Monthly Archives: October 2011
Eco-Friendly Holiday Preview Twitter Party
| October 30, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Holidays, Twitter Party |
When: Sunday, November 6th at 8:00 p.m. eastern time
Where: On Twitter, we recommend you use TweetGrid to keep up with the party.
To learn about using TweetGrid for Twitter parties watch the video at the end of this post.
Hashtag: #ecoholiday
What is a Hashtag?
How to Join:
RSVP in the comments with your Twitter name. (You don’t have to RSVP to join in the fun but you can only win a prize if you RSVP)
Follow @Retrohousewife5 and our sponsors @Reuseit_store, @GreenCupboards, @WholesomeSweet
Use the #ecoholiday Hashtag in your tweets.
Be on Twitter at on November 6th at 8 p.m. eastern time!
Sponsors:
Prizes:
Some of the prizes you will have the chance to win.
Gift basket from Wholesome Sweetener
Maya Wrap Ring Sling in winners choice of color from Green Cupboards.
Other prizes: $45 gift certificate to Wild Dill
$100 gift certificate to Reuseit
How to Use Tweetgrid for a Twitter Party
Disclaimer: The prizes come from the sponsors and not from me. I was paid to host this party but all views stated by me (@retrohousewife5) are my honest views. The sponsors and Lisa Sharp are not responsible for the content at the Twitter party. I’m also an affiliate for Green Cupboards, Wild Dill, and Reuseit, I earn a small percent if you order from a link on my site, this doesn’t effect my views.
| 58WBQW4MDTAX |
It’s Too Easy Being Green
| October 25, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Living |
What do you think is the biggest turn off for the green movement? Do agree that greenwashing is one of the biggest issues?
How I Became Green
| October 24, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Living |
Amanda at The Eco-Friendly Family asked “How did you become green“, here is my answer. Be sure to go over to The Eco-Friendly Family to add your answer.
The other day I talked about I’ve always been an activist but how did I reach this level of green? While it started when I was just a kid it didn’t become something I knowingly did until several years ago. It all started when I was struggling with Fibromyalgia and other health problems. I grew up knowing all medicines come with risk and not to take them lightly so I wasn’t looking to take tons of drugs that would just mask my symptoms, this started my search for how to heal myself. My search kept leading me to toxic chemicals and the possibility that they were making me sicker. Study after study showed links and I couldn’t ignore it. I knew some chemicals bothered me but now I was wondering if some were bothering me and I didn’t know it.
Over a long period of time I did more research and started ditching the toxic products and switching to natural ones. Personal care products and cleaners were the first things to go. I also started looking at our diet, which wasn’t terrible. I grew up eating some organic food so I bought some and I knew HFCS, dyes and trans fats were bad but while I somewhat avoided them I didn’t do the best job. We started eliminating these products and slowly moved to organic foods.
Everything just snowballed from there. One change led to another and another. And now I’m a green blogger/activist, serve on the board for the local recycling coalition, recycle as much waste as I can, compost, eat around 90% organic food, make my own cleaners, etc… And it was rarely overwhelming because I did it slowly. Becoming green doesn’t happen overnight, often it happens without you even noticing that it is.
Don’t forget to head over to The Eco-Friendly Family to read the other posts and add your own.
The Benefits of an Natural/Organic Diet for Your Pet
| October 23, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Pets, Natural Health |
Most of us know the benefits of an natural/organic diet for our families but what about our pets? Pets are a member of our families as well so why not feed them the best food we can? Many pet foods are full of terrible ingredients, many don’t even have meat in the first three ingredients. They also are often full of cheap corn and other fillers. The natural and organic pet food market has grown a lot in the last couple of years. It’s now easier than ever to feed your pet a healthy diet.
These natural and organic foods are available at stores like Pet Smart. Pet Smart has greatly expanded their selection of natural and organic pet foods. They now even have an exclusive pet food line called Simply Nourish. It’s not organic but it’s reasonable priced and the ingredients are natural and much better than other dog food brands. The first three ingredients in the Chicken and Brown Rice adult dog food are; chicken, chicken meal and brown rice. It doesn’t contain the cheap fillers like other foods and has lots of dried fruits and veggies.
Another brand of natural food Pet Smart carries is Organix. This is the food my dog eats. It’s made from certified organic chicken and most other ingredients are also organic. It contains no wheat, corn or meat by-products. It’s made in the USA, which is important for many after the pet food recalls several years ago. It’s a bit more than the Simply Nourish food but it’s not bad and Pet Smart often has sales on it and you can save with their reward card program.
My dog has done great on her natural diet. She is a healthy weight, her fur is soft and shinny, and overall she is the picture of health. She is a rescue dog that was near death when she found us, so this is an amazing turn around for her. The vet always comments on how beautiful and healthy she is. Natural food has been worth every penny for us. My dog is an important member of my family and I want to be sure she is healthy and stays around as long as possible.
In the coming weeks I will be sharing tips on transitioning your pet to a natural diet, natural treats and will even have a giveaway for free pet food! I would love to hear if any of you have made the switch to natural pet food and if so how your results have been.
Disclaimer: Pet Smart gave me free pet food coupons to aid me in this post. However, these are my honest views. For more info please read my full disclaimer.
Review + Giveaway: Fair Trade Finder App
| October 22, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Fair Trade, Giveaway, Review |
Do you shop for Fair Trade products? Do you know what Fair Trade means? It’s Fair Trade month so it’s the perfect time to learn about Fair Trade. Here is what Fair Trade USA says about Fair Trade values.
- Empowerment: We believe in empowerment and freedom of choice as means to a better world.
- Integrity: We strive to always act ethically and we value relationships built on honesty, mutual respect and trust.
- Sustainability: We engage in sustainable solutions to global problems that affect the earth and its people.
- Innovation: We transform the world through entrepreneurial creativity and lead by example.
- Excellence: We believe that quality of life, work and performance are critical to achieve our mission.
- Personal Development: Strong organizations rely on strong individuals. We encourage and support each other to realize our fullest potential, and will thereby strengthen our internal community.
- Community: We value our global and internal communities’ diversity of perspectives, and know that each may hold a piece of the solution. We collaborate and partner for mutual success.
- Fairness: We work to create opportunities and extend the benefits of globalization to all people, everywhere.
- Impact: We build positive solutions that achieve meaningful social and environmental change in the world.
Now shopping for Fair Trade is even easier with the free Fair Trade Finder app. The app is available for iPhones and Android phones. Here is what the app looks like on an iPhone.
I have enjoyed playing with the app and can’t wait to add products. This will be extremely helpful when traveling and I’m sure I will get a lot of use out of it.
Get the App
iPhone: itunes.apple.com/us/app/fair-trade-finder/id467353692
Android: market.android.com/details?id=org.fairtradeusa.finder
Giveaway
In honor of Fair Trade Month and the launch of the new app Fair Trade USA is giving one lucky reader a gift bag full of Fair Trade goodies. The reusable bag includes a soccer ball, raw cane sugar, honey, coffee, an assortment of teas, and an assortment of chocolates.
And now for the rules-
1. Post your e-mail!!!!! Every time people forget, you can’t win if you don’t leave an e-mail address. (If it’s on your profile that counts, just make sure I can find it)
2. Go to Fair Trade USA and tell me something you learned.
3. Enter by October 30th at 11:59 p.m.
Extra Entries (post separate comment for each):
1. Blog about the giveaway, post link.
2. Post on Twitter, post link.
3. Add me on Twitter @retrohousewife5, leave username in comment.
4. Follow me, let me know which way you are following. (Google, NetworkedBlog, E-mail, other)
5. Add my button to your site. (the button and code are on the right side of the page) Be sure to leave a link for where you put the button.
6. Subscribe to the Retro Housewife Goes Green newsletter.
7. Like Retro Housewife Goes Green on Facebook.
8. Like Fair Trade USA on Facebook.
9. Follow @fairtradeusa on Twitter.
Remember post a separate comment for each of the above ways to enter! They will only count if they are separate. Each extra entry only counts once.
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents, 18+ only. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winner will be selected November 1st and will have 7 days to respond or a new winner will be picked.
*This giveaway is sponsored by Fair Trade USA. The prizes comes from them. I was not paid for this post but I did receive a gift bag. This does not effect my post, these are my honest opinions.
I’ve Always Been an Activist
| October 18, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Yesterday, Jennifer aka The Smart Mama, posted a picture on Facebook of a turtle stuck in one of those plastic ring things. (Look at the video below to see the turtle) It got me thinking about my childhood and how I really have always been an activist. I didn’t know I was environmental or an activist but looking back, I was. I want to share a few stories I remember that go to show I’ve always been like this.
Since before I can remember I’ve been cutting those plastic rings. My mom must have taught me to do it. I remember at least one time that a friend went throw one of the rings away and I stopped them and told them something like “you have to cut those or animals will get stuck in them and die!” I remember being quite upset about the whole thing because I thought everyone cut those rings and knowing not everyone did made me very sad.
When I was just a toddler my dad went to throw away a baby food jar and I told him “no daddy we cycle.” I may not have known the right words but I knew what didn’t go in the trash.
When I was around 7 or 8, I got a paper grocery sack from our kitchen and went around the neighborhood asking for canned food for the homeless shelter. I’m not sure what gave me this idea, likely something I watched but I remember thinking I HAD to help all of the hungry people. One neighbor gave me so much I think I only had to go to her house because I couldn’t carry the bag anymore. I came home and showed my mom what I had done and she was worried at first because she wasn’t sure I had told people why I wanted canned food. I told her I told them what I was doing so she gave me more cans and we went to the shelter to drop off the food.
Around that same age my brother and I watched an episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy and he talked about how you shouldn’t wash your car at home because the metals and chemicals wash into the storm drains and end up in the water. We quickly told our parents this, as we sometimes washed our car at home. My parents are wonderful and listened to us and started washing the car at the car wash instead.
I also remember starting at a very young age I refused to eat tuna unless it was dolphin safe. I think this came about when I was shopping with my mom and read on one of the cans that it said “dolphin safe” so I asked her what it meant. After learning I made sure that was all I would eat. (Now I avoid it all together because of the bpa and mercury)
In first grade my school was releasing balloons for something, I don’t remember what, and I refused to be apart of it. This was big since I was pretty shy and not one to stand up to adults. However, I guess my mom had told me that animals eat balloons that are released then pop and it can kill them. The thought of me being apart of killing animals was enough for me to stand up and say I wouldn’t do it. My teacher said it was fine and that I just had to stand with them but I didn’t have to be apart of it. I remember being very proud after school when I told my mom what I had done. She was proud of me as well, so we may have found the source of my activist ways.
These are just a few things I remember from my childhood that go to show even though I’ve only called myself an environmental activist for a few years, I’ve been one since childhood. I just didn’t know it yet.
Any of my activist readers able to look back and see signs of being an activist early on?
Green Living Twitter Party Recap
| October 17, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Twitter Party |
The Green Living Twitter party last night was lots of fun, even though Twitter was having some issues. We talked about reducing plastic waste, recycling, and all other kinds of green topics.
The sponsors of the party were Glass Dharma and Terra Collection. People loved learning about glass straws from Glass Dharma and all of the beautiful things that Terra Collection sells. Here are some highlights from the party.
@scasolari q1 do so at your own pace and in your own way, don’t try to make so many changes at once that you get frustrated and give up Reuse what you already have! #glparty
@ecoMomicalMe Reuse what you already have! #glparty
@NeilZabka918 Q1 Only use what you really need. Try walking instead of using car to pollute the earth more. #glparty
@GreenGiftsGuide Try not to buy new. There’s almost always something already out there #glparty
@TerraCollection Teaching my kids little things…like recycling! #glparty
@JamieCasolari Repurpose items, think outside the box For example an antique crock and a refinished wine barrel lid make a great end table #glparty
@janejoeyxo straws are a terrible polluter in the environment. hope more people start using a glass straw. #glparty
@scasolari q2 reduce plastic by buying brands with reduced packaging, say no to plastic bags, take your own containers for leftovers #glparty
@JamieCasolari Remember your purchase is your VOICE….they won’t make it if we don’t buy it! #glparty
@janejoeyxo Q2 where i live the city only recycles hard plastic, but local co. accepts donations of soft plastics,foam 2 recycle. check around! #glparty
@retrohousewife5 Here is my glass right now, don’t you love the straw from @GlassDharma ? pic.twitter.com/uB4Iauyz #glparty
@youarelovedTSS A2: On the reuse – our nonprofit focuses on menstruation – reusable fem hygiene is increasingly popular- cloth pads& menstrual cups #glparty
@DeannaPiercy I love my glass straws from GlassDharma! I use them every day in iced coffee. #glparty
@xstitchschool Q2 do not buy water bottles…use a reusable one!! That will save a lot of plastic #glparty
@MOM4EVEREVER q2 unplug and think- less waste- make your goal of trash each week of as little as possible, recycle, and compost #glparty
@GlassDharma Q2 reduce the need for plastic, use glass! especailly when it comes to food & drink! #glparty
@retrohousewife5 Did u know the US uses 138 billion straws & coffee stirrers each year That’s a lot of plastic. @GlassDharma can reduce that number #glparty
@xstitchschool I didn’t know straws could be so beautiful!! and Dishwash safe is just an added bonus!! #glparty
@janejoeyxo once u start using a glass straw then u wonder “why isn’t everyone taking this one simple step?!” #glparty
@scoobydoo197102 friendly clothing is the only way to go for my kids and family #glparty
@retrohousewife5 @TerraCollection has organic t-shirts that not only better for the planet but TerraCollection donates to causes for each sold. #glparty
@scasolari I’ve always hated scratchy clothing, so I love the bamboo and organic cotton clothes! #glparty
@Elfvixen I love Glass Dharma because they are toxic free #glparty
@msmary1962 Things from both companies would make great gifts for the holidays. #glparty
@MamaLuvsBooks Yes,nice for gifts (but I would want them for myself) #glparty
Our sponsors also gave out some great prizes, here are the winners.
@xstitchschool- Set of 4 glass straws, sponsored by Glass Dharma
@MamaLuvsBooks- Organic t-shirt, sponsored by Terra Collection
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! Also be sure to check out the sponsors; Glass Dharma and Terra Collection.
Disclaimer: I was hired by the sponsors to do this party. However, these are my honest views. For more info please read my full disclaimer.
Blog Action Day: 1 Billion Starving People
| October 16, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Fair Trade, Human Rights, Waste |
Did you know that around 1 billion people are going hungry right now? Did you also know that the hunger is not caused by a lack of enough food but instead poor distribution? Americans alone waste an estimated 27% of our food. That works out to about a pound of food every day for every American. Just imagine what that food would mean to the people in east Africa that are currently suffering from famine.
Are you mad yet? You should be! We all should be mad that we waste a pound of food per person, per day, while 1 billion people starve. But what can we do about it? The easiest answer is to sign the Endhunger.org petition to put pressure on politicians to end hunger.
Another great way to help end hunger is to buy Fair Trade certified products. Right now is also Fair Trade Month so there is no better time than now to start making the switch to Fair Trade. Fair Trade helps end hungry because Fair Trade means farmers and works, often in third world countries, get fair wages. Because the farmers and workers are earning fair wages they are able to buy food and support their families. Fair Trade also helps build communities that help each other.
So what are you going to do to help end hunger? If we all do something we can end this crisis.
Sponsor: Terra Collection
| October 16, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Twitter Party |
Terra Collection has beautiful t-shirts, accessories, toys and more. The t-shirts are very special as they are organic and each shirt donates 15% of the net proceeds to a charity dedicated to improving our quality of life. The shirts are beautiful, stylish and you will feel good wearing the shirt.
If you love being eco-friendly but don’t want to sacrifice style then you need to check out Terra Collection. You will find beautiful organic scarves, recycled jewelry, upcycled tote bags, natural beauty products, items for your home, toys for your kids and more, all of it eco-friendly.
Tonight (10-16) at the Green Living Twitter Party you will get the chance to win one of their fabulous organic shirts. Terra Collection will also be available to answer your questions and let you know more about their products. So be sure to RSVP and join us tonight at 8 p.m./et for a fun party and a chance to win great prizes.
Sponsor: Glass Dharma
| October 15, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Twitter Party |
Glass Dharma is a wonderful green company that makes beautiful glass straws. Straws may not seem like a big deal as far as the environment goes but just McDonald’s serves around 52 millions per day and most of those meals come with a plastic straw. So all that plastic does add up.
Glass Dharma straws are made from the same kind of glass as Pyrex and very strong. They even come with a lifetime warrant! They are also dishwasher safe. They are all handmade in the US and are like pieces of art for your glass.
If you have read my blog very long or know me personally you know I LOVE Glass Dharma glass straws. They were one of the first green companies I found when I started focusing on living a green lifestyle. I lusted over them for awhile and finally got some a few years go. I use at least one straw a day and even carry one in my purse.
Glass Dharma has several styles so they will have one to fit all your needs. There are the Simple Elegance straws which come in several sizes, Decorative Dot straws also in several sizes, and the Beautiful Bends straws in two sizes.
You will have the chance to win your own set of glass straws at the Green Living Twitter Party tomorrow (10-16) and will be able to talk to Glass Dharma and ask questions about the straws. So be sure to RSVP for the party and join us tomorrow at 8 p.m./et for a fun party.
*Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post, this is my honest opinion. I’m paid to host the upcoming Twitter party. This doesn’t effect my views on the products.
