Going Green

OK...so I really haven't had much time for blogging lately...so I appologize to all you loyal blog readers that check on a regular basis, waiting for me to post something new! I really had no time for picture taking this weekend (but check back next weekend for Jen and George's wedding) but I did have something I wanted to post about. I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, and this technically isn't a 2008 resolution, since we started a few months ago...but hubby and I have decided to try to do our part to 'let the healing begin'! Now, I'm not claiming to be an eco-expert by any means (and for all I know, some of the eco-friendly decisions I think I am making may not be eco-friendly at all) but when it comes to making choices, I'm trying to make more green one's...in the process, I found that I LOVE most of these products one hundred times more than my tride and true non-green products...here's a few of my favorites...at my kitchen sink, Seventh Generation dish detergent...

This soap is tough on grease, gentle on hands, AND smells like lavender mint! It's really kind of like being at the spa! More importantly, the back of this bottle reads, "YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE...If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 25 oz petroleum based dishwashing liquid withour 25 oz vegetable based product, we could save 81,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat 4,600 U.S. homes for a year!" That blew my mind! Guess what this bottle doesn't have....any 'call the toxic hotline if ingested' warnings...what it does have-a list of all-natural ingredients!

Here's what's UNDER my sink...

Again...I fell like I'm at the spa when I'm cleaning....Instead of a chore, it's become a treat! What's in those boxes??? Micro-fiber cloths specially designed for glass, wood and stainless steel...what's so great about them?? THEY AREN'T PAPER TOWELS! Once they are dirty, I just throw them in a load of laundry I'd already be doing...What's better?? The window wash smells like mint, the wood cleaner/polisher/protector smells like almonds and I can't quite get the stainless steel cleaner smell...but it's wonderful! What's even better?? It's all non-toxic, biodegradable, naturally derived and isn't tested on animals! What's even better than that??? Until 12/31, spend $20 on Method cleaning products and go to http://www.givegreener.com/ to get your own free, chic, reusable, market tote! The big plus there (besides the free tote)...americans throw away an average of 16 plastic bags per week..this tote folds up into itself small enough to throw in your purse so the next time you drop by a store for a few items, you've already got your own bag! Here's some facts from the website:

plastic bag facts:
# of plastic bags used per person each week....16
# of plastic bags Americans throw away every year....100 billion
# of plastic bags used worldwide annually.... 500 billion - 1 trillion
# of years these mountains of plastic can last.... 1,000!

Now...I'm not out there to 'save the planet'...but I'd like to think I'm taking baby steps toward making more earth-responsible decisions...Next time I'll tell you about my make-it-yourself all purpose cleaner and shower scrub and these new eco-friendly dryer sheets I'm trying...