ShoptoBeGreen.com Offers Organic, Natural & Sustainable Products

If you don't have a small family-owned green products retailer near you, you know have one online.

Shoptobegreen.com offers organic, natural and sustainable products for your body and your home. Many factors go into the careful selection of vendors and their products. They ask themselves,"Can this product reduce the public's use of petroleum products; lower landfill contribution either through bio-degradability, pre-cycle and recycle usage; and lowering chemical exposure by providing naturally made alternatives?"

They also prefer to carry products "made out of recycled materials created in an environmentally friendly way; like our reclaimed wood furniture, recycled water bottle felt pillows, and junk mail greeting cards. We also choose to carry a lot of products that are handmade by small family owned companies (like Tumbleweed Bead Co, GB Proudfoot, Decoylab and Beehive Kitchenware). One of the many reasons we love small companies is because their products tend to be handmade at the time you place your order so there are no large warehouses of inventory sucking up energy."

You can tell they've put a lot of thought into this:

"We look for items that can replace petroleum based products (like soy candles) and products that can help conserve energy usage (like LED lights and solar electronics). We carry jewelry made only from recycled metals and we will only carry antique or Canada mined diamonds so you can rest assured that it is not a conflict diamond. Our policy on products from outside of the US is to find companies that help reduce waste like Verterra’s biodegradable disposable kitchenware, Chaba reclaimed wood decor, and AquaOvo Therm-o glass bottle. We look for companies with Fair Trade policies such as our Pomiare Clayware, BeeHive Kitchenware Ceramics, and Himalayan salt lamps."

Not only is that a time-saver from shopping store to store, but it's a heartwarmer too - you can feel good about absolutely everything you purchase here. How great to support these smaller, independent producers!

I got to try Solay Wellness, for instance, which I'd never come across before. Their Whipped Body Butter is so luxurious and light, that I've been slathering all over my body ever since it arrived. And my skin has never been so soft! And the Detox Face Mask is the perfect way to combat a stressful day and/or damaged skin.

G.B. Proudfoot is another company I hadn't heard of and was thrilled to discover. Their Original Organic Lip Balm is not only soothing, it's got the most invigorating scent - ginger and orange - you'll want to eat it! For truly soft, renewed skin, their Tea with Lemon & Honey Scrub (pictured above) goes to work on ridding you of any dry skin and leaves behind rich, moist skin, all done with natural ingredients.

Not only is Shoptobegreen.com a fantastic place to shop for yourself, it makes gift-giving a breeze.

Shop now. Shop green. Shop responsibly.

Make Life Easier with the Bernzomatic Flexible Lighter

Lighting candles should be romantic, not a cause to call the fire department. Lighting the barbecue should be a breeze, but no doubt yours is filled with matches that never quite took.

That's why you should get the Bernzomatic Flexible Lighter. It allows you to get into hard to reach places like tall hurricane lamps, grills and other areas you need to light with it's flexible stem.

You can use it indoors, and thanks to its windproof flame, outdoors too. It's got a big, comfy handle so that it's easy on your hands and with its child-proof switch, you don't have to worry about it getting in the wrong hands.

It also has an adjustable flame so that you can accommodate each situation. The butane cartridge is refillable, making it a much better environmental choice than disposable lighters and they've designed it so that you can see your fuel through a little window so you're never caught short - what a fantastic idea!

Sure you could keep buying matches or disposable lighters, but when there's the Flexible Utility Lighter, why bother?

It's available for only $5.99 at Home Depot and Rona.

Illumienate - The Most Stylish Way to Light Up a Room

Sometimes someone just gets it right on.

Danielle Ericsson's creation - Illumienate - takes candle holders that are covered in beautiful papers and images.  She makes them into wedding luminary table numbers, luminaria centerpieces, favors, votive place cards, votive wrap name cards, and lumie menus.

The best part is that she personalizes them, so whether you're doing a bridal shower, reception, baby shower, birthday, christening, or any kind of celebration, she will create a look that is completely customized to you and your event.

She even made me my own candle lumie with the knack logo and background!  And Danielle showed me ones that used photos of Tarzan and Jane, which made for memorable event, I'm sure!! 

I can't think of a better way of making an event really look and feel like your own - just look at all of the possibilities:

- these gorgeous deep Damask Love Lumies are classic and yet have a decidedly modern feel (perfect for a wedding or anniversary, don't you think?)

- the Perfect Centerpiece will make your wedding stand out from the crowd

- why use standard name/place cards when you can use these gorgeous Votive Wraps

You get the dramatic feel of the candle light and the customized look to match your special day. All beautifully - and carefully - wrapped. 

Sigh.

Illumienate's Luminaries are one of most beautiful, best finds I've ever come across and I don't think I'll ever want to have an event without them.

Yep, they are most definitely a must.

Shop now and forever be the envy of your friends, family and colleagues.

Maroma's Natural Home Fragrances Make A Wonderful Holiday Gift

It drives me crazy when I see people loading up with soaps and candles from those places in the mall. It just seems so unoriginal.  And those scents? Smelling like candy canes is not natural.

That's why I recommend Maroma's Natural Home Fragrances.

I like them because they everything is made with botanical extracts and contain no toxic or harmful ingredients. They also follow environmentally responsible manufacturing practices, so you can feel good about using them and giving them this holiday season.

The essential oils used in their home products don't just smell good - they are formulated to clear and refresh the air.  And the fragrances to choose from are incredible, all at incredibly inexpensive prices, so you can afford to outfit your home as well as those on your holiday list. Take a look at what I've tried so far:

I love the large range of incense Maroma offers. I especially like their SPA line that includes not only fragrances but the therapeutic effects that go along with it. Each box of 10 includes a small incense holder (I love that!) and each stickburns for 30 minutes, allowing you the peace and calm that you need in this hectic world. New Energy is lively with its blend of Orange, Lemon, Basil, Peppermint, Lavender, Cubeb and Rosemary. And Pure Air is a wonderful blend of Pine, Vetyver, Eucalyptus Globulus, Basil, Bergamot and Spearmint that really helps make the place feel fresh, even with the windows closed.

I've never used cone incense before, but I am captivated by Devi Incense (pictured above). Blended with natural essential oils, these cones contains sandalwood powder and tree bark powder as a natural binder. What is amazing about cones versus sticks is that the ash of the cone stays in place, so you don't have to worry about any cleanup. I tried the Audacity Fragrance, which is a wonderful whirlwind of Vanilla with Jasmine, Cedrat and Mandarin. You get 12 cones plus a holder in this set. What a great gift or stocking stuffer!

And for a rich feel, I love Maroma Men's Incense. Tonka Vetiver is so sexy and alluring.

If incense isn't really your thing, Encens d'Auroville Perfume Sachets are a lovely way to bring soft fragrance into your home.  There are small squares that you can tuck in between your linens or in a drawer or sachets with paper hooks that makes it easy to bring a fresh scent to your closet, car or laundry room. Blended with natural essential oils that are infused into fine sandalwood powder then packaged in handmade paper pouches, these are a lovely way to say thanks this holiday as well as freshen the house before company arrives. I fell for Orange Blossom, Rosewood, Fragipani, Rose and Neroli.

Candles are a wonderful way to bring a scent indoors this season. Maroma's are made from 100% renewable resource farmed palm wax that gives you 24 hours of clean burn time with no smoke, soot, petroleum based residue or overriding wax odor. The wick is made of cotton and completely self-trimming. The Luminary cup and packaging are made from recycled natural materials
and the Luminary wrap is from harvested banana fiber. Once you've used up the candle, the cup can be used for tealight candles or for anything else you like. These cups are way too pretty not to showcase somewhere in the house. 

And the scents! I love the deep notes of Maroma Men's Cedar Lavender. And Maroma's Green-light Spicy Mandarin is a great choice for this time of year. The originality of Pear d'Anjou is so delightful. Just try getting anything like these fragrances at the mall.

Soap is a very popular gift at this time of year, but you'll stand out from the crowd with these Maroma blends:  

Spa soaps are 100% natural, made with certified organic soap base, with no added dyes or any synthetic fragrance. They have been triple milled, making quite the luxe gift without the hefty price tag. I think the Tranquility blend is an excellent way to unwind this holiday. 

Maroma True Soaps and Bath Salts contain no dyes, preservatives or artificial additives. I love the energy of Lemongrass. With Mango Butter, Lemongrass Leaf Powder, Lemongrass Oil, Gingergrass Oil and Palmarosa Oil, your body will be drenched in deep moisture. And for a more soothing feel, indulge in the Lavender Soap and Bath Salts.

You don't have to be a man to enjoy using Maroma Men Soap. There is the relaxing Cedar Lavender, invigorating Tonka Vetiver and the exfoliating Olibanum Citrus that uses walnut shell powder to rid you of any dry skin.

Whether you're buying Secret Santa gifts or just wanting to infuse your home with a little added warmth this season,  shop Maroma.

Indulge In Soft Skin and Fabulous Scents With THANN

One of the best luxuries I think, is to have soft, supple skin that smells good.

And one of the most sumptuous lines has got to be THANN.

This all-natural hair, skin and body care line for men and women uses extracts of rice bran oil, "deriving from the Oryza Sativa, which has been a unique staple of Thai subsistence for over five millennia" as its core ingredients. It is rich in Vitamin E which heals and soothes your skin. THANN is also the first brand to feature shiso extract as a key ingredient in skincare. 

You're going to love the intoxicating scents - Oriental Essence, Mediterranean Floral, Sea Foam, Aromatic Wood, Shiso and Rice.

I start my morning off enveloping myself in Aromatic Wood Shower Gel. It moisturizes as it cleanses and the orange woodsy scent (thanks to orange, tangerine and nutmeg oil) is a stimulating way to start the day.

If you like to ease a little more gently into the day, then perhaps the Mediterranean Floral Shower Oil is for you. Normally, I don't like oils, but this one is fabulous! Drenching your skin in vitamins (A & E) and oils (almond, olive, rosemary and lavender), you'll be so soft and smooth, you'll feel like you've just been to the spa. And the fragrance of fresh lavender is so soothing, you can't help but be relaxed. Isn't that how you want to start your day?

And to keep that soft skin throughout the day, apply rich, thick Shiso Body Butter. It's SPF15 and ooh, it goes to work quickly on my dry, rough skin. And I can feel it working throughout the day, so never do I feel dry and itchy. Shiso is not only a moisturizer, but an antioxidant and anti-histamine, so it protects your skin from harmful pollutants as well.

The scent is so lovely - cocoa butter, licorice and shiso extracts combine to form a warm fragrance that is completely captivating. I dare you not to keep inhaling all day!

I keep Sea Foam Hand Cream with Organic Shea Butter at my desk because nothing dries out your hands like handling paper all day. My hands stay soft all day, even after washing. Organic shea butter, organic jojoba oil, rice bran oil and algae extract work to keep them smooth  - and not at all greasy - no matter what I'm doing. Just feel your hands before and after application. The difference is remarkable!

And to keep the house smelling good, I'm loving the LIMITED EDITION Nymphanea Organic Candle. In fact, I think the more accurate term would be addicted. The fragrance is warm, yet clean. Like freshly washed sheets, dried on the line and then infused with water lilies.  My goodness does it smell good.  Using only pure fragrances and organic shea butter wax (no petroleum wax or chemicals here), the candle burns for 28 hours in a gorgeous black glass. What a sexy gift to give someone.

It's easy to see why I love THANN. And these are just a few of the products they offer.

Go get yourself some and indulge in feeling and smelling incredible!

p.s. All products are dermatologically tested (suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types) and 100% paraben-free.