The prize package just keeps getting better!

I enjoy networking. Meeting people who share a common purpose is invigorating and motivating. That's how I felt a couple of weeks ago when I attended a local green festival. The best part was meeting new people and talking about their products.

Some of the people I met that day decided to join in the celebration of the blog's 1st anniversary by donating products. How fun is that?

When I met with the lovely ladies at the LUSH Cosmetics booth, I expressed my enthusiasm over the shampoo bar my daughter bought for me from them back in May. I LOVE this shampoo bar!! It lasts forever, rinses so clean and makes my hair feel really healthy. Plus, because it's a bar, there's no plastic bottle needed. Wonderful!

Kiss me...I'm wearing fossil fuels

I hope you will forgive my lack of posts over the last several days. Just blame it on the snowstorm of 2010. That said, I'm back to it...unless this next one (due today) nails us again.


We hear a lot about fossil fuels lately, but I have to admit, I didn’t know exactly what that term meant, so I did a little research. Basically, what I found out is that fossil fuels are non-renewable resources, like coal, oil (petroleum) natural gas, methane and diesel that contain a high level of carbons and hydrocarbons. The push is for renewable energy from natural sources, such as wind, water, tides, geothermal heat and sunlight.

Okay, so we know that in an ideal world, our sources for energy would come from natural, renewable sources. But what about the non-energy-related products we choose? Petroleum derivatives, such as paraffin, mineral oil and propylene glycol are found in most of the cosmetic products we use. Just grab your tube of lip balm and look for yourself!

There are alternatives to using these non-renewable petroleum derivatives in the products we use every day, such as beeswax, and more and more companies are switching over to these environmentally-friendly ingredients.

Some health and environmentally-conscious companies to buy from:

• Burt’s Bees®  http://www.burtsbees.com/
• Plant Love™  http://www.cargoplantlove.com/
• Jason  http://www.jason-natural.com/
• Honeybee Gardens    http://www.honeybeegardens.com/    

There are countless other companies offering alternatives to petroleum-based cosmetics. A wonderful resource I stumbled upon is the website for Natural Living for Women, which states it is a guide to “a healthy, natural and green lifestyle,” and is animal, people and earth friendly. Check them out at http://www.natural-living-for-women.com/.

With all of the alternatives out there, maybe it’s time to walk on by the L’Oreal®, CoverGirl®, Maybelline® aisles at the drug store and invest in a healthier future for yourself and the environment.

Keeping it green and healthy,

Hana