Josie Maran Cosmetics

Do You Tee-Tote?

The tee-tote is an awesome, multi-purpose, eco-fashion statement. It is a handmade shirt made from renewable and/or organic fabrics that transforms into a bag you can use rather than going the plastic route. 

It's a tee and a tote! It was designed by Molly de Vries of Ambatalia, who had this to say about her creation:  

"I created tee-totes to be an inspiring force in replacing plastic and paper bags. Consider cloth shopping bags as a positive life style choice. Tee-tote was created for people who love fashion and also love and want to take care of our earth. More and more I see people bringing their own cloth bags to the market yet I find it rare seeing shoppers buying clothes or gifts with reusable bags in our neighborhood shopping centers, streets and malls.

Tee-tote is my best effort towards this end. I hope you have fun with this and see what kind of changes you can make in simple ways each day. I have found taking challenges, whether it's not using my car that week, taking a plastic bag tally or even just bringing a cup with me in my purse for a coffee or tea out. I notice a few changes in my habits can bring BIG awareness. It's pretty awesome. I hope my idea of a great looking, handmade, sustainably sourced, classic teeshirt that turns into a shopping bag inspires you and your friends to rethink how you shop."

Click here to get your very own tee-tote! So chicological....

 

Fruits & Vegetables in Season for April

Asparagus, Avocados, Basil, Green Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Cherries, Citrus: Grapefruit, Kumquat, Lemon, Navel Orange, Tangelo/Tangerine, Collards, Cucumber, Medjool Dates, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mushroom, Mustard, Nectarine, Green Onion, Passion Fruit, Green Peas, Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Turnips

These delightful delectables are in season right now for those of us in sunny California. Are you located somewhere else? Check out this website called Sustainable Table where you can enter in your location and the season to find out what's ripe for you! Eating locally and sustainably is the best way to go for your health and the health of the environment. 

 

Participate in @EarthHour Tonight at 8:30pm

All over the world, people are turning off their lights for one hour at 8:30pm. It doesn't matter where you are or what time zone you're in - tonight, Saturday, March 26, 2011 you can join in by turning your lights off, too. 8:30pm. It's that simple. For more information, check out the video below and go to EarthHour.org.

A Quote on Water for #WorldWaterDay

"If you must speak ill of another, do not speak it, write it in the sand near the water's edge." -Napoleon Hill

Today is World Water Day, and although this quote does not speak directly to necessity of clean water for everyone, I think it demonstrates an aspect of the healing power of water. Please go to World Water Day's website for more information on the movement.

-Polly

Shoes with an Eco-Afterlife

Check out these awesome green sneakers that are entirely made from biodegradable materials!

Not only are they extremely stylish, but they leave no mark on the environment when you're done with them.

According to OATShoes.com, you can bury them in the garden, woods, or compost, and when you water them regularly, flowers will bloom from your old sneakers!

Amazing! 

Unfortunately, OAT Shoes are not for sale in the U.S. yet, but maybe if they get enough love on their facebook page, they will make the move! www.facebook.com/OATShoes

-Posted by Nicole, JMC Social Media Intern

Photo via www.treehugger.com

Foods that Prevent Insomnia

Having trouble getting to sleep at night? Well lucky for all insomniac's out there, Sara Novak at Greenwala.com has put together a list of foods that we should eat to get a better night's rest, and also a list of foods we should avoid. 

Foods that Prevent Insomnia: 

1. Pumpkin Seeds: Pumpkin seeds are a great source of magnesium which serves to calm the body down. Magnesium helps to relieve the stress that can keep us up all night. Just 1 oz. of pumpkin seeds has 151 mg of magnesium, making it one of the most magnesium-rich foods out there.
2. Cottage Cheese: Cottage cheese contains tryptophan, a sleep inducing amino acid that relaxes the entire body and mind. If you don't do dairy you can also find tryptophan in soy milk, tofu, hummus, and lentils.
3. Sesame Seeds: Sesame seeds are rich in trytophan but they're also high in carbohydrates with a medium protein content, perfect for before bedtime.
4. Brown Rice: Whole unrefined grains like brown rice have a calming effect on the mind. They soothe the nervous system so that the mind stops moving a mile a minute and you can fall asleep. Also consider oats for a similar effect.
5. Spinach: Chlorophyll-rich foods like spinach help you get to sleep. Spinach, like pumpkin seeds, is also loaded with magnesium, which calms and de-stresses the entire body.

Foods that Promote Insomnia:

1. Bacon: Bacon contains tyramine, which increases the release of norepinephrine, a brain stimulant that keeps you up. Others foods that contain tyramine include chocolate, eggplant, ham, potatoes, sauerkraut, sugar, sausage, tomatoes, and wine.
2. Refined Carbohydrates: These drain the body of vitamin B, which the body needs to release serotonin. When the body can't get enough serotonin, then tension, fear, and depression can keep you up all night.
3. MSG: Monosodium glutamate (MSG), often found in Chinese food, causes a stimulant reaction in some people. MSG is almost always found in processed, prepared, and packaged foods. Here's a list of surprising places that MSG hides.
4. Alcohol: While many of us drink to relax the body and mind, the fact of the matter is that wine, beer, and spirits can keep you up at night. This is especially true if you drink more than one glass. While alcohol can make you tired in the short run, you're likely to awaken in the middle of the night.
5. Chocolate: Chocolate can elevate your energy levels with bioactive compounds like tyramine and phenylethylamine. Chocolate also contains sugar which wakes you up as well as the other obvious culprit, caffeine.

Got any great tips that promote better sleep? Let us know in the comments section! 

-Posted by Nicole, JMC Social Media Intern

Food list via www.greenwala.com and photo via www.buzzle.com

Eating Out: Healthy Options

We all know that fast food is the wrong way to go when you're deciding what to eat. But we all have those days where we just don't have the time to prepare a meal and we need a quick fix.

HappyCow.com is an awesome website that allows you to enter your address, and it will provide you with a list of all the healthy places to eat in your area with vegetarian, vegetarian friendly, and vegan options. 

So the next time you find yourself about to drive through a McDonald's, it will only take a moment to search and find a healthier alternative. 

Green Kleen

What's on your agenda this weekend? My calendar is filled with the oh-so-exciting task of cleaning my apartment. Yes, indeedie.

I've pretty much made the switch to greener cleaning products; no bleaches or sprays so toxic they don't even list the ingredients. Most of this happened when I read in What to Expect the First Year that it is less harmful to my baby to crawl around on a dirty floor than it is for her to touch a household cleaning product or breathe in their fumes.

This weekend I'm going to take it a step further. I'm going to make my cleaning products here at home. The first project I want to tackle is the bathroom and for that I'm going to use white vinegar. White vinegar is great for removing soap scum, bacteria, and mold from grout and tile. Plus, the smell totally disappears once the vinegar dries. 

Use one part white vinegar to one part water, place in a spray bottle, shake up and green kleen!!

-Polly

Homemade Laundry Powder

Homemade Laundry Powder
(Makes approximately 5 cups)

2 cups (finely) grated castile soap*
1 cup borax
1 cup baking soda
1 cup soda ash (washing soda)

*(I love, love, love Dr. Bronners. One and a half .5 oz bars makes about two cups. So far, peppermint is everyone's favorite for laundry. So fresh.)

Mix everything together, and store in an airtight jar. Depending on your water, you might need to adjust the sodas a bit, and the amount used per load. I use 1/8 cup per load. You may need to give the jar a shake once in a while to prevent the soap flakes from settling to the bottom.

This recipe is from Amanda Soule, author of two fabulous books The Creative Family and Handmade Home as well as the ever impressive blog Soule Mama. 

The Most Polluted River in the World

The Citarum River in Indonesia is considered to be the most polluted river in the world. Over 5 million people live along it's banks and it is the main source of water for the region.

Sometimes when I see images like this I feel overwhelmed. But then I think of the small things I can do to help, like compost and recycle. What are some steps you take to cut down on pollution?