Monthly Archives: September 2011
End of the Summer Green Bash Recap
| September 27, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Twitter Party |
The End of the Summer Green Bash Twitter party was a lot of fun. We talked about this past summer, fall, laundry, Halloween, reusable products and a lot more. Once again as the hour came to an end everyone was shocked it went by so fast, we had so much fun.
The sponsors of the party were BerryPlus, Green Child Magazine, Reuseit, and Alex & Von by Elizabeth. We learned a lot about their businesses/products and people got to ask questions and got direct answers from the companies, which is part of what makes these parties so great. Here are some highlights from the party.
@hzeh818 I love to see all the companies making efforts to be green #greenbash
Here are some replies from when we were talking about fun and green activities everyone did during the summer.
@MOM4EVEREVER my favorite part was camping alot with the kids in the backyard #greenbash
@Reuseit_store We enjoyed lots of waste-free picnics! t.co/wL6m84U8 #greenbash
@BabyMade3 I learned how to sew and swapped to all glass kitchen items =] #greenbash
@GreenChildMg We did a lot of observing. Kids are amazing scientists #greenbash
We talked about recycling.
@sweepingme We do super amounts of recycling here. Anything and everything we can! #greenbash
@retrohousewife5 my small town approved curbside recycling last month! I’m very excited. #greenbash
We talked about Halloween and how to make it greener.
@justicecw Use recycylabes and plants/pumpkins for decorations! #greenbash
@joy9603 We don’t use plastic candy pails. We have 2 reusable cloth pails that are super cute and GREEN! #greenbash
@ToodiesMomma re-use costumes if you can. donate them or give them to a friend! I have donated all our old costumes #greenbash
@Reuseit_store We like to decorate Workhorse bags for a reusable trick or treat bag! t.co/rb8UyUnG #greenbash
@retrohousewife5 Speaking of #halloween @avbyelizabeth has some super cute eco-friendly Halloween wall clings t.co/NW5HHiA3 #greenbash
We talked about fall allergies and dealing with them naturally.
@retrohousewife5 A bad part of fall is allergies, @GreenChildMg has some great info on dealing with them. t.co/6L5gL5sy #greenbash
@GreenChildMg I live and swear by my neti pot #allergies #greenbash
@modernsimplicty I just started taking local honey daily to build up my immune system to the allergens in my area! #greenbash
We also talked about laundry.
@BerryPlusClean We’re working on those fairies! 
RT @keltom2: @BerryPlusClean I want clean laundry and a fairy to fold it! #greenbash
@BabyMade3 I made my own dryer balls so I don’t have to use nasty fabric-softener chemicals. Ew, gross! #greenbash
(here is her recipe- http://t.co/ZvuXoGfN)
@GreenChildMg Distilled White vinegar in every wash #laundry #greenbash
@avbyelizabeth we hung a line in the basement to dry year round #greenbash
Our sponsors also gave out some great prizes, here are the winners.
@hzeh818- $25 gift certificate to Alex & Von by Elizabeth, sponsored by Alex & Von by Elizabeth
@kwillsmom- Produce Bags + Saver Set, sponsored by Reuseit
@joy9603- $10 gift certificate to The Peaceful Housewife Store, sponsored by Green Child Magazine
@keltom2- Gift pack, sponsored by BerryPlus
This is just a tiny sampling of what happened at the Twitter Party. If you couldn’t make it keep don’t worry there will be more parties coming up soon!
Disclaimer: I was hired by the sponsors to do this party. However, these are my honest views. I’m also an affiliate for Reuseit and earn a small amount if you buy from the links to their site in this post. For more info please read my full disclaimer.
Rest in Peace Wangari Maathai
| September 26, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Today I want to take a moment to remember the environmental and social justice heroine, Wangari Maathai. I have posted more about Maathai on the Green Phone Booth today.
Sponsor: BerryPlus
| September 25, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Review, Twitter Party |
Tonight is the End of the Summer Green Bash, so it’s time to introduce you to our final sponsor, BerryPlus. BerryPlus is a eco-friendly laundry soap made from soap nuts. The packaging is unlike any other laundry soap I have seen. It comes in a little pack that is small enough to fit in your purse, which makes it great for college students and people living in apartments. The soap itself comes in tiny recyclable #5 plastic tubes. See below for a pictures of the packaging.
The soap can be used in all washers, even high efficiency washers. It is a great choice for front loaders as it doesn’t leave a film like most soaps and won’t promote mold growth. The soap is also made in the US and due to the lightweight packaging the shipping carbon footprint is lower than most soaps.
I have used soap nuts for my laundry for over a year now. It works great and is a great environmental option. I have been buying the dried berries and making my own liquid. This works well for me but there are several reasons why others have told me it won’t work for them, for one to use it in cold water you have to make the liquid and the liquid has to be kept in the fridge and used within a couple of weeks to keep it from molding. This wouldn’t work well for college students which often don’t have stoves to make the liquid, you could boil the water in a microwave but this can still be hard and if using a mini-fridge most won’t want to use up the space with laundry soap. For people that don’t want to deal with making soap nut soap or have reasons for not being able to, BerryPlus can be the answer for them being able to still use soap nuts.
While the packaging is not plastic free, there is much less plastic than most soap and they are recyclable. They can be recycled in your cities recycling if they accept #5, if not Whole Foods accepts #5 plastic, and if you don’t have Whole Foods near by you can send them to Preserve: Gimme 5.
Overall this is a great product with an innovative design. I highly recommend people try this and it would also be great for a gift basket for a new college student. It’s available online from one of the other End of the Summer Green Bash sponsors, Reuseit.
Tonight, at the End of the Summer Green Bash you can win a gift pack from BerryPlus! Be sure to RSVP for the party and join us on Twitter at 8 p.m. ET to have a chance to win this product and many other great prizes.
*Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post, this is my honest opinion. I did receive a sample for the review. I’m also paid to host the upcoming Twitter party. Also the Reuseit links are affiliate links and I earn a small percent if you order from those links. This doesn’t effect my views on the products.
Photo Credits: Reuseit and BerryPlus
Sponsor: Alex+Von by Elizabeth
| September 24, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Twitter Party |
Alex+Von by Elizabeth carries great brands like 100% Pure, WeeDECOR and suki.
“alex+von was founded by friends and former technology executives, Sonia Wong and Silvia Doundakova. We’re passionate about changing the world for the better and we believe women are the catalyst for this. In July 2010, we started throwing home parties showcasing products from boutique brands discovered through our friends and favorite bloggers. The response to the parties was tremendous – we knew we were onto something. Having worked at leading consumer technology companies, we saw great opportunity to dramatically improve and innovate on the traditional direct selling model through technology and social media. We also saw the opportunity to create a better buying and selling experience for women. We don’t like being pressured into buying something we don’t want. And, we know it’s not always easy to sell.”
100% Pure is a personal care and makeup line that is free of parabens, fragrance and other toxic ingredients. They never test on animals. I have used several of the products and they are great. They smell wonderful and have never bothered my sensitive skin. My husband also likes their products, your whole family is sure to as well.
WeeDECOR makes super cute reusable wall decals. Most wall decals are made of PVC and are toxic but these are made of fabric. They are very easy to apply and to remove and reapply. They currently have some super cute Halloween decals that would be great for this fall.
“suki(R) is the first and only synthetic-free solution that integrates advanced technology with botanical actives. suki was founded with the aim to develop a completely new way of formulating skin care – immersing high potency natural cosmeceuticals in synthetic-free bases – and demonstrating results through consumer clinical trials. In trials, 84% of test participants agreed that suki improved the overall appearance of their skin. Each product contains potent cosmeceutical actives that solve a multitude of needs from basic skin types like dry and oily to stubborn issues like cystic acne, rosacea, signs of aging and eczema. suki products are safe for everyone including pregnant women, babies, teens and men.”
Be sure to check out Alex+Von by Elizabeth, if you choose to order make sure you enter Elizabeth Bender as the consultant at checkout. Also be sure to RSVP to be able to win a $25 e-gift card for Alex+Von by Elizabeth and other great prizes and join us on September 25th at 8 p.m. e.t. on Twitter for the party.
*Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post, this is my honest opinion. I did receive some WeeDECOR samples. I’m also paid to host the upcoming Twitter party. This doesn’t effect my views on the products.
Sponsor: Reuseit
| September 23, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Twitter Party |
Time to introduce the next upcoming Twitter party sponsor, Reuseit. Reuseit was one of the first green stores I ordered reusable products from and I have been a fan ever since, so much so that I became one of their brand ambassadors. Reuseit launched in 2003 as Reusablebags.com but grew to be much more than just reusable bags and changed their name to Reuseit to better fit what they had become.
“For most of our existence, people have known us as ReusableBags.com® – the site that spawned the reusable shopping bag movement & raised awareness of the plastic bag problem. However, through our vision and actions we’ve always been much more. To embody what we’re all about, our store and proprietary line of innovative products are now named reuseit.com® (reuse it). The name captures the essence of our proactive spirit to adopting a reusables lifestyle. Of course, ReusableBags.com® still exists as part of our information hub with more sites to come – each one designed to raise awareness and educate on a variety of specific consumption issues.”
Reuseit will be at the End of the Summer Green Bash this Sunday. You will be able to learn more about them and their products. You will also have the chance to win a produce bag & saver kit.
Be sure to RSVP to be able to win this prize and other great prizes and join us on September 25th at 8 p.m. e.t. on Twitter for the party.
*Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post, this is my honest opinion. I am an Reuseit affiliate and ambassador, I earn a small percent if you order from a link on this site. I’m also paid to host the upcoming Twitter party. This doesn’t effect my views on the products.
Sponsor: Green Child Magazine
| September 22, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Twitter Party |
I want to take a moment to introduce everyone to one of the sponsors of the upcoming End of the Summer Green Bash, Twitter party. Green Child Magazine debuted this past February. Their goal is to help parents raise children in a more natural way. Here is what they have to say about the magazine.
“Green Child Magazine at its core is about compassion. We are all students in this world and we welcome you to learn and grow with us. We are thankful for the children in this world and Mother Earth.”
The magazine is an online free magazine. They also have a blog and some great giveaways. They also use the magazine to help bring awareness to foster children in the US.
“Our magazine debuted as an online, eco-friendly magazine, in February 2011 and has been well received by a wonderful community of readers. Green Child Magazine is on a mission to inform and educate parents and care givers, to provide attractive affordable advertising to businesses and to help the hundreds of thousands of children in foster care find forever, loving families.
In each issue, we feature waiting foster children from around the United States in hopes that they will find their forever families. In the US, there are well over 500,000 children currently in the foster care system and about 40% are homeless at some point in their lifetime. Also, only about 20% of those who age out of the system actually “make it,” while the other 80% end up on the street, in jail, or dead.”
Be sure to check out Green Child Magazine and get to know them this Sunday at the End of the Summer Green Bash. They will be sponsoring a giveaway of a $10 gift card for The Peaceful Housewife.
*Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post, this is my honest opinion. I’m aid to host the upcoming Twitter party. This doesn’t effect my views on the products.
International Day of Peace
| September 21, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Human Rights |
“Peace is its own reward.”
Mohandas Gandhi
Today is the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Peace. A day created to unity us all for one day to try and bring peace to the world. Albert Einstein said “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” We must learn to not be so quick to judge others and try and understand each other. Through this understanding we can find peace and harmony.
Just a few months ago, a city committee member in my town said a racist remark while at a city related meeting and with our mayor and another council member present. This event brought the town together to show unity and we packed the next city council meeting. We had people of all races, backgrounds, religions, and political parties. We wore black and white ribbons to show our unity and we stood together against racism and hate.
This event has continued to bring change to my town. A multicultural committee has been formed to help address issues like this one and others that have been allowed to go on for far to long. A Facebook group was also formed and is being used to help bring to light issues people find in the area. A terrible event has brought hope for many and is being used to bring beauty and unity to our town. If we want peace, this is the attitude that can help. Lately our differences have divided us, we must use them to unite us. “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Photo credit: namuit
Guest Post: A Hungry Child Can’t Wait: Ask 5 for 5
| September 19, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Guest Blogger: Sarah Lenssen from #Ask5for5
Family photos by Mike Fiechtner Photography
Thank you Retro Housewife Goes Green and nearly 150 other bloggers from around the world for allowing me to share a story with you today, during Social Media Week.
A hungry child in East Africa can’t wait. Her hunger consumes her while we decide if we’ll respond and save her life. In Somalia, children are stumbling along for days, even weeks, on dangerous roads and with empty stomachs in search of food and water. Their crops failed for the third year in a row. All their animals died. They lost everything. Thousands are dying along the road before they find help in refugee camps.
At my house, when my three children are hungry, they wait minutes for food, maybe an hour if dinner is approaching. Children affected by the food crisis in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia aren’t so lucky. Did you know that the worst drought in 60 years is ravaging whole countries right now, as you read this? Famine, a term not used lightly, has been declared in Somalia. This is the world’s first famine in 20 years.12.4 million people are in need of emergency assistance and over 29,000 children have died in the last three months alone. A child is dying every 5 minutes. It it estimated that 750,000 people could die before this famine is over. Take a moment and let that settle in.
The media plays a major role in disasters. They have the power to draw the attention of society to respond–or not. Unfortunately, this horrific disaster has become merely a footnote in most national media outlets. News of the U.S. national debt squabble and the latest celebrity’s baby bump dominate headlines. That is why I am thrilled that nearly 150 bloggers from all over the world are joining together today to use the power of social media to make their own headlines; to share the urgent need of the almost forgotten with their blog readers. Humans have the capacity to care deeply for those who are suffering, but in a situation like this when the numbers are too huge to grasp and the people so far away, we often feel like the little we can do will be a drop in the ocean, and don’t do anything at all.
When news of the famine first hit the news in late July, I selfishly avoided it. I didn’t want to read about it or hear about it because I knew I would feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable. I wanted to protect myself. I knew I would need to do something if I knew what was really happening. You see, this food crisis is personal. I have a 4-year-old son and a 1 yr-old daughter who were adopted from Ethiopia and born in regions now affected by the drought. If my children still lived in their home villages, they would be two of the 12.4 million. My children: extremely hungry and malnourished? Gulp. I think any one of us would do anything we could for our hungry child. But would you do something for another mother’s hungry child?
My friend and World Vision staffer, Jon Warren, was recently in Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya–the largest refugee camp in the world with over 400,000 people. He told me the story of Isnino Siyat, 22, a mother who walked for 10 days and nights with her husband, 1 yr-old-baby, Suleiman, and 4 yr.-old son Adan Hussein, fleeing the drought in Somalia. When she arrived at Dadaab, she built the family a shelter with borrowed materials while carrying her baby on her back. Even her dress is borrowed. As she sat in the shelter on her second night in camp she told Jon, “I left because of hunger. It is a very horrible drought which finished both our livestock and our farm.” The family lost their 5 cows and 10 goats one by one over 3 months, as grazing lands dried up. “We don’t have enough food now…our food is finished. I am really worried about the future of my children and myself if the situation continues.”
Will you help a child like Baby Suleiman? Ask5for5 is a dream built upon the belief that you will.
That something I knew I would need to do became a campaign called #Ask5for5 to raise awareness and funds for famine and drought victims. The concept is simple, give $5 and ask five of your friends to give $5, and then they each ask five of their friends to give $5 and so on–in nine generations of 5x5x5…we could raise $2.4 Million! In one month, over 750 people have donated over $25,000! I set up a fundraiser at See Your Impact and 100% of the funds will go to World Vision, an organization that has been fighting hunger in the Horn of Africa for decades and will continue long after this famine has ended. Donations can multiply up to 5 times in impact by government grants to
help provide emergency food, clean water, agricultural support,
healthcare, and other vital assistance to children and families suffering in the Horn.
I need you to help me save lives. It’s so so simple; here’s what you need to do:
- Donate $5 or more on this page (http://seeyourimpact.org/members/ask5for5)
- Send an email to your friends and ask them to join us.
- Share #Ask5for5 on Facebook and Twitter!
I’m looking for another 100 bloggers to share this post on their blogs throughout Social Media Week. Email me at ask5for5@gmail.com if you’re interested in participating this week.
A hungry child doesn’t wait. She doesn’t wait for us to finish the other things on our to-do list, or get to it next month when we might have a little more money to give. She doesn’t wait for us to decide if she’s important enough to deserve a response. She will only wait as long as her weakened little body will hold on…please respond now and help save her life. Ask 5 for 5.
Thank you on behalf of all of those who will be helped–you are saving lives and changing history.
p.s. Please don’t move on to the next website before you donate and email your friends right now. It only takes 5 minutes and just $5, and if you’re life is busy like mine, you probably won’t get back to it later. Let’s not be a generation that ignores hundreds of thousands of starving people, instead let’s leave a legacy of compassion. You have the opportunity to save a life today!
Natural Savings: Gardening on a Budget
| September 17, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Gardening, Saving Money |
This is a guest post from Nancy, from the blog Surviving and Thriving on Pennies. She writes about saving money while going green. Be sure to check out her blog.
Most people think you need to invest a lot to start a garden but that’s not true. I grew up gardening with my grandmother but when I started my own family I literally had to start from scratch. Over the years I have learned ways to get around buying anything and doing most things myself. Here are a few tips to help you get on your own journey to gardening.
- Plan! After August most stores are starting to clear out their gardening items and get in seasonal items. Wait as long as you can then hit every store you can for anything you need. Seeds can be stored for up to 3 years so buy them while they are cheap. Store in a airtight bag in a dark place or even in the freezer. It’s a great time to get that hose you couldn’t afford, rain barrel you drooled over and that special tool you need.
- Search! Yard/garage sales are great places to find anything garden related. I get most my tools, pots, and garden items from these places for less than a buck usually and sometimes even free. Dont forgot to haggle and hit those free boxes!
- Spread the word! Tell all your friends or family that your looking for any garden items that anyone is giving away. Tell them on all your social sites as well. Its also a great way to barter. For example lets say you grew way too many green beans and need to get them off your hands. Simply tell them you have a surplus of beans and want to trade with another gardener. I get so much beautiful produce this way and its completely free!
- Get creative! Instead of buying tomato racks build one yourself using sticks and string. Need more growing space? Plant things where you normally would not. My thing this year is to mix my flowers with my produce. Dont have a pot? Simply buy soil in bags, lay on the ground, poke holes in the bottom and slits on the front then plant your seeds. Instant pot! Have a friend giving away wood from a project? Use it to make a garden bed. You get the idea!
- Compost! Starting your own compost is the easiest thing to do and its completely free. Just google easy to make compost and make one that fits your property. This soil will be better than anything you can buy and is completely free! Many chain coffee places offer free coffee grounds to the public so go ahead and toss those in. Have a fireplace? Toss in your fireplace ashes (completely cooled!). Just remember not to add weeds, animal waste or dairy. You can add pretty much anything else.
- Learn! Watch your garden space before you actually start your garden. Watch where the sun hits, where the sade hits, and try to come up with a plan of where you want to grow things. Plant your seeds according to the requiements or you will get no produce in the end. Hit the library and internet so you can learn the tips and tricks to gardening.
- Have fun! If you have kids try to plant fun and interesting plants. Maybe grow burgandy beans instead of green beans. They turn green when cooked! Kids think its magic and will eat it no matter what, which makes parents happy. Let kids pick out things they want to grow because they are more likely to want to eat that item. Try planting in unusual things. Boots, wagons, and pretty much anything that will hold soil.
- Be kind! Avoid plastic at all cost, do not use pressure treated wood, do not use chemicals, and try to be as organic as possible. You have to remember that your feeding your family this produce. Plastics leach chemicals into soil, chemicals in treated wood leach into your produce, and any chemicals you spray onto your plants will be leached into your plants. The internet and books are the best place to find organic alternatives. Its not only good for your family but its good for the earth. Be kind and tread lightly.
Photo credit: aussiegall
