Repeat after me: natural. Natural. Natural. There’s not much more you could ask for in terms of eco-consciousness with a guiding mantra like “Natural”. And Blissoma by Irie Star does exactly that. Irie (pronounced eye-ree) means positivity and unity, which is the motivation behind Blissoma skincare and apothecary products. Nature, positivity, and pleasure all from a soy-based candle? Sounds good to me.
The Blissoma aromatherapy line began in 2005 and is now carried nationwide, including many local Whole Foods and health centers. They have created perfume oils categorized by the season for $24.95, and their entertaining descriptions make a visit to their website worth your while. For example: Our Spring and Summer collection will make you want to kick off your shoes and wiggle your toes in the grass….Luscious Sunshine is a slice of a lazy summer afternoon wrapped in orange blossoms. This scent is perfect to wear with a sundress for a romp in the park. Crushed grass, sweet kisses, and sunshine…
Not out to break your budget, their skin care line is certified cruelty-free, vegetarian, and a multiple winner of fig+sage choice awards. Ranging from $8 for bar soaps to $22 for clay masks, their products are prepared with fresh herb extracts, juices, and source seed oils pressed on demand to maximize nutrient content. Believing that life is dynamic (so true!) as is your skin, Blissoma’s skin care collection is built on the same living energy with a motto of “We feed rather than force, inspire instead of irritate.” One of my favorites from the line is the Intense Hydration Tonique. It was created to spray on your face after you cleanse but I find myself misting it all over my body. Love this stuff!
Created by Julie Longyear, a self-identified “old soul in a futuristic world”, the owner and creative chemist aims to make an impact without leaving a footprint. She is a student of life as she looks for new ways to bring her customers joy and energy via pleasurable, useful products.
Having caught the attention of various national magazines such as Yoga Journal, Surf Life for Women and Massage, Bodywork Magazine and now HipMomsGoGreen, Blissoma skin and bodycare products are a must-try for all who love their body as well the earth!
- (seed)+ is a new personal care line based on the powerful benefits of seeds. Certain seeds are naturally rich in Vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids – and their new line of grape seed enriched products offers all of these powerful nutrients – and the many body health and beauty benefits from them. (seed)+ is powerfully 100% Natural and I personally love them. I hope you do to. 
– I can barely live without my Vitamix. If you want truly smooth drinks and fantastic soups this is for you. Vita-Mix TurboBlend 4500 is a heavy-duty, commercial-quality blender that delivers optimum performance and power. Superior engineering strengthens each part, ensuring a product that will last. 
-A favorite of one of my raw foodie besties, Julie. In this lushly photographed book, Kenney and Melngailis share some of that magic — and show that preparing and eating raw does not mean bland, unsatisfying, or impossibly time-consuming meals. Using dehydrating, Vita-Mix blending, a nuanced understanding of spices, and unprecedented creativity, they explore a whole new outlook on raw food that transfers beautifully and easily from their kitchen to yours — no matter what your present diet. And you’ll immediately begin to reap the benefits of healthful, delicious, life-giving raw food. 
– This perfect for raw food must have is great for families that love eating healthy! Drying food is fun! Make your own chips and bars for so much less money and more nutrition. The Excalibur Dehydrator allows you to dry anything evenly and efficiently. The unit can dry all fruits, vegetables, meats, and more! Make fruit leathers and home-made jerky – FRESH! The Excalibur has a trademarked horizontal-airflow drying system which dries foods perfectly evenly on all the trays. Dehydrating is a great way to add a new way of consuming foods without damaging valuable nutrients which may be lost during high heat cooking! Dried foods are a great treat to snack on because they hold almost all of their nutritional value and flavor. 
-This is one of my go-to gals for gluten-free, Elana Amsterdam. The prevalence of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity among millions of adults and children has created the need for gluten-free recipes that are as nutritious and tasty as their traditional counterparts. Popular food blogger Elana Amsterdam offers ninety-nine family-friendly classics–from Pancakes to Eggplant Parmesan to Chocolate Cake–that feature her gluten-free ingredient of choice, almond flour. So whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast treat, a comfort food entrée, or a showstopping dessert, The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook proves that gluten-free cooking can mean healthy eating for everyone. 
-love these… Totally Bamboo’s Salad Hands are distinctively attractive and super strong – perfect for special occasion and every day use. Plus, these servers are eco-friendly. Two piece set made of sturdy bamboo. The benefits of using bamboo are numerous. For example: bamboo is 16-percent harder than maple, it’s naturally anti-microbial and it’s eco friendly; it holds the promise of a sustainable, cost effective, and ecologically responsible alternative to the widespread clear cutting of our old growth forests. Totally Bamboo uses organically grown moso bamboo, so you need not worry about harmful pesticides or fertilizers. Plus, this bamboo is not a food source, or a habitat, for the giant panda. Totally good for you and totally good for the environment. Servers are easy to maintain – simply wash with warm water and use Totally Bamboo’s revitalizing oil, occasionally, to extend the life and keep them looking beautiful. 
-A New York Times bestseller that has changed the way readers view the ecology of eating, this revolutionary book by award winner Michael Pollan asks the seemingly simple question: What should we have for dinner? Tracing from source to table each of the food chains that sustain us—whether industrial or organic, alternative or processed—he develops a portrait of the American way of eating. The result is a sweeping, surprising exploration of the hungers that have shaped our evolution, and of the profound implications our food choices have for the health of our species and the future of our planet. 
-“What ’s for dinner?” seemed like a simple question—until journalist and supermarket detective Michael Pollan delved behind the scenes. From fast food and big organic to small farms and old-fashioned hunting and gathering, this young readers’ adaptation of Pollan’s famous food-chain exploration encourages kids to consider the personal and global health implications of their food choices. In a smart, compelling format with updated facts, plenty of photos, graphs, and visuals, as well as a new afterword and backmatter, The Omnivore’s Dilemma serves up a bold message to the generation that needs it most: It’s time to take charge of our national eating habits—and it starts with you. 
-Santa Claus is having a green Christmas! In the spirit of Christmas giving, Santa shows boys and girls that they can give to others while giving back to the Earth — and have fun while they’re doing it! Simple things like riding bicycles to the store rather than taking a car, turning the tree lights off during the day and before bedtime, taking the tree to the community mulching center, using discarded newspapers for gift wrap, and making decorations and presents for one another rather than buying new ones, are all ways that kids can help Santa have a green Christmas.
-With this collection of forty-eight fun-filled, science-based environmental activities, kids from eight to eleven explore the world they live in and find ways to make it better. The projects in Eco-Fun cover a range of difficulty and include a mix of scientific experiments to do at home or school, activities that explore kids’ own world and real-life ecology projects for their neighborhood or community. They can build a solar panel, make recycled paper, build a worm composter and create a forest ecosystem in a jar. Lively, easy-to-follow illustrations clearly tell kids what to do and show how each activity works. 
-Make a fashion statement with eco friendly/cruelty free jewelry by Christy Robinson! This ID style tag is handstamped with “vegan” and made out of recycled sterling silver! The tag measures 3/4″ x 1/4″ has a satin finish. Tag has a recycled copper star charm attached which measures 1/2″ x 1/2″ it has a shiny finish. Comes with sterling 1.5 mm flat cable chain with a handmade hook and eye clasp. *Due to the handmade nature this item may vary slightly from image Chain used is from ethical sources and Made in the USA. 
-Made with certified U.S. grown organic cotton. Organic cotton is better for you and the earth than any other fiber. Organic cotton does not use genetically modified seeds, toxic and persistent pesticides or herbicides, bleach, heavy metals or synthetic fertilizers. Jade Yoga will provide a month’s worth of clean drinking water for one person in the developing world for every towel sold. Cotton is pure cellulose, a naturally occurring polymer which attracts water molecules and absorbs water – about 25 times its weight in water. Perfect for hot yoga. Soft and comfortable, organic cotton is perfect for drying off during your yoga work out. It also is comfortable and thick enough to provide warmth and lift like a blanket. Please note that because this towel is made of organic cotton, it is not designed to provide grip like the synthetic fiber towels on the market, but rather absorbency, warmth and lift. In addition to organic cotton loops, Jade yoga towels are made with polyester stitching for added strength and longevity. 
-I love my Eco Cup! ECOTM CupTM is a permanent home for hot beverages. Do away with papercups and enjoy your daily grind of coffee in this single-walled, porcelain cup with an attachable silicone lid and sleeve. Keeps drinks warm while sparing the environment paper and styrofoam waste. 
-These cute animal towels are a spa-grade hooded towel. This is made up of natural terry toweling on the inside and organic cotton knit on the outside. These hooded towels are ideal for baths or dips in the pool. It measures 29″x29″ in size. This hooded towel is machine washable. It is the perfect gift for baby in this holiday season. The outer shell is made up of 100% organic cotton Terry towel and is also 100% unbleached cotton. See it here in pink and other animals. 
-All three of my boys have dragged this adorable little alligator around. Plan Preschool toys combine learning with fun. Their carefully crafted push-pull toys, manipulative toys, musical instruments, games, puzzles, and blocks are all specially designed to enrich every aspect of your child’s early development. These toys inspire children’s imagination as well as promoting their physical and intellectual development. PlanToys are made from non-toxic, natural materials such as organic rubberwood. Their toys enable children to play, learn and become closer to nature while being pulled; the wooden pieces make rhythmic click-clack sounds. 
-This is a must have for 2 and ups. My boys did not have to use training wheels on any bike because of the balance learned early on from this bike. It is amazing. Jackson hopped on a big bike and cruised down the road at 3 1/2! Children learn to balance and ride while boosting their confidence. No Pedals! No training wheels! . -Pneumatic Rubber Tires with extra long tube valves. -Rubberized handle bar grips. -Cushioned leatherette seat. -Spoke-less disk wheels to prevent little feet from getting caught. -Unique carry handle incorporated in the bike s body. -Limited steering radius to prevent jackknifing. -Adjustable seat height to grow with your child with 5. height positions adjustable from 13.5 to 17.5 inches. -Suitable for ages 2 years and up to 60 pounds. Eco friendly wood harvested from a replenishable source, formaldehyde free glue, non toxic paints. 
-Construct a make-believe skyscraper. Repair an imaginary windmill. If young handy boys and girls can dream it, they can do it with the Green Toys Tool Set. This 15 piece workable set is made from 100% recycled plastic. Manufactured in the U.S.A. from recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
-A prodigy maybe one in the making. Sevi believes music is great for all ages and shows it in this beautifully crafted xylophone. Enjoy the music. Musical skills begin at home, and this easy-to-play instrument is a great place to start. Even small children can produce sounds on the xylophone, making it a fun and easy way to develop rhythm and coordination. And this one is made of all wood, producing a mellower sound that’s easy on parents’ ears. Made from eco-friendly materials and vegetable dyes. 
-This is what we use at our house and they are wonderful! The BornFreeTM Vented Glass Bottles Gift Set includes: 3x 5oz Glass Bottles, 2x 9oz Glass Bottle, 2x Level 2 Nipples. 
-Organic cotton tights with the biggest fun dots in delicious sherbet colors. 
-Small solar daybag that’s big enough to fit an iPad or Kindle along with the day’s essentials, 4 Watts Solar Power and 3,000 mAh battery included. 
- Kindle is a #1 bestselling item for two years running. It’s also the most-wished-for, most-gifted, and has the most 5-star reviews of any product on Amazon. Now it’s even better.
-I could not resist putting this on the top of the list. In my opinion, this BBC version is one of the best movies ever! A must give to a girlfriend. We can resite the lines around our house. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has taken its place as one of the greatest television productions of all time. The landmark adaptation from A&E and the BBC captured the hearts of millions by seamlessly translating the wit, romance, and intelligence of Jane Austen s classic novel to the screen.
-Future of Food is one of the best-reviewed documentaries of 2005 is now available on DVD in this deluxe two-disc edition. There is a revolution happening in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America, a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat. This documentary explores the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled grocery store shelves for the past decade. It also examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multi-national corporations seek to control the world’s food system. “One of 2005′s must-see documentaries” -San Francisco Chronicle.
The term ‘green washing’ is pretty common now and at HipMomsGoGreen we are familiar with what to watch out for. But there is a deceptive new marketing practice out there called ‘pink washing’ and it’s hitting the shops right now.
While essential oils are obtained from plants and are natural substances, they do need to be used with safety in mind. Some basic guidelines can help you get the most out of aromatherapy. A few important points to keep in mind are:
If you’re over 30 or grew up in the southern part of the US, you’ve probably noticed them. Those little brownish spots that seem to appear overnight on your forehead that, no matter how hard you try, you just can seem to scrub away (and by the way, please stop trying to scrub them off, you’re causing more damage!). Age spots, also known as sun spots because they are most often caused by sun damage, are flat, benign areas of hyperpigmentation. These brownish spots usually occur on the hands and face, with the forehead most often affected. Conventional treatments for hyperpigmentation include bleach and Retin-A, which have an array of serious side effects including cancer, reproductive toxicity and skin allergies. Cryotherapy and light therapy are viable treatments options but can cost thousands of dollars.
Aging naturally or gracefully is great, but I want to talk about natural ways to fight and prevent signs of aging. Aside from a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, not-smoking and getting plenty of sleep and water, choosing the right skincare is incredibly important for keeping a youthful glow. There are several key anti-aging ingredients to look for in skincare, from modern nutriceuticals (nutrients for your skin) to herbal extracts.
Recently, I was asked what I did for a living. When I responded, “I’m an aromatherapist,” I was met with: “What the heck is that?” As I went on to explain what aromatherapy is and was still met with a smile and a blank stare, I had to laugh to myself that this guy had no idea what I was talking about. I realize there are probably scores of people who don’t know what aromatherapy is, but, in that moment, I also realized just how grateful I am to have it in my life. Among other things, aromatherapy offers us an alternative to chemicals, empowers us to take responsibility for our health, supports the body-mind, and allows us to connect with ourselves and with nature.
