Folks, thanks so much for participating in last week’s Earth Divas contest. I’m really glad I asked you all to include the link to the bag you liked best. I could have sworn I had scrolled through all of them, but you found so many cute bags I didn’t even see! That is not the point right now, however. The point is that one of you gets a free bag from Earth Divas! And that one of you is… [superfluous fake drum roll, please]… Jennifer Y.!

Jennifer picked this hand-embroidered shoulder bag, but we won’t hold her to that if she’s changed her mind. Jennifer, we’ll be contacting you for your mailing info shortly, after which your bag of choice will be on its way!

I’d like to extend a quick thank you again to Earth Divas for making this contest possible, and to all of you for participating. Oh, and thanks also to the Random Number Generator. We couldn’t keep things all fair and legit without you!

Does anybody here remember that I’m the Greenist who’s supposed to talk about green cleaning? That’s OK; I nearly forgot, too. Sorry, folks, but I’ve had soy candles to tell you about! And book release-related local drinking to do! I’ll get back to the green cleaning tips eventually, but first, let’s do one more product review.

A while ago, a representative from Earth Divas fair trade handmade products contacted me, asking if I’d like to give one of their handbags a test drive. I’m no Carrie Bradshaw, but I’m still girlie enough not to turn down a new bag, so I happily let them send their blue and natural hemp shoulder bag (shown above) off to me.

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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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Yesterday Courtney had some great ideas for Mother’s Day gifts but what do you get for the eco-mom who has everything? She deserves something no one else on the block can top, right? Well, Dingo, your personal shopper for extreme green gift ideas is here to help. Below are some gift ideas that will make your mom the talk of the farmers market. And probably get you out of the family Christmas gift drawing.
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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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