Soap = Hope

At this past Green Festival in NYC I came across a really cool little soap company. As you probably know, I am obsessed with natural body care products and love to try out new soaps see new products that are on the market. This company, SoapBox Soaps, is a company that not only produces a great quality product, they also distribute soap to children in need. They basically adopted the Tom's Shoes One for One idea, so that for every bar of soap you purchase, SoapBox Soaps donates a bar to a child in need, as well as to local struggling families, homeless shelters, women's shelters and nursing homes. What a cool way to make our purchases - knowing that when we buy something, we are also providing for another person!

I thought this was a great idea, and even better, I didn't have to compromise my values to support this worthy cause. SoapBox Soaps contain all natural ingredients, gluten-free oatmeal, organic shea butter and sea salt. All of their soaps are cruelty-free, made in America, packaged with 100% recycled fibers and 35% post consumer waste and vegan. LOVE IT!!!

I think I bought 6 bars and am working my way through each delicious smelling flavor.

https://www.soapboxsoaps.com/

Comfortable Organic Cotton Underware

Comfort is key when it comes to the undergarments we wear. After a long day of running around shopping and cooking for clients, taking care of kids or cleaning up and doing laundry, I want to be comfortable.

One really comfortable garment made by Blue Canoe is the Cami Bra. This bra is light and breathable, made out of 87% organic cotton and 13% spandex. It has an elastic band at the bottom and straps that don't slip, so you never need to worry about readjusting or falling straps as you move. These bras are also not itchy and perfect for hot weather!

If you are looking for a new bra and value comfort, the environment and your health, I highly recommend the Cami Bra. Here is a link and picture:

Blue Canoe Cami Bra

Blue Canoe is a small company that uses organic cotton and bamboo fabrics to create excellent quality undergarments and active wear for women. All of their garments are made in San Fransisco and the company practices fair and local trade.

Check Out This Flick: No Impact Man

Need some inspiration on going green and staying green?

We all know that making the choice to live lightly on our planet makes sense, but making a deeper commitment to environmental sustainability can be difficult when we lead busy lives. Sometimes we need a little push, to feel inspired and to remember why we do what we do.

This movie came out a while ago, but I think it's a great reminder for people who want to renew their commitment to living lives with respect to environmental sustainability.

The movie is about a man and his family embarking on a journey to living cleaner and greener lives. The film follows this family as they make changes to their lifestyle. Everything from buying only locally grown foods at their farmer's market to getting rid of electricity usage from lights by switching to using candles, to even washing their clothing in their bathtub! Some of this stuff is pretty far out there, but it is cool and inspiring to see how far people will go to live in line with their values.

The good thing is that you can watch this film and let it inspire you to make small changes, and to live a life that is more mindful of how all of our behavior, actions and spending habits truly do effect the people around us.

Check out this movie and let it change your life for the better.

http://noimpactproject.org/movie/

http://noimpactproject.org/

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/

Green Printers for You and the Environment

If you are in need of some great quality business cards and want to go eco, then check out Green Printer. They offer a variety of green papers to choose from and vegetable based inks. They can print anything from brochures and business cards to posters and postcards.

I recently ordered a brand new batch of newly designed business cards and used one of my own photos on the card and it came out great!

Here is a link to the new design:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sH7pJM7TftlZR8EZYJp_BcUpthGpN0-ejWwkxC7ZbNw/edit

Want more info on why YOU should print GREEN?
http://www.greenprinteronline.com/content/WhyGreen

Check out Green Printer:
http://www.greenprinteronline.com/

Clean THE LAND May 18, 2012

During my time in Israel, I remember thinking that people there needed to really step-up their game when it comes to basic environmental awareness. I constantly saw trash all over the place - throughout the streets in neighborhoods, on the side of the road, everywhere I looked.

I was raised in a neighborhood that was pretty conscientious about recycling, not littering and taking care of our environment. So going to what many people refer to as "the Holyland" and seeing it totally trashed was a pretty surprising sight!

I thought I was somewhat alone in my views about trash in Israel, but I am excited to say that I recently found the coolest group doing exactly what I had wanted to do, but did not have the time or resources while I was there.

This group is called Clean the Land.Clean the Land is a social, environmental initiative with two simple components: a coordinated, annual, nation-wide trash pickup day; and a mission to educate communities about recycling, sustainability and environmental protection. Ummm, YES  Pleeeeease!!

I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to hear about this group! Environmentalism does not just stop in your own home, or in your neighborhood, we need to spread the word about it to everyone - even in other countries. Not everyone grows up with environmental education and awareness like many Americans do, when they learn about these things in public schools. Many children do not know that they should not throw their candy wrappers on the ground outside...

Be a part of the solution. Help educate the people. Bring communities together.

This MAY 18, 2012 is the Nationwide Trash Pickup Day in Israel. If you live in Israel, get involved. If you know someone who lives in Israel, tell them.

Let the Clean the Land motto inspire you, "Love it. Live it. Clean it."

Check their website for more information and to get involved:

http://www.cleantheland.org/

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/CleanTheLand

Recipes for Vegan Hors D'oeuvres at Green Festival

Cucumber Cups with Avocado Cilantro White Bean Dip

Here are the two recipes from my Vegan Hors D'oeuvres Class on the Good Food Stage at the NYC Green Festival. I am so excited to share them with you!


I created these two recipes because they are perfect for Spring, featuring ingredients and cooking styles that are in harmony with the season. The raw cucumbers are crisp and refreshing, the sour flavors of lemon and lime help to cleanse your liver and gall bladder, and the steaming and quick saute cooking methods are perfect to keep you feeling light and relaxed.


If you couldn't make it out to this year's festival, there are more coming up, so keep your eyes on the Green festival website, http://www.greenfestivals.org/  I hope you enjoy the recipes.

Cucumber Cups with Avocado Cilantro White Bean Dip
1 cup Great Northern Beans
3-4 cups water
1 stamp sized piece kombu seaweed
1 teaspoon sea salt


1/2 large avocado
3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon umeboshi vinegar
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pinch sea salt
6 stalks finely shredded fresh cilantro leaves


1 small red bell pepper
1 Tablespoon umeboshi vinegar


2 hothouse cucumbers


Beans:

1. Sort through the Great Northern beans to take out any dirt or pebbles. Rinse the beans in cool water 2 times. Then soak overnight or for 8 hours in a bowl with fresh water.
2. Drain the soaked beans and transfer them to a pot. Add fresh cool water (approx. 3-4 cups) to the beans and cover them with about 1 inch of water. (You can measure by sticking your thumb into the pot. Let your thumb touch the top of the beans and make sure the water goes up to you thumb knuckle.)
3. Bring the beans to a boil. Skim the beans if any foam arises. Rinse off the piece of kombu in cool water and add it to the boiling beans. Then turn the beans to low and let simmer for about 1 hour.
4. Taste the beans after 1 hour, if they are pretty much done, then add 1 teaspoon of sea salt. If not, let the beans cook longer until they are done and then add the salt. Let cook for 10 more minutes.
5. Take the beans off of the stove and let cool.

Bean Dip:

1. Once the beans have cooled, drain them. Then transfer them to a bowl and mash them by hand with a  potato masher or with the back of a fork. Mash until almost all beans are mashed. I like to keep some in whole form to give the dip a little more texture.
2. Add the avocado, fresh lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon umeboshi vinegar, garlic powder, and sea salt into the beans and mix. Then fold in the cilantro. Feel free to add more seasoning if you like.

Garnish:

1. Slice the red bell pepper into 1/2 inch strips. Then thinly slice the strips.
2. Heat a saute pan on medium heat. Add the strips of pepper and then add 1 Tablespoon of umeboshi vinegar. Saute for 3-4 minutes.

Assembly:

1. Slice the cucumber lengthwise down the center. Then slice each half into 1 1/2 inch pieces.
2. Take the small end of a melon baller and scoop out the center of a cucumber slice. Repeat this until you have many cucumber sliced with hollowed out centers. Place the scooped out cucumber pieces into a bowl and set them aside. (You can use them in making a salad later. I used mine in a spinach salad with leftover red bell pepper garnish and shredded carrot, tossed with olive oil, salt and a little balsamic vinegar).
3. Take a teaspoon and spoon in the white bean dip into the center of each cucumber cup. Garnish with red pepper slices. Serve and enjoy!

Sweet 'N Tangy Lime Seitan Skewers

Sweet 'N Tangy Lime Seitan Skewers

8 ounces seitan

zest 2 limes

juice 1 lime

1/2 cup brown rice syrup

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 large cloves fresh garlic, pushed through garlic press

1 stalk broccoli

1 yellow zucchini squash

6 inch bamboo skewers

Seitan and Marinade:

1. Squeeze out any excess liquid from the pieces of seitan. Then cut into approximately 1 1/2 inch chunks.
2. For the marinade, whisk together in a mixing bowl the lime zest, lime juice, brown rice syrup, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil and garlic.
3. Put the pieces of seitan into the marinade and mix together so that each piece of seitan is coated with the marinade. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Transfer the seitan and marinade into a glass Pyrex baking dish and cover with a piece of tin foil.
5. Cook the seitan for 10 minutes at 425 degrees. Then turn each piece of seitan over, so the opposite side is in the marinade. Cook for another 10 minutes. Then remove from the oven and let cool.

Vegetables:

1. Slice the broccoli into medium sized florets. Cut the yellow zucchini squash lengthwise and then lengthwise again. Then slice into 1 inch pieces. (Try to make the size of the florets and zucchini squash a similar size as the seitan pieces.)
2. Put a steamer basket in a pot with about 1 inch of water in the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil, put the zucchini into the pot and cover. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
3. Remove cooked zucchini from the pot and set on a plate to cool.
4. Put the broccoli into the pot and steam it, covered, for 3-4 minutes.

Assembly:

1. Take a piece of yellow zucchini squash and put on the skewer. Next, put a piece of broccoli (piercing through the stem of the broccoli). Last, put a piece of seitan.
2. Take the leftover marinade from cooking the seitan and dilute it with a little water. Mix together and pour into a dipping cup and serve on the side. (Optional: To season the steamed vegetables and serve without a sauce, brush the diluted marinade directly onto the vegetables on the skewer.) Enjoy!

Green Festival NYC for Fantastic Food and Fun

Hey All! It's time for the COOLEST, most exciting eco-event to make its way to the Big Apple - Get ready for the NYC Green Festival!!!

This year's festival will be on Earth Day weekend, and it is the first time Green Festival will be held in New York City, so it is sure to be an amazing event.

There will be some really fantastic speakers, an eco-fashion show, an organic beer and wine garden, tons of free samples and giveaways on all the latest and greatest eco-gear, and plenty of opportunities to meet some of the most inspiring change-makers and activists in the area, as well as find out how you can get more involved in the things that you are passionate about.

Along with all of this awesomeness, there will be a jam-packed schedule of speakers and 7 stages to choose from - to learn about everything from fair trade and green business to good food.

This year I will be presenting a 30 minute demo on the Good Food Stage. Come check it out on Sunday, April 22 at 2pm. I will be teaching a class how to make delicious and fun Vegan Hors D'oeuvres.

Hope to see you there!

Check the website: http://www.greenfestivals.org/nyc/updates/

Here is the Program Guide: http://read.uberflip.com/i/58249

Cooking with Bambu For Peaceful Energy

 

Not only does using good quality kitchen utensils and cookware make cooking easier and more enjoyable, it is great for promoting strong, radiant health. One staple cooking tool that I like to use in the the kitchen is the bamboo spoon. It is made out of completely sustainable bamboo and is 100% natural. Using bamboo lends a more peaceful and gentle energetic quality to the food you cook, as opposed to the slightly stronger energy and lightly metallic taste that sometimes occurs from using metal cookware. The bamboo spoons I use in my kitchen are Bambu brand. They have a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate various cooking methods. I like to use my bamboo spoons for making stir fries, dry roasting nuts and seeds and for serving salad.

Check out Bambu's products to help yourself build a more sustainable home and support your healthy cooking and lifestyle:

http://www.bambuhome.com/

Get Hands-On Green Inspiration

Have you ever met someone that is SO caring, good, and hard working that this person and their efforts inspire you for a lifetime? Well, imagine being in a room surrounded by that kind of magic~ because that's where I was last night! Yes, there wasn't just one awesome person at this event I went to, the room was filled with incredible, passionate, caring people who work hard to do good in this world.

Last night I went to a Green Festival Holiday Celebration in NYC. This event was to engage fellow green-lovers to be a part of the planning and actualization of the FIRST EVER NYC Green Festival 2012! As you probably know, I am a big fan of Green Festival, and have been since 2004. The cool thing about the Green Festival Host Committee is that YOU can actually have a hand in creating this awesome event by volunteering to be on various themed committees, such as Eco-Fashion, Organic Foods, Green Energy, Social Justice, etc. Along with that, you get the opportunity to work with some of the most brilliant and nicest people out there. At this meeting alone, I had the pleasure of getting to speak with Alisa Gravitz, Executive Director of Green America, Denise Hamler, Director of the Green Business Network, Georgia Malki, CEO and President of Seven Star Inc., the nations premier green events expert, and Alix Davidson, Senior Regional Director of NYC Green Festival, to name a few. It was such a pleasure!

Get involved and use your talents and skills to benefit people and the planet through Green Festival NYC 2012.  Email Alix@greenfestivals.org for more information.

Also, save the date and spread the word about

Green Festival NYC
April 21-22, 2012
North Javits Center
655 West 34th Street

Saturday 10am - 7pm
Sunday 11am - 6pm

http://www.greenamerica.org/

http://sevenstarevents.com/

Paper Out of Poo

Mr. Ellie Pooh - with a name like that for a paper company, you've gotta be intrigued. Well, the name is pretty self explanatory. This company makes cute and functional paper from elephant poo. I first heard about this company years ago at Green Festival. Their concept is brilliant. Elephants in Sri Lanka were being killed by people, so the people who started Mr. Ellie Pooh decided to help the people of Sri Lanka see elephants as an asset instead of a threat. They started taking elephant dung and turning it into beautiful paper, made of 50% fiber from elephant dung and 50% post consumer paper. 

Mr. Ellie Pooh paper is handmade, acid free and all natural. It comes in various colors, sized, as memo books and pads, as greeting cards or stationary. I have a bunch of the cute heart shaped papers- perfect for writing small notes or for crafts.

The best thing about this paper is that every time you use it, you can feel good knowing that you are helping to save the elephants in Sri Lanka.

http://www.mrelliepooh.com/

Change Your Thoughts From Me to We

Wow, this organization absolutely blows me away! I first heard about Me to We at Green Festival in 2004. I know, I know - you will hear me say that I heard about a lot of these kinds of things from Green Fest, but it's true- every time I go I learn totally amazing things and am inspired by incredible people.

So, I spoke with the people at their booth and ended up buying this book, written by two brothers, who have done amazing work and traveled all over the world to help improve people's lives. I got half way through the book, then packed it up and moved, so once I get it out of storage, I will finish it. What I read was inspiring and beautiful. If you consider yourself an activist or at least care about other people and how you can help change the world, then you should read this book.

Anyway, I want to talk about Me to We, a social enterprise with a mission. I am going to take this straight from the website, since they say it best:

"Me to We transforms consumers into world changers, one transaction at a time. Me to We sells socially conscious and environmentally friendly clothes, books and music – as well as life-changing experiences. We also provide inspiring speakers, leadership training and transformative travel experiences.

Me to We measures the bottom line, not by dollars earned, but by number of lives we change and the positive social and environmental impact we make. Half of Me to We's profit is donated to its charitable partner, Free The Children."

Free the Children helps to educate and empower children in North American and the UK and has "brought over 650 schools and school rooms to youth and provided clean water, health care and sanitation to one million people around the world, freeing children and their families from the cycle of poverty."

Also, the people who founded Me to We, Marc and Craig Kielburger, are excellent examples of people who see a real need in society, have a vision, work to build it and are successful financially AND in making the world a better place by changing people's lives. Seriously. Let these guys be an example to motivate you and help you accomplish your goals and dreams!!!

Check out their website, look into their books and get ready to be inspired. Then take that inspiration and do something amazing and good.

http://www.metowe.com/

Nature Intended Underarm Freshness, All Day Long

I know it might seem silly to be excited about deodorant, but this one works so well and smells amazing- plus it's all natural and does not contain any aluminum!

Now that we know that much of what we put on our skin gets absorbed through our pores and goes directly into the bloodstream, it becomes more import to make healthy choices about body care products. Using chemical deodorant may not seem like a big deal, but people are exposed to small amounts of toxins on their skin 50 times a day or more - considering how often a person uses hand soaps, shampoos, conditioners, hair styling products, toothpaste, moisturizers, cosmetics, etc. Add that up with environmental toxins and a lifetime of exposure, and that's a lot of toxicity!

Taking small steps to lessen toxic chemical exposure can make you have a healthier, happier home, family and life. It can also be an opportunity to creatively find solutions, like making your own body care products and mindfully consuming less, which is good for you wallet and for the environment.

You can find Home Health Roll On Deodorant in Herbal Scent in natural food stores, or easily online. I ordered mine in bulk from LuckyVitamin.com This website is great because if you order in bulk, you get a better discount.

Home Health Deodorant

Recycled Makeup Bag

Tote your cosmetics in this cute, stylish and water resistant recycled purse from Engage Green. It is lined with cloth inside and is durably constructed to survive living in your purse. I bring mine everywhere with me, since it is spacious enough to hold a lot or a little. Check out this purse and a variety of other eco-accessories at http://www.engagegreen.com/ 

Truly Peaceful Candle Light

Many people light candles to help set a relaxing mood, to use in a diffuser, or to commemorate special holidays and events. If you are someone who uses candles in your home on a regular basis, it's a great idea to look into buying a non-toxic kind. Often times, the wax in candles can be made of paraffin, which when burned, can give off poisonous fumes which pollute the air and harm your lungs. Buying beeswax candles can be great because they are non-toxic, but can also prove to be expensive.

I was recently on a mission to find myself some affordable tea lights, since I use candles in my home on a weekly basis. Everywhere I looked I found cheap toxic candles, and not many alternatives. On a routine trip to Whole Foods, I stumbled upon a very affordable and totally toxin-free box of unscented tea lights at a great price. I was so happy after all that searching, I snatched up 3 boxes! Now I use my good-for-me-and-the-planet candles every week in peace- knowing that they are not harming me or my roommates or guests. I am so happy about my new find, I wanted to share it with everyone. So, if you are in the market for tea lights and want to create a healthy and happy home, try out these babies! If you really want to stock up on these because you use them often, you can get them for as low as $48.00 for a case of 400.

Feel good about the products you use in your home around your family. Have peace of mind that you are buying products that will only lead to bringing greater health and happiness to your loved ones. Even though a product like this is more expensive initially that what you might be used to using, you are investing in your family's well-being for the future.

Happy candle burning!

http://www.naturalcandles.com/

Check It Out! NYC (Sustainable) Fashion's Night Out

Finally- an upcoming fair trade fashion event in NYC to attend! This is going to be one awesome night full of shopping, education and celebration.

A bunch of unique designers and retailers will be showing off their sustainable styles. Anything you purchase at (Sustainable) Fashion's Night Out is something you can continuously feel good about every time you wear it.

Get ready to be inspired by noble causes, beautiful art, and incredible people. Then go home and do something with your inspiration. Inspiration is only worth something if you put it into action.

(Sustainable) Fashion's Night Out
Thursday, September 8, 2011

Textile Art's Center
26 West 8th Street

6:00 - 10:00 pm

Hope to see you there!
http://sustainablefashionsnightout.com/

Oh-So-Elegant and Eco, Cloth Napkins

I moved, yay! And with my move, I am inspired to begin to create a new home that embodies a greener, more mindful way of living. One thing I am excited about with this new surge of inspiration is switching to cloth napkins.

Switching to using cloth napkins has been in my mind for a while, but has not been something I have been able to do, since I have been traveling. But, now that I am (hopefully) staying in one place for a while, I will be able to enjoy my new napkins and feel good about not creating a lot of unnecessary waste from paper napkins.

I recently scored my colorful, hand printed fair trade napkins at the eco-boutique, Sustainable NYC, but if you don't live in New York, you can find cloth napkins at any home store. Also, if you want to take your eco-commitment up a notch, you can find organic and fair trade varieties online, in many colors and prints.

Check out this website for the classic striped variety above, which are 40% organic cotton:
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/porternapkins.html

Mopping Made Easy!

Want an easy, eco way to clean your floors quickly? Who doesn't?

Mop your floors in a few enjoyable minutes with the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop. A good friend of mine excitedly told me about this awesome mop. It is durable and lightweight and has a reusable microfiber pad that you can toss into your washing machine when it gets dirty. No more disposable pads- more over Swiffer!

It also picks up 50% more dirt and dust than regular mops. The mop has a refillable spray bottle so you can make your own all-natural cleaning solution or use plain hot water. This is especially important if you walk around your house barefoot or have small children crawling around on your floors, since using chemical cleaners can leave a residue of chemicals. I like to use a solution of hot water and white vinegar for cleaning floors, but if you want to really get it clean, you can dilute some Dr. Bronner's with water and spray away!

Check it out online:
Rubbermaid Reveal Mop

Great Vintage Finds at Odd Twin

For another way to be eco-fashion conscious- Go Vintage! For some reason, I forgot about this easy and often times affordable way to be stylin' and green. I used to be really into wearing a lot of thrift and vintage pieces when I was in high school and got into swing dancing. Part of the fun of going out was getting dressed up in fun finds from the vintage stores.

Walking around Park Slope in Brooklyn, I stumbled upon this very cute, crazy store, Odd Twin. The dramatic and interesting window display definitely caught my attention- if you walk by, you will know what I mean. The person behind these displays is very creative, has a great eye for color & style, and knows how to make you want to walk in the front door. Plus, every time I walk by- they have a new display! I love it.

Enough about the display, time to move onto the clothing. Ok, seriously everything I tried on in this store was seriously fabulous. It's not just another vintage shop, the owner (and buyer) really knows what she's doing! She selects very stylish, colorful and artfully designed vintage pieces in good condition. You won't have to hunt for the good stuff, because the entire store is filled with it! The sizing is also very good. Most of the stuff I tried on fit me very well and I ended up scoring 2 very adorable, unique dresses.

Besides being eco-friendly, vintage fashions are oftentimes more modestly cut than more contemporary clothing, so if you like cute blousey tops, 3/4 sleeves, little jackets and over-the-knee skirts and dresses, you are sure to find it here. Plus buying vintage also means you won't show up to a social gathering wearing the same dress as that girl...oops!

All in all, I am loving vintage again. The best part about it- it never goes out of style. Thanks for the reminder of how stylish and eco vintage can be Odd Twin!

Check them out online, or better yet, in person.
http://www.oddtwin.com/

Hot Weather + Busy Lifestyle = Kleen Kanteen

Most of us bring water bottles of some sort with us daily as we run around the city. But did you know, reusing regular plastic water bottles can actually be seriously harmful to your health? Most plastic water bottles, even the hard plastic kind, contain Bisphenol A (BPA), which is a synthetic chemical that interferes with the body’s natural hormonal messaging system. Also, when we repeatedly use the same plastic water bottle, it increases the chance of that toxic chemical leaching into our water from small cracks that are created over time. BPA has been linked to serious illness including breast and uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage, and decreased testosterone levels.

Even though this sounds serious and scary, it doesn't mean there isn't a great alternative to those pesky plastics! Queue: Kleen Kanteen. This water bottle is totally BPA-free, made from high quality, food-grade stainless steel, and is super sturdy. The have a variety of sizes, colors, different tops for convenience and they even have kids sizes. I bought my Kleen Kanteen at the San Francisco Green Festival years ago, and have been loving it ever since. I seriously recommend you get yourself one if you are still drinking from plastics.

Check out Kleen Kanteen online or at your local natural food store:
http://www.kleankanteen.com/index.php

NYC Fair Trade Coalition is Just Plain Awesome!

I know there is so much out there in the world right now that needs our attention- from just taking care of our own needs, to the needs of our family, friends, and our communities. Finding extra time to put into thinking about the world outside of our immediate bubble can seem impractical at times. But, when we do have time, finding a wonderful worth-while cause and working with incredible, caring, good people is a great way to go.

My cause right now is the NYC Fair Trade Coalition. They are awesome. These people volunteer their time, energy and care into helping all kinds of people all over the world. They help others provide for themselves and their loved ones by creating opportunities for fair labor and fair wages, which is a great cause and one that truly makes an impact on the quality of people's lives.

We, the general American public, buy goods on a daily basis- so why not get good quality, stylish products that help make the world better and support good values?

I recently attended a networking event with the United Students for Fair Trade and the NYC Fair Trade Coalition. It was great! It was at this eco-boutique, Sustainable NYC. They have a good range of home products, clothing, jewelry, and natural body care products. They also have a cute little eco-cafe!

Along with meeting some cool, nice and ambitious people, I also found out more info about this very exciting fair trade fashion event, Fair Trade Fashion's Night Out. This event is scheduled for September 8, 2011, so mark your calendar's people! This is going to be a night to remember! I will keep you posted as the planing for this event evolves. Can't wait!

Think about what you are passionate about. Find a little time to volunteer somewhere that you feel genuinely helps people and does good. Get involved.

Check out more info on NYC Fair Trade Coalition:
http://nycfairtradecoalition.org/