Shopping Green/Local/Fair Trade for Christmas 2012

Last year, I wrote a Christmas wish list that had nothing to do with local, Fair Trade, or green shopping whatsoever. This year, I hope to shop only local and/or green for the holidays and beyond.

To be honest, I have been refraining from shopping at clothing chain stores. I have browsed through so many stores during the semester, but I cannot bring myself to buy them because I don't know if I can trust their ethical practices in their clothing production. The only place where I have bought clothing in recent months is Wish Newport, the designer consignment boutique downtown.

With Black Friday and Small Business Saturday a few days away, here is my shopping plan for the weekend:

Crosswynds Traders, Narragansett, RI (local)- I haven't been in here for a while, but I will definitely want to look at their selection of Lucky Brand, Juicy Couture, and Urban Outfitters.

Green Envy Boutique, Newport, RI (local/green/Fair Trade)- This is where I plan on getting "smalls"--jewelry, tea, etc--for friends' gifts. Also, guilt-free shopping because it's an entirely sustainable boutique.

Wish Newport, Newport RI - Obviously.

Laura Jean Denim Shop, Newport, RI (local) - When I went in last week, there were beautiful cashmere sweaters, the cutest Frye boots, and the oh-so-perfect pairs of J Brand jeans. I plan on spending paycheck here on a cashmere sweater or a couple pairs of leggings. It will be so worth it.

Island Books, Newport, RI (local)- Picking out some new reads for my relatives and little cousins would be great. Probably my favorite bookstore.

Source: Uploaded by user via Mia on Pinterest

Jack Wills, Newport, RI (green-ish)- I know they are technically a chain store, but they are a foundation member of the Ethical Trade Initiative, which makes me feel better shopping there... Also planning on spending a full paycheck here as well...

Source: jackwills.com via Mia on Pinterest

Renee Bowers of the Fair Trade Federation, whom I interviewed for my journalism assignment on Fair Trade, referred me to a holiday gift guide assembled by the Fair Trade Federation, which contains all sorts of beautiful Fair Trade certified products to give this season. The gift guide has categories ranging from home decor, women's apparel, bath and body and more.

Source: fairtradefederation.org via Mia on Pinterest

Some of the brands are very familiar--Guayaki Yerba Mate is listed with its mate gourd; Equal Exchange is listed with its organic spicy hot chocolate; One Mango Tree is listed with its hand-loomed scarves; and Dr. Bronner is listed with its organic body care products.

Other products listed include an eco-leather briefcase by Jolica, raw shea butter by Ojoba Collective and Gone Global Cruelty-Free Leather iPad Case by Handmade Expressions.

Green America also has a green holiday gift guide, which can be accessed by clicking here.

I hope that you consider shopping green this holiday season!

Product Review: Guayaki Yerba Mate

I still have a ton of prizes left from Project Green Challenge that I have to try. The last prize package from PGC 2012 came from Guayaki Yerba Mate. I already won three or four bags of loose leaf Guayaki Yerba Mate, probably enough to last a year, but this prize package also included other cool products by Guayaki. 

I won another mate gourd from a previous challenge, but I am still hesitant to use it--I am terrible at following directions. I guess there's the consolation of having two mate gourds in case one is horribly ruined.

There were also organic energy shots, basically a healthier to 5-Hour Energy shots, but I stay away from energy shots period. Regardless, it is nice to know that there is an alternative to 5-Hour Energy.

My favorite products so far would be the tea bags and the Revel Berry drink. I already love the original bulk Yerba Mate, but the convenience of tea bags while on the go works great. As far as the canned drinks in general, I did not know what to expect. When you see a canned beverage, for the most part, it is associated with carbonation and high levels of sugar.

When I took the first sip of Revel Berry, it seemed odd that the drink was not carbonated, yet it still tasted very good. With the amount caffeine comparable to a cup of coffee, I found my eyes wide open and very awake. I also tried the Lemon Elation flavor, but the Revel Berry was better.

Product Review: Superleaf

I am really into drinking organic and healthy beverages, like green tea, almond milk, or pomegranate juice. The latest alternative drink on the rise is made of aloe vera. 

Aloe vera gel, typically recognized in its topical form, provides many benefits when ingested. Aloe vera is full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It also regulates blood sugar levels and enhances the absorption of vital nutrients to the body.

Superleaf is a new refreshing drink made with 30% aloe. Superleaf also has no GMOs, no artificial flavors/coloring and no preservatives.

The beverage uses organic aloe vera gel ingredients and organic cane sugar. The finely sliced aloe vera gel in Superleaf makes for a great texture and taste on your tongue. Although it feels like pulp inside, it's entirely different--it is smoother to drink and  doesn't feel clumpy. Some alternative beverages sacrifice taste--Superleaf doesn't. It has a light fruit juice taste without the high sugar content.

I would definitely recommended Superleaf to anyone who wants to maintain, or begin, a healthy lifestyle.

To learn more about Superleaf and the health benefits aloe vera, please click here.

Narragansett: PGC 2012 Prize Packages and Some Product Reviews

The highlight of my weekend: getting the rest of my prizes from the Project Green Challenge! I have gotten three packages prior to this delivery, but blanked on blogging about them. 

As you can see, I got a ton of stuff...

Fair Trade/Organic goodies from Alter Eco: Organic Mascobado Cane Sugar; Organic Royal Pearl Quinoa; Thai Sticky Purple Rice; Dark Blackout chocolate;Dark Coco Toffee chocolate; Dark Quinoa chocolate

Clockwise from top: Neal's Yard canvas tote; Earthlust water bottle; Neal's Yard travel skincare; Radius toothbrush; Rainbow Light vitamins; One Mango Tree eye pillow; Radius vegan cranberry floss, protein energizer in vanilla, Aubrey Organics sunscreen; Aubrey Organics bath bar

Clockwise from top: eco notebooks by New Leaf Paper and Kerjriwal; Guayaki Yerba Mate; Nature's Path Oatmeal; Teens Turning Green/Astara Skincare Sunstar Purifying Mask; Nature's Path Toaster Pastries; Weleda Skin Food Moisturizing Lotion w/gloves; Numi Organic Tea assorted tea bags; Aubrey Organics sunscreen; Pasta Samples by Eden Organics; Swisspers Organic Cotton Swabs; Aubrey Organics Lip Balm; Teens Turning Green/EO hand sanitizer; Neal's Yard beauty sample; stainless steel travel containers; Kopali Organics Organic Chocolate Covered Mulberries; Aubrey Organics Men's Face Scrub and moisturizer; Natracare feminine product samples; RW Garcia Veggie Dipping Chips; PeopleTowels reusable paper towel; "Green Goes with Everything" by Sloan Barnett

You can imagine that after opening the boxes and reviewing all of the prizes, I was thrilled! Now it was just a matter of testing everything out. So today, while working on a Powerpoint presentation on French Polynesia (which suffers greatly from climate change, by the way), I tried out some of the products.

It should be noted that the Kopali Organics Chocolate Covered Mulberries are my favorite chocolate covered fruit--I was lucky to win two bags of these delicious treats in previous packages. I could live on them.

I'm pretty sure I had a staring contest with the Radius toothbrush before I opened it--why did it look so weird? Here's some of the information that was printed on the back of the package:

• Bristles last 9 months
• Wide head massages gums to help reduce bleeding and receding gums
• Soft, premium Radius bristles helpd reduce enamel erosion
• Ergonomic Right or Left Handles ensure easy drip and Dentist recommended 45 degree angle
• Cellulose Handle made from sustainable yield trees
• Accepted by American Dental Association
• New sustainable packaging reduces plastic content by 30% and increases renewable resource content to 65%
• Polished bristles are 100% castor bean vegetable based nylon
• Card 40% recycled & printed with vegetable inks
• Plastic packaging 100% recycled PET

By the time I started brushing my teeth, it felt so good. Most toothbrushes have a smaller amount of bristles and it can feel quite abrasive, so this was a cool new toothbrush to have. I haven't tried the Aubrey Organics Bath Bar yet, but it looks promising.

I have really tried to take vitamins, but I cannot seem to stick with it. Gummy candies are also not my favorite--not crazy about gummy bears, gummy worms, Swedish Fish, you-name-it. Now, I am a big fan of the Rainbow Light's Lemon Sunny Gummies Vitamin D3 Gummies made with organic cane sugar. It tastes like a really good candy. The Active Health Teen vitamin, also by Rainbow Light, was no candy, but it seems to do the job. Hopefully this will be a vitamin regimen I can stick with.

I love seeing the words "chocolate," "peanut butter," and "USDA organic" on a product label, but what made me hesitate in trying the Nature's Path Organic Peanut Choco Crunch granola bars was the visible peanuts in bar. There's one thing I loved about processed peanut butter--it's creamy and you can't feel the nutty texture. My brother tried it before I did, promised it was good (aka not too nutty), and I gave a bite. The result: I'm definitely getting another box when this runs out.

So far, I have been having a lot of fun enjoying my prizes and finding that healthy alternatives feel and taste better than conventional products. Hopefully there will be more positive reviews to come!

(I wanted to check out the grand re-opening of the Green Envy Boutique in Newport this weekend, but I had a few things to take care of on the homework agenda)

Newport/Narragansett: Wading Through Wednesday; PGC 2012 Day 17

It's been so busy--I would love to sleep again eventually! I've been getting up early, but moving more lethargically. That's really not okay.

After French, I went to work at the Pell Center and wrote a blog post on the lecture and the presidential debate. Everyone I talked to about the lecture thought that it was too boring, but I would argue that the discussion of faithful citizenship in the voting boot and beyond was very interesting. 

From work, I conducted my work for PGC 2012 Day 17 challenge, School Food. As I will not for the umpteenth time, I do not live on campus or have a meal plan--you cannot gain admission into the dining hall without having a meal plan. Thankfully, the lunch lady recognized me and let me in so I could take pictures. People kept looking at me like I was crazy, probably asking themselves "What is that girl doing taking pictures all over the cafeteria?" Hopefully they just briefly passed judgment, called me weird, and moved on.

My favorite part of today's challenge was talking with peers and faculty about what the dining hall services could do to improve the health and sustainability of the food. It amazed me how everyone offered different suggestions and opinions, but those ideas could really contribute to the betterment of campus dining.  

Miley Dining Hall- the main dining facility on campus

The cafeteria uses local milk provided by Rhody Fresh

I never noticed until today that there was a sustainability wall with all of the dining services' initiatives to go green. 

One part of today's challenge was comparing a conventional vending machine and its snacks to an alternative list of healthier snacks we had to find.  

Today's Outfit: Scarf, Old Navy; Sweater, Simply Vera by Vera Wang; Tights, Hue; Dress, vintage; Boots, LUV

Newport/Narragansett: Sweaters on Sweaters on Sweaters, PGC 2012 Days 9-12

In case you haven't noticed already, it's getting cold. It's hard to believe last week I wore sandals--now I'm thinking about pulling out my trapper hat for Boston tomorrow.

Tuesday's challenge focused on the benefits of gardening. One component of PGC 2012 Day 9 required to take a picture of a community garden--I chose to photograph my university's vegetable garden. The dining services and students take care of it, which is great because it's an effort on both fronts to make the university meet its sustainability goals. Another component of the challenge was to plant an organic seed. When I got home that night, I ate an apple, took the seeds out of the core, got a cup, ran outside, quickly scooped up some soil in the dark, went back inside, then put the seeds in the cup. It will be a miracle if anything grows. 

Tuesday's Outfit: Sweater, aerie; Jeans, Express; Vest, Gap; Scarf, BCBG Max Azria; Boots, Coach; Earrings (from Trendz)

Salve Regina University's vegetable garden

Let's hope this guy survives!

Wednesday was a bit of a whirlwind. Work study kept me busy, updating information and a few Powerpoint presentations. I do not remember much else except completing PGC 2012 Day 10 on Zero Waste and learning I won a "Greener" level prize for my entry on PGC 2012 Day 8, Meatless Monday--that was the highlight of my day.

Wednesday's Outfit: Sweater, Juicy Couture; Top, Gap; Pants, Gap; Boots, (from Tropical Gangsters)

I had to take a picture of single-use items I use on a daily basis then find reusable alternatives for them

I don't really remember what I did yesterday either, everything is such a blur--wake up, get dressed, drive to Newport, and get to class. And PGC 2012 Day 11, of course, which focused on voicing awareness about a social issue. It also had a component which required a video or written submission about an important woman in your life. I tried a video for this challenge and posted it on Teens Turning Green's Facebook page. I'm so much more awkward than I want to be. The highlight of the day was when I got Starbucks and received a free drink coupon, because when I asked for a Pumpkin Spice Latte, the barista said they were out of the flavor.

Thursday's Outfit: Blazer, Forever 21; Scarf, vintage; Jeans, Gap; Flats, Nomad

One of my favorite stores in Newport

 This week I realized how much the Project Green Challenge has gotten me thinking more deeply about sustainable living. Today's challenge, PGC 2012 Day 12, was on packaged foods. I know some of the labels and ingredients to be wary of when buying packaged food, but I was surprised to find that labels I thought would be more regulated, such as gluten-free or grass-fed, were not.

Tomorrow, I'm going on a trip to Boston to see the New England Aquarium. My boyfriend and I are meeting up, too, so I'm looking forward to spending the day with him.

Today's Outfit: Leather Jacket, New York & Company; Scarf, ESpirit; Jeans, Express; Boots, Mudd; LV tote (from Wish Newport)

Newport/Narragansett: Tea Time and Meatless Monday, PGC 2012 Days 6-8

I got sick over this long weekend, but there was still plenty to be done.

On Saturday, my parents and I went to the beach for an hour. No bikinis and swim trunks, but it was still a nice day to soak up some sun. Yoga was the theme for PGC 2012: Day 6. I had to take a picture of myself doing yoga (awkward) and wrote a reflection on the first week of PGC 2012 so far.

Saturday's Outfit: T Shirt, Gap; Sweater, Old Navy; Jeans, J Brand; Belt, vintage; Sandals, Steve Madden

Sunday, my parents and I checked out the Wrentham Outlets. It was so crowded--there were license plates from everywhere, from Nova Scotia to Rhode Island. Style was the theme for PGC 2012: Day 7. The challenge required picking out an item of clothing in the closet and find a greener version of it online. I enjoyed the part of the challenge that required making three eco-friendly and sustainable looks on Pinterest, but it took so long. Check out all three of my looks here: Look 1, Look 2, and Look 3.

I chose to research my Sadimara by Colette Mordo cardigan I bought from Wish Newport last fall

Sunday's Outfit: Coat, Express; Cardigan, Sadimara by Colette Mordo; Leggings, Gap;  Bag, Call It Spring; Boots; Mudd

Today, I went to Newport and met with my professor at Starbucks to brainstorm the topic of my final paper. I would like to explore consumerism and department stores and how consumerism may or may not have changed from 19th century Paris till today. On the way out, I ran into my roommate from Oxford and we caught up over tea and cookies.

Meatless Monday was the theme for today, PGC 2012: Day 8. It involved analyzing why going meatless for at least one day of the week is better for human health and the environment. Part of the challenge involved signing up for the Environmental Working Group (EWG) pledge to eat less meat and create a virtual vegetarian/vegan meal. I did sign up for The Pledge--it helps that I don't eat meat that much in the first place. If anything, what would impact me more was if I signed a pledge to eat less cheese and cheese products. That would be incredibly trying. Check out my virtual vegetarian meal I made on Pinterest using local farms--I would like to try and make it at some point.

Today's Outfit: Vest, Gap; Tunic; Gap; Scarf, (knit by Mom); Leggings, Gap; Boots, LUV

The Project Green Challenge 2012 has been going really well, I've managed to stay on top of all the challenges and completing at least the first two levels, "green" and "greener." However, there are two things I struggle with:

1. The more the challenge goes on, the more time consuming PGC 2012 becomes. I want to participate in this initiative with my full support, but I feel like this challenge could be more considerate of people's time. I understand that education is a central part of PGC 2012 and research should be conducted about specific practices and movements associated with green living. I understand that, because I already live a more eco-friendly lifestyle than the average person. But with an overloaded schedule of university commitments, to have questions and assignments that are very time consuming make it difficult to keep doing the PGC 2012.

2. I took some environmental courses before PGC 2012, so the basic lessons are not new to me. The environmental courses I have taken include Humans and the Environment and Christianity, Ethics, and the Environment. I have already done extensive research about my community and my university regarding sustainability. Had I not known anything about green living, all of this information would be fresh and exciting. Continuing this learning process is still exciting, but I found out I am more educated in the environment than I thought.

All of that in mind, I fully support the positive intentions and actions The Project Green Challenge 2012 is putting out there. Educating young generations about sustainable living is crucial to building a better world, a better community, and a better sense of self.

Newport/Kingston: First Day of Boot Camp and PGC 2012, Day 2

After a long day of classes, I managed to get back to Black Diamond MMA for my first women's boot camp class. It was pretty intense, but I have no regrets--my abs feel sore, but they'll look amazing. Dawn, the teacher of the class, set up a lot of exercises in the studio. The warm up was a light jog around the studio, squats, and jump rope. The jump rope was probably the hardest thing.

The actual main exercise circuit--kickboxing, ab work, step-ups with dumbbells, hopskotch--was not terribly challenging. With that being said, it doesn't mean that I did not get a great workout. I feel awesome!

The second day of the Project Green Challenge 2012 involved finding eco-friendly alternatives for ten items currently in your room/dorm. Here's the list I submitted, I think it would be fun for you to check out:

Handbag

·         Shiraleah Monroe Chestnut Vegan Tote by Alternative Outfitters Vegan Boutique
·         Made with vegan leather

Jeans
·         Women’s Regular Bootcut Jeans made with Organic Cotton by Patagonia
·         98% organic cotton 

Comforter
·         Crescent Moon Alpaca Wool Comforters available at The Clean Bedroom
·         70% Alpaca Wool; 30% sheep’s wool
·         Packaged in a reusable 100% cotton bag

Pillow

Organic Chamber Pillows by West Elm
·         100% organic cotton shell
·         Down alternative: loft-recycled polyester fill
Curtains

             Hemp Draperies available at Rawganique.com

       100% hemp curtains made in Europe

 Headboard/Bureau

 Valencia Bedframe and Valencia Dresser by erikorganic

·         Made by skilled Amish craftsmen; 100% American-made
·         Please read erikorganic’s philosophy here

Lamp/Lightbulb

·         Abaca Fiber Cylindrical Lamps with Wrought Iron Frame available at The Futon Shop
·         Interior made of abaca plant

Notebook

·         Notebooks by EcoSystem
·         100% post-consumer recycled paper

Pencil

·         Natural Recycled Wood Twig Pencils available at Hemptent.com
·         Made from tree branches and Tamarind trees (Southeast Asia)

As much I love the Project Green Challenge 2012, the one problem is that it is a lot more work than I bargained for. I would love to do all three levels of the daily challenges, as well as the extra credit, but the time necessary to complete the tasks well is equivalent to the time I spend doing academic work for university.

Commuting, overloading, an editor for the university newspaper, treasurer and public relations officer for two clubs... I'm pretty sure the creators of the Project Green Challenge 2012 never anticipated someone like me would find the time to do it.

Yesterday's Outfit: Top, To the Max; Cardigan, Gap; Belt, vintage; Pants, Banana Republic; Flats, Primark

Newport: Project Green Challenge 2012, Day 1

For the next month, I will be participating in the Project Green Challenge 2012, an initiative to engage students about environmental living.

Today's challenge was about cosmetics and body care. For the "green" level challenge, I watched the "Story of Cosmetics" by Annie Leonard (Story of Stuff) and answered some questions about the video. The "greener" level challenge involved taking a picture of five personal care products, choose one you cannot live without, and look up the ingredients of that product on EWG's Cosmetics Base.

I am glad to know about EWG so I can get a gauge on the toxicity level of the products I use. When using cosmetics that come in such intimate contact with your body, you should know if they are adversely affecting your quality of life.

Here are the products I picked from my beauty cabinet to look up:

Products (from left): Thoroughly Clean Face Wash with Organic Tea Tree Oil by Dessert Essence; SPF 15 matte foundation in medium tan by bare Minerals; Light Texturized Moisturizer by DCL Dermatologic Cosmetic Laboratories; Firming Eye Treatment by bareMinerals; InvisibleSolid pH balanced deodorant in powder fresh by Secret

Today's Outfit: Sweater, vintage; Shorts, Gap (circa 1960s); Belt, vintage; Boots, American Eagle