I’m a somewhat outdoorsy kind of gal, and despite the sweltering heat this summer, I’ve done a lot of bicycling, kayaking, river tubing and hiking. All this is great fun, but for one thing: I have a watch with a metal band, and metal watch + sunscreen + my sweaty wrist = no fun. And since I’m also the kind of gal who constantly wants to know what time it is, I soon found myself in the market for a durable watch with a cloth band that I could wear while I’m enjoying the outdoors.

So I went watch shopping online, and it wasn’t long before I found Sprout. In addition to the wide selection of colors and the cute design, I was pleasantly surprised to read that Sprout watches are supremely eco-friendly. The band is made of organic cotton, the watch face and buckle are made of corn resin and bamboo, the glass over the watch face is made of mineral crystal, and even the battery is mercury-free. There’s nary a petroleum-based product in it! I was quite impressed, and between the eco-friendliness and the fact that it’s only $24 on Amazon, I bought it. Read more…

Maggie’s Organics was kind enough to send along some of their organic cotton, fair trade clothes for review.  This was such a welcome project because: 1. I absolutely hate shopping and always wish someone would just pick out clothes for me to wear  2. I loved the clothes they sent.

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We’ve written a little bit about how to make a white wedding more green. From invitations to flowers to food, it can be done with a little bit of extra resolve and planning. Some things take a little (ok, a LOT) more planning and resolve than others — like trying to find a Earth-friendly wedding dress that’s both suitable for a more formal affair and affordable to boot. I’m a Catholic gal through and through, so getting married anywhere but a Catholic church wasn’t an option for me, and I wanted a dress that was formal enough for the occasion but stood up to my Greenist values.

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Please welcome today’s guest poster, Mudnessa, who blogs at mudpuddle.

I recently took an older pair of wide-legged jeans and made them into skinny jeans.  Let me first state that I am a novice sewer, so if you have a sewing machine and have ever successfully used it, you should be able to accomplish this yourself. I did this for numerous reasons, mostly because I hate shopping for jeans. I also hate spending a ton of money on a pair and having to go home and basically deconstruct them to make them fit to my liking. Read more…

If you’re anything like me, you love watching the Oscars every year for the pageantry, the recognition of good movies, and — let’s face it — the fashion. Just once I’d like to swan around on a red carpet in a ridiculously gorgeous dress, hobnobbing with celebrities and thanking all the little people. I’m a girl; that’s how we roll.

Anyway, while most of the attention is placed on what the actresses are wearing, you may have noticed the woman in blue sitting next to James Cameron. That woman is his wife, Suzy Amis Cameron, and she was wearing the most eco-friendly dress of the night. Read more…

We’ve had several long freezing snaps in the mountains of Tennessee this winter. During the last one, which lasted about a week, I realized my wardrobe was seriously lacking in decent base layers that I could wear underneath my jeans and sweaters. I’ve been wearing the same pink Lands End long johns for about 15 years now. They’re warm and comfy and still fit, but they’re so thick they don’t fit very well under my skinny jeans. Because I knew we’d probably have a few more cold snaps and because I have a weeklong New York City trip later this month, I decided to invest in some new long undies this winter that would work under more than just my ski pants.

That’s when I fell in love with Patagonia’s Capilene line.
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The following is a guest post by the beautiful Sarah P. from Seattle, WA.

My husband jokes that I have a lady who survived the Great Depression living inside of me.

Yes, it’s true. I am a thrifty, recycle and reuse kind of girl with a penchant for innovation. So it’s sweetly fitting to write about Nicole Miller’s new venture The Field House. Inspired by the turn of the century general store, The Field House hopes to revive that early 1900 spirit of sustainability, creativity and local community. Here you can support local artisans while buying basics of soap, in-season vegetables, and nuts still housed in their shells. You can also purchase your not-so- basic afghans, woolen blankets that carry on Native American folk art traditions, and dishware with insect themes. Get your “glamor on” while perusing the many perfumes, candles, stylish jeans and flannels that are fashionable and still have the essence of the Victorian period. If you’re in need of a snack, The Field House can also help you out with a simple cup of soup or small sandwiches which are priced and portioned to treat both your stomach and wallet well.

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Photo courtesy of cafemama

I like to think of myself as a frugal, savvy girl. Mind you, I said “like to.” Unfortunately, wanting to be frugal and actually maintaining the discipline to be frugal are often two very different things for me. I’m weak. I admit it. So I make concessions. I try to prioritize. I justify one purchase by avoiding another. It’s not a perfect system, but my bank account and I haven’t had a falling out just yet, so I must be doing relatively OK.

One thing I have a hard time spending money on is workout clothes. When I go to the gym, I’m there to work out, not to impress anybody. There are those who say the gym is a great place to meet people, but I do not live in an episode of Sex & the City. Anyone who thinks I’m going to find a date during my workouts has never been to my gym. That being the case, if I’m going to spend money on a new outfit, I’d much rather it be one people other than doughy, late-middle-aged suburban men in nylon track suits are going to see. New workout clothes might motivate me off to an extra gym visit or two initially, but new boots or jeans motivate me off my couch into a more active social life. I know where my money is best spent; this is not rocket science to me.

As a result, I’ve had some of the same cotton tank tops in my gym bag rotation for five years or more. They’re not holey or threadbare just yet, but I have to admit—five years of workouts has left them a bit, er, ripe around the edges. Ordinary detergent was no match for the stank. Even baking soda, miracle odor eliminator that it is, couldn’t lift it out. I was about ready to admit defeat and cut the non-stinky parts into cleaning rags when I remembered that my friend the Internet knows everything and I’d yet to ask for advice on this one.

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I was just thinking about whether or not I’d host a Halloween party this year when it occurred to me that in all of my efforts to be green, I’ve never thought much about being green on holidays — especially on Halloween. Halloween is one of those especially consumer-driven holidays, so at first glance I thought it might be hard to ‘greenify’ a spooky party, but I started searching around the internet for ideas and found some great ones. Read more…