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

National Geographic offers a GREAT and free online green guide that offers eco-friendly and conscious spending green living tips. I stumbled upon them when I was searching for Green Athletic Shoe Makers

They also have a web-only special on Smart Conscious Shopper's Cards that
helps conscious spenders make product choices that are healthier and/or ecologically improved. Their web listing cards have easy to access ingredients to avoid, labels to look for, recommended products, or the like.

Get your conscious savvy shopping on!

Travel Green - Support Green Hotels

2007-10-31T11:04:00.000-07:00

I travel a lot for work and one way that I try to offset my travel output is by staying at eco-friendly hotels. I am HUGE fan of the Kimpton Hotels (when I stay in SF, I love the Hotel Triton and I just saw today that the staff at one of the Kimpton Hotels, Hotel Solamar is supporting the victims of the California Wildfires in San Diego...too cool...

Being a conscious spender means being aware of a company and their practices and I have always admired the Kimpton company for their environmental eco-friendly hotel practices (organic bedding, towels, conservation, recycling and more) but now I am a super fan of them socially too...

See their message below. If anyone wants to help the California fire victims, please do so and as a conscious customer, SUPPORT GREAT COMPANIES LIKE KIMPTON HOTELS!

We have been following the news of the wildfire and want to do something to help.

The staff of Hotel Solamar has begun efforts to provide emergency supplies to surrounding shelters to help the victims of the wildfires. To provide more widespread aid, Hotel Solamar is also collecting donations to be distributed by St. Vincent De Paul Charity and Goodwill.

If you would like to join us by making a donation, please bring the following items to the front desk at the Hotel Solamar between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm, through November 7, 2007:

* Clothing
* Blankets
* Non-perishable food
* Baby food and diapers
* Bottled water
* Pet supplies

Team Three Leaf is going to the Co-Op America Green Conference in SF! Come see us!

2007-10-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

Team Three Leaf is going to remove ourselves from our computer monitors next week to attend the Co-Op America Green Conference in San Francisco!

We will be getting our green brains on and meeting like-minded green companies and organizations.

Stay tuned for blog updates from the show and contact us if you want to meet up! We are making tree-free holiday cards this year for organizations to save time, trees and money and can't wait to talk it up next week!

If you haven't yet, sign up for the green business conference!

Green Goods - Instyle.com

2007-10-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

It is often a challenge to be a shopper junkie and a conscious spender, so I was stoked that Instyle.com had a Green Goods slideshow on their site...perfect for conscious spenders like us!!!

Pure Prevention - Help Reduce your Chances of Breast Cancer

2007-10-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so the team at Breast Cancer Fund, Luna Bar and Pure Prevention have joined forces to help fight the fight by preventing breast cancer in the first place!

There are easy steps that can be taken to help prevent Breast Cancer, many are simply conscious choices:

1. Create a Healthy Home - Be conscious and make wise choices about your household cleaners, furnishings and pest killers. We breathe all that crud you know!!!
2. Eat Smart - We are what we eat, including the chemicals in our food. Before you fill that grocery cart up, think before you buy. Buy quality food, your body will love you for it!
3. Choose Safe Cosmetics - The makeup we buy matters. Some of the industry's worst offenders include nail polish, hair dye, hair relaxer and skin lighteners. For a list of save cosmetics, visit Skin Deep
4. Get Outside - The air indoors can be really toxic, mix it up, breathe fresh air and move that body!
5. Join the Pure Prevention Campaign

Toxic Costumes? Halloween Goes Green

2007-10-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

Not really. Halloween wouldn't be Halloween, after all, if there weren't the staple colors of orange and black everywhere!

But, now your Halloween can be ³greener² thanks to some tips provided by Treehugger.

PVC and vinyl create toxins such as lead, cadmium, and phthalates. Yea, thanks but no thanks.

And if you read our post about how toxic make-up is, then you already know about how toxic these face paints really are. Some of the toxins you will find here include formaldehyde, lead, and other potential cancer-causing agents.

Treehugger suggests getting creative and finding things in your closet or the local thrift store that will turn your children into those Halloween ghouligans!

What about the make-up? Maybe try to make your own this year. Might be
fun. Read more about Green Halloween Costumes

The State Of Our Planet, Graphically Speaking That Is

2007-10-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

People like you and me post on blogs like Conscious Spending, make conscious choices in our living and try to make a difference for the world because we are aware of what kind of impact we have on our environment. So, we all also know how big of a threat the climate crisis really is.

But, amazingly, many people are still in denial when it comes to just how critical and urgent the situation really is. BBC came out with a great story that shows the effects of global warming and human impacts on the climate crisis, with nicely illustrated pictures.

Now, for those of us who are unable to "picture" the breadth of this looming disaster, now we can get a great visual reference through these images.

Check it out on BBC.

Wildfires Consume California

2007-10-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

We are all aware of the devastating situation with the wildfires in Southern California. I¹m sure there are a lot of factors contributing to the destruction by this super fire, including overgrowth of plants in the area, high-population density and the intense winds. With crazy gusts over 50 mph, the wind is helping to spread the fire quickly and creating a very dangerous environment, which includes the now famous Fire Tornado.

Now, area residents are being warned to stay indoors as the air quality continues to decrease. These types of fires emit very dangerous, and tiny, soot particles that can cause extreme health concerns, especially for the younger and older populations.

I was in Denver during the Heyman Fire, and the skies were an eerie orange glow and their was ash constantly falling on my patio; and that fire was a good 50 miles out of town. I can only imagine how intense and crazy this urban fire is and the kind of havoc it is wreaking in this densely populated region of the US.

Our thoughts are with the residents, both those in danger and those 500K displaced people, and hopefully Mother Nature will lend those brave firefighters a hand.

Pre-Consumer waste bags are HOT!

2007-10-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

I was oogling over my friend's cute tote bag the other day and it turns out that it they are made from pre-consumer waste...it may not sound sexy to some, but to someone like me who is trying to make eco-friendly purchases, I was giddy.

Bazura Bags is a women’s cooperative in the Philippines that utilizizes ‘Pre-Consumer’ waste packaging gathered from juice container manufacturers and used advertising banners in and around Manila. This waste material is normally deposited into landfills.

The co-op cleans the used materials and recycles them into these great bags! Way to take poor recycling systems and find a positive spin! Great holiday gift too...

Your Next Home A Tree House?

2007-10-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Every year the car companies come out with these insane concept ideas for cars of the future; and now there is one for homes!

Tree houses aren't just for kids anymore. There is an architectural concept for a house that can be built by, and in, a tree over the period of 5 years.

From future-thinking architects Mitchell Joachim and Javier Arbona, this tree house utilizes vines, roots and the tree itself to build a perfectly "normal" house.

The inside of the home will be plastered with the usual materials and techniques, while apparently the windows are the last point of concern. The architects still work to discover a way to make soy-based windows, or some other natural material, that can continue to grow with the house.

I'm not sure how mud and plaster would grow with the house, but I love this futuristic idea! I love that people are thinking about what our future can be like, beyond flying cars, and living in the skies like the Jetson's.

Check out the house for yourself with this green living tree house video

Three Leaf In Santa Barbara Independent - Green Greeting Cards

2007-10-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

Three Leaf Cards was featured in the Santa Barbara Independent today! Very cool that our local press is into conscious companies, especially as we approach the holidays. It's the year to send tree-free cards!

Happy Heating

2007-10-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

I don't know about where you live, but here it is getting downright chilly at night. The heater is starting to get warmed up for the busy winter season.

With winter nipping at our toes, here are some helpful hints to make your heating experience greener.

1. So, think you'll be saving some cash this winter by using that fireplace? Did you know that fireplaces are, on average, only 10% efficient? That means they lose 90% of their heat through the chimney, which may not make this such a good idea after all. If you must burn, consider ecobrics. They are made with compressed sawdust and are less harmful on our atmosphere. Burning longer is also a plus.

2. Here's an easy, low-cost, no brainer... it is actually zero cost. Since most of a home's heat is lost through the windows, pull those drapes closed at night!

3. Speaking of windows, storm windows can save up to 50% of heat!

4. It also helps to have any leaks or cracks fixed. If you have a broken seal on your window, or you can see light gaping through the door and the frame, you probably have a little work to be done. Don¹t overlook outlets!

5. The last tip for today is to spread the wealth. A fan set at low can keep the air moving at eye level instead of trapping all that good heat in the ceilings or in unused spaces.

Here are 3 even bigger ways to step it up:
1. Harness the sun. There are a couple of ways to harness the unrelenting power of the sun: solar panels and solar water. There are many more tax rebates available for installing such energy savers, and the costs to build are getting much cheaper. Many homes have an option for one or both ways to capture and store the sun¹s energy, and it's easier than it ever was before.

2. Solar panels not in your future? If not, you can upgrade your current furnace and/or water heater. Today¹s models are much more efficient, potentially saving electricity, gas and water. You may want to have a handyperson give your old units a quick look through, as they may just need a minor tweak or two to operate at a very acceptable 78% efficiency.

3. Gooooo Geothermal! The stats from Treehugger¹s post about geothermal are so staggering, I¹m pasting them below (mostly word for word):
While a 3-ton geo system at $7,500 compares with $4,000 for a traditional HVAC
system, a geo system could save around $700/yr., paying for itself in less
than six years, not even counting the lower maintenance costs as well as the
government rebates and incentives available. Over 1 million homes in the US
use geo-exchange systems, saving 9 billion pounds of CO2 per year.

As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, don¹t mind the brown of the trees and the white of the snow; just keep thinking green.