Monthly Archives: July 2008
Winner of the Eco-Friendly Trash Bags Giveaway
| July 30, 2008 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Lesha at “Going Green, it’s better then going Crazy” is the winner of the Ecosafe trash bags!! Congrats Lesha! And to the rest that didn’t win you can still buy your own with the 25% coupon code on the left sidebar. There are many more great products on LetsGoGreen.biz you can get as well!! Be sure the check them out.
And keep watching many more eco-friend giveaways to come!!!
Recipe: Parmesan Chicken Skillet
| July 30, 2008 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
My husband and I both thought the chicken in this was great but the sauce was just okay. Next time I will make the chicken with alfredo.
(I don’t measure when I cook so everything is guesses and to taste, if you don’t cook like that you can find amounts on the original recipe at the end of this post.)
Parmesan Chicken Skillet
(Serves 2)
1 Large chicken breast (or two smaller), cut in bite size pieces
2 Tablespoons flour
Italian seasoning to taste
Garlic to taste
Cajun Seasoning to taste
salt & pepper to taste
1 1/2 butter, divided
1/2 cup milk (I used a little flour to thicken)
1/4 cup Parmesan (I bet I used more haha)
4 ounces cooked angel hair pasta
Toss chicken in flour and seasonings.
Heat 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet.
Add chicken, skillet until cooked.
Remove chicken and keep warm.
Add milk, heat for about 2 minutes (stirring).
Add parm.
Add rest of butter.
Add chicken, toss.
The original is here- Parmesan Chicken Skillet
*Sorry there is no picture I was hungry. *
Product Review: ReJavanate Shopping Bag *Giveaway Included*
| July 29, 2008 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
I’m getting to join in with the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival for the first time and I’m very excited. I may have more giveaways this week.
I was very excited to be offered this product to try because I happen to LOVE shopping bags. First off because they cut out the need for plastic bags which I hate but also because they are just fun to me.
This bag is not the pretties but it’s special! It’s upcycled from a burlap coffee bag. I have used it a few times and it seems really strong. I also loved the packing it came in! Also upcycled! A company wins me over with the packing lol.
What makes these even better is you can get them custom printed (with min. order)! I would love to do that someday for my business. These bags help stop more than just plastic bag waste, which makes them even better than most shopping bags. So be sure to check out these bags-
http://rejavanate.com/
You can win the “Large Bag with the ReJavanate logo.”
The Rules-
Go to http://rejavanate.com/ and tell me one fact that makes you really like these bags.
Make sure you leave your e-mail so I can contact you, don’t leave one can’t win.
Only US shipping addresses.
This will end on July 31st at 11:59 p.m.
Greenwash: Simply Green
| July 25, 2008 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
I read the ingredients when I found my MIL was using this to clean her bunnies cage and saw it didn’t seem safe at all to me. She thought it was eco as do so many other people but it’s not. The key ingredients are comprised from the toxic chemicals found in cleaners like Formula 409 and Windex.
Here is some info how to know if a product is just greenwash.
http://www.terrachoice.com/files/6_sins.pdf
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Greenwashing
Green Interviews: Katherine from Ladybug
| July 24, 2008 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Former SkirtTell us about yourself.
done those things. But, I really began to pay attention to re-use when, at a second hand shop, I found a silk evening gown made of the most amazing fabric. Even though it was three sizes too small, I bought it, and made it into two of my first bags. They have both sold, but you can see one here:
What made you want to make the change?
Although it’s a given that most people in the Bay Area recycle and compost, we are also huge consumers. We’re a wealthy community on the whole, and people just buy and buy. I wanted to be creative, and even to sell my creations, but I didn’t want to add to that wasteful consumerism.
Antique Lace found at Katherine’s Aunt’s house.For me, using recycled materials is first a way to keep consumerism down. But, it also means each of my bags is unique. That is just as important. No bag is exactly like any other, because each piece of material had a former life. And, I believe we buy to find out who we are–and I wanted to buy and sell fashion with a conscience.
Do you live eco-friendly in most aspects of your life?
I try to live an eco-lifestyle. My husband and I bought our condo two years ago, and we made sure that all of our upgrades have been with used or eco-friendly materials. Some of my favorite products are Yolo Colorhouse Eco-paint (http://www.yolocolorhouse.com/colors.php) and cork flooring (http://sanfrancisco.simplefloors.com/products/Cork-Flooring/). Our house is all Yolo painted, and our new floors are cork. And, for everything else from mirrors to windows, I go to salvage yards. In the Bay Area, the best is Urban Ore (http://urbanore.ypguides.net/).
Former upholstery fabricWhat is your favorite “green” tip?
What made you decide to start selling purses on Etsy.com?
When friends saw the bags I made for myself, they all said I should sell them, but I didn’t know how. Then I heard about Etsy, and thought… hey, that might work. And, you know, the purses were taking over the house… they had to go!
For the readers of this blog that have thought about selling on Etsy.com what would you say to them?
Selling on Etsy is lots of fun, but it takes awhile to get going. Give yourself six months to a year before you evaluate “how you’re doing.” It can take that long to see how it’s all working together. And, you have control over how much action your shop sees. I sew as a hobby, and am content with three or four sales a month. But, you can work harder, publicize more, and sell bigger. It’s all in your approach.
Katherine’s Favorite Vegetarian Recipe
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You can see more of Katherine’s beautiful work on her site-
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5162486
Her bags are wonderful! I own a custom one she made for me. It’s beautiful and very well made and it was awesome working with her to get my bag made. I love it so much! 
She has also very kindly offered to any reader that puts “Retro Housewife Goes Green ” in the notes to seller box a free gift with your purchase. So this is a great time to buy!
Eco-Friendly Trash Bags *giveaway closed*
| July 23, 2008 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
LetsGoGreen.biz let me try out Ecosafe trash bags. They sent me the 13-gallon and 33-gallon bags to try out. I have used two so far and so far so good. They seem a little less strong than what I was using but I was using Hefty Ultra Flex so not being that strong isn’t an issue. They haven’t ripped even when very full!
They feel and look just like normal trash bags to me. Also you can buy in bulk which is a big plus for me! And I just saw they have some with draw strings! Another thing that is a big deal to me is they are made in the US. I don’t want my money going to China if I can help it. Also I love ordering from totally eco-friendly stores. LetsGoGreen.biz has other wonderful products as well. There is only so much you can say about a trash bag but I would for sure give this product a 5 star rating.
*This giveaway is closed*
Not only did I get to try these awesome bags out, one of you has the chance as well! You could win a 200ct Ecosafe tall kitchen trashbags valued at $30!
Rules-
You must have a US address.
Leave your e-mail or you can’t win. (if it’s on your profile that’s fine just make sure I can view your profile)
This giveaway will end at 11:59 p.m. July 29th.
My Favorite Places To Shop
| July 22, 2008 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
I do a lot of online shopping since I live in a small town with few eco-products. I try and build up a big shopping list first to save on the number of times I order and such. Here are my favorite stores to order from-
GreenFeet.com
I love this store! I have ordered a lot of products from them. I have a box on the way right now. They sale many brands and have good prices.
PlanetNatural.com
My husband found this site. Shipping isn’t cheap but like I said we try and wait until we have a lot of stuff we need before ordering. We get our lawn and garden stuff from them. I also get Biokleen products from them. I will most likely order lots of gardening items when we have a house.
Amazon.com
Great for cheap bulk organic. Not the most green place in the world but not to bad. They also have eco paper products and more.
EverydayMinerals.com
This is where I get all my makeup. I LOVE it!!! It’s the best makeup, eco or not. They also are very eco-friendly, the ingredients are better than even most “natural” makeups, some ingredients are even organic.
AubreyOrganics.com
Where the perfume I gave away came from. I have a perfume and some awesome lotion from them. I plan to buy much more.
Do you have favorite eco online stores, post them up for us!
Green It
| July 22, 2008 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Check out the Green It Blog Carnival. There are some wonderful ideas, including one of mine.
Here are some of my favorite posts from this “issue”-
Large Plastic Market Bag
Home Depot Recycles CFLs
Recycle Packaging Peanuts
Have fun and join in for the next Green It.
Greenwash
| July 21, 2008 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
“Greenwash (a portmanteau of green and whitewash) is a term used to describe the perception of consumers that they are being misled by a company regarding the environmental practices of the company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.[1] The term Green sheen has similarly been used to describe organizations which attempt to appear that they are adopting practices beneficial to the environment.”- Wikipedia
I find Clorax Green Works to be one of those. Clorax is not at all a green company. They sale huge amounts of toxic chemicals. Even the Green Works may contain some as they will not tell anyone what the non-natural things are. For those reasons you will never find Green Works in my home. As I have said before it maybe better than some totally toxic cleaners but it won’t really save you money as many truly natural and eco friendly cleaners (such as Method) are very affordable and heck soap and water and vinegar can do a lot.
There are many sites out there to help you learn who is trying to pull one over on you. Here are some I have found.
MSNBC Video on Greenwash
Greenwashing Index
Greener Cars
Greener Choices
Skin Deep
One big thing to watch for is using the terms “eco”, “green”, “organic”, “100% natural”, etc… with nothing to back it up. “100% Natural” means nothing since it’s whatever the company says is natural and many natural things are highly toxic. So be careful and start doing your research, read labels, and think about things before you buy them.
Offshore Drilling
| July 21, 2008 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Does it ever seem like we are “putting all our eggs in one basket?” Why are we so stuck on finding more ways to get oil and not enough on alternative fuels? Also gas prices suck and are driving up other costs but a large amount of the problem is the demand. You don’t even need to stop driving as much to lower costs, cars aren’t all that uses oil. Everything does in some way. The apple you ate yesterday got driven to your store, even farmer’s market, and you drove to pick it up. If it was in a plastic bag that bag was made with oil and use oil when being delivered. So we need to cut out some of what we buy and cut down on plastics big time.
I urge you to pay attention to how much plastic you throw away each day. We can’t become “Fake Plastic Fish” over night but we can start heading her way. Here are some pretty easy tips to reduce your plastic use, which will reduce your oil use.
Bring your own bag, this one will cost a little money in the start but in some stores will save you a little every time you use one. And they are darn cute!
Recycle all the plastic you can, better yet reuse it first.
Use bio-trash bags. (A review and giveaway coming up for this one)
Stop using plastic “ziplock” bags. Or at least wash them. Most of us have food storage containers , use those. If you don’t have any try and buy glass ones. You get can glass ones at crateandbarrel.com and greenfeet.com .
Be careful with what you buy. Ask yourself if you really need the item. How often do we buy movies we then never watch? Rent first or better yet only rent it. Also more and more companies are reducing packaging so look for those products. Sony’s blue ray player has just gotten an eco makeover for one.
Buy in bulk, this cuts down on packaging by a lot. Now this is pointless if you won’t use all of the product but of the things you use a lot buy the biggest item you can.
Stop using plastic wrap. I hate foil touching food but it can be recycled, I just make sure it’s not touching the food when I use it and I reuse it because of that.
Stop using straws. I slip at times but I try and ask for no straw when I go out to eat. I can drink my water without a straw, I have seen me do it. I also don’t get drinks at gas stations anymore seeing as I gave up soda.
Buy recycled plastic if you really feel the need for something that is plastic.
This is a very small list of the ways you can reduce our need for oil, which I feel is a much quicker fix than offshore drilling, which is not a quick fix like some people *cough* Bush/McCain *cough* want us to think.
“It would take at least a decade for oil companies to obtain permits, procure equipment, and do the exploration necessary to get the oil out of the ground, most industry analysts say. And even then, they add, the amount of new oil produced would probably be too small to significantly affect world oil prices.” – Boston Globe
I’m not a fan of ethanol but there are many more options. And each person could do there part and so many are now. One person can make a HUGE different. At this point every little bit counts. We must ask Congress to not lift the ban on offshore oil.
I do want to point out that I see it to be highly unlikely Congress will not lift the ban. It saddens me to think that but with the Bush and most people sick of paying $4 or more for a gallon of gas calling to do so they are to chicken not to vote it for lifting the ban.
We must stop kicking the dying horse which is oil and look to new options!
