Eco18 debuts today—a collective of creative writing individuals with a common goal—to live a healthier more natural lifestyle. From diverse backgrounds, cultures and interests, their combined expertise, humor and opinions will explore green and sustainable in a practical, fun way. What began with one mom’s voice has evolved into many conversations, which will include a universe of voices all looking to connect, share and learn.

And why Eco18…well, we wanted something that’s easy to remember and has embodied our purpose. Eco—that’s pretty self explanatory and 18—apart from being the age of majority in many countries (the coming of age), the Hebrew word for “life” has a numerical value of 18. There’s a lot of interesting trivia about the number 18, but the fact that life itself is totally connected to and dependent on a thriving, green, clean ecosystem was enough for us.

There’s a lot we can do together…. Join us as often as you can…We love company!

http://eco18.com

“For Immediate Release: June 24th, 2011

Contact: Stacy Malkan, 202-321-6963, stacy@safecosmetics.org; Stephenie Hendricks, 415-258-9151, stephdh@earthlink.net; Leeann Brown, 202-939-9146, leeann@ewg.org

New Bill to Modernize 1938 Regulations that Allow Harmful Chemicals in Shampoos, Cosmetics

WASHINGTON; June 24, 2011 – Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., joined by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 (H.R.2359), which would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to ensure that personal care products such as shampoo and cosmetics are free of harmful ingredients. Existing law, which has not been updated since 1938, has loopholes that allow chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and other illnesses in products we use on our bodies every day.

The legislation will:

• Phase out ingredients linked to cancer, birth defects and developmental harm
• Create a health-based safety standard that includes protections for children, the elderly, workers and other vulnerable populations
• Close labeling loopholes by requiring full ingredient disclosure, including salon products and the constituent ingredients of fragrance, on product labels and company websites
• Give workers access to information about unsafe chemicals in personal care products
• Require data sharing to avoid duplicative testing and encourage the development of alternatives to animal testing
• Provide adequate funding for the FDA Office of Cosmetics and Colors so it has the resources it needs for effective oversight of the cosmetics industry
• Level the playing field so small businesses can compete fairly”

Read Full Article Here….

***Yaaaay!!! One step forward greenies!!!!!

For more info: www.safecosmetics.org/safecosmeticsact

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The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a coalition of more than 150 nonprofit organizations working to protect the health of consumers and workers by eliminating dangerous chemicals from cosmetics. Core members include: Clean Water Action, the Breast Cancer Fund, Commonweal, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition and Women’s Voices for the Earth.

My green buddy over at http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/ hosts #CTWW every week! She has so many great ideas on how all of us can move our little green booties and take some action! It’s super fun and a fab way to meet and chill with other greenies too!

Check out this weeks challenge and all the other goodies goin on….

This week, become an activist. Please take some kind of action (letter writing, phone calls, petitions, etc.) designed to encourage a business, community, government, etc. to make a positive change. Need some ideas? Here you go……read more

Okay ya’ll – I may not even be southern enough to say that unless you live in Canada (xo TLQ) but I can say that goin greenie style this weekend can be done in three steps easy peasy!

1. Visit your local Farmer’s Market, pick up some fresh veggies and local eggs and cook daddio the best ever breakfast! Oh there’s so much to choose from – casseroles, wraps and all kinds of fun stuff using peppers, onions and whole wheat tortillas! A little sizzle and DONE! Go local – support your community and forget about all the bunk emissions coming from trucks who ship our foods across the globe before it’s even ripe…eeew!

2. Pick strawberries! Make it a family affair and visit a local strawberry patch to get some juicy ripe red sweeties for a daddy’s day strawberry shortcake!

3. Choose organic – if your man is anything like mine…make it a grilled steak! Oh but go for certified organic or better yet, organic bison steak! YUM! Bison is super lean and super duper yum!

4. Make a card – grab some left-over paper and get those lil green kidlets busy with their crayons. Something we are up to? The kiddos are making their very own personalized video on their iPods for dad. Now…they are singing to “More” from Usher – but do it up YOUR style! Dad will love it!

and…

5. HUGS! Yup…hugs are as green as it gets…give ‘em up to the best daddy ever!

Image Credit:

http://www.blogfornoob.com/ramblings/fathers-day-quotes-and-sayings-june-2011/

Tuesday Tip with Practically Green!!! ( my buddies over there at PG rock – you MUST  check them out for more great tips and action plans!!)

(I am so honored to have been featured on Practically Green today! Thank you PG!!)

Have you ever thought about your home’s water temperature? I mean REALLY thought…. aside of “there better be enough hot water for my bath and my glass of red wine to sit in tonight”?

Well, truth be told, I had not either! I mean, my husband did — he always takes care of the temperature of this and that, setting thermostats, adjusting the furnace and all that “man-stuff” like taking out the trash. I am totally not labeling jobs as “sex-specific” but this is just the way it works out for our family! (Note To Self: add “rub wife’s feet” to hubby’s man-job list.)

Okay so now I feel a bit ashamed that I had not thought of this – so to make up for it, I am going to make sure I get the word out via Practically Green! ………..(full article)

Image Credit:

http://www.homedit.com/how-to-clean-your-bathtub/

This is a great video and such an eye-opener! Have a safe and healthy weekend!!

Have you ever thought about doing yoga…or have you taken a class or two already? Wow, I am here to tell you how amazing yoga is – first hand! I am not always the most graceful person, but trust me, it’s in there. I am more of the quick sprinter who goes for speed vs slow and steady, you know? Soooo, I was not quite sure what to think when offered the opportunity to teach yoga at our local rec center.

Me? *looking over my shoulder*

Surely there must have been some super buff chick in spandex behind me that the wellness director was sending this invite to?

Nope. It *WAS* me!!!

Oh the elation – and worry.

But I worked  hard, spent time studying yoga, watching videos and GASP – participating in classes!

I.

Love.

Yoga.

I do!!! It has given me the gift of learning to relax better, helped me to understand the importance of breathing properly, better posture and balance among other great benefits! Tree pose is by far my weakness – where is my balance???? Seems so easy! Ugh!

According to our friends at WebMD, “Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and currently, close to 11 million Americans are enjoying its health benefits. Yoga can hardly be called a trend.

Most Westernized yoga classes focus on learning physical poses, which are called asanas. They also usually include some form of breathing technique and possibly a meditation technique as well. Some yoga classes are designed purely for relaxation. But there are styles of yoga that teach you how to move your body in new ways. Choosing one of these styles offers the greatest health benefits by enabling you to develop your flexibility, strength, and balance.”

So our Tuesday Tip?

Check out Yoga this summer! It has been so enjoyable for me and you might find that you really love it! I am working on putting a plan together for my “real-life” job at the Rec center – kids yoga! I can’t wait to see if it gets approved – the health benefits and fun for kids could be so awesome!

Want a FREE class each and every week?

http://yogatoday.com/ offers a FREE class every week online!

On with downward facing dog….we can do this!

Image Credits:

http://www.fitsugar.com/Downward-Facing-Dog-2671016

http://yoga-knowledge-center.info/muscle-fitness-with-yoga-can-make-you-stronger.html

http://www.urbanbliss.com/index.html

Written By my friends at Practically Green

http://practicallygreen.com/

Father’s Day is seriously one of the best holidays ever, right? What Dad doesn’t love being fêted? And who doesn’t love spoiling Daddy — especially on one special day!

For the Dads we know, the best kind of Sunday afternoon party probably includes the keywords grill, eat, watch baseball game, golf (or fish, garden, surf, nap, read newspaper or otherwise decompress), and, possibly, beer.

This week and next, we’re excited about covering some of the most fun and inventive ways to go practically green for Father’s Day.

First: FOOD! If the Dad in your life is serious about his healthy food habit — from choosing hormone-free milk to busting the artificial food coloring in the pantry – take ten minutes to cruise our Food actions database with him!

Today, with Meatless Monday in mind, we give a nod to Dad’s increasing interest in veggy options. Because, after he’s read Practically Green’s locavore actions (and if he’s further inspired by foodie fathers like Michael Pollan, Mark Bittman, or Eric Schlosser), he just might be interested in expanding his repertoire on the grill and onto his plate.

So here are three of our favorite recent cookbooks. All of these guides for the practically greening palate are sturdy, handsome, and wonderful. Just like Daddy!

Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi. Yotam Ottotlenghi’s book is a best-seller in the UK and has just been released in the United States. ““Meat should be a celebration, not everyday,” he says. He’s a “vegetarian pin-up,” according to The New York Times, but he’s also a meat-eating chef who “wants drama in the mouth.” The book is drop-dead gorgeous; Daddy will love it.

The Simple Art of Eating Well won the 2011 James Beard Award for best Healthy Focus Cookbook. Trust us on this one: 400 best recipes from the Charlotte, Vermont, culinary mecca.

edible: A Celebration of Local Foods. From Edible Communities, you know: the amazing and ubiquitous regional magazines — from Aspen to Vineyard, and fifty states in between.

Happy Green Daddy’s Day!!!! For more great tips or to create your own personal action plane – take a visit to

http://practicallygreen.com/

Image Credit:

http://www.onewed.com/blog/savvy-scoop/category/budget-wedding-ideas/2010/05/27/youre-spending-big-your-wedding-7-affordable-father-s-day-gift-ideas/