For the challenge, I will post a video of the drawing tomorrow when I get so you have till then to email me or leave me a comment if you are in. Thanks for reading the blog and so happy to see so many of you going green =)
I am so proud, mostly of my husband for actually doing things purely to make me happy but we have successfully, for few weeks now gotten our garbage down to one, count that one, numero uno, kitchen size bio bag per week. I started this trend while my husband was out of the country for a few weeks and we have successfully kept it up. I couldn't have done it without you CW!
We'll see how long we can keep this up, if feels really good to reduce my garbage waste. The more and more disposable items I replace with non disposable items the easier it gets our limit our trash. The average American produced approximately 4 lbs of trash a day, I certainly aim and hope to be well below that estimate. What discourages me about some people is that once they throw something away ( hoping they are kind enough to use a trash can ) they don't think beyond that action, as to where that trash goes and how long it will be on this earth. I aim for as much in-disposibilty and biodegradable materials in my life as possible to limit my trash.
If you haven't already hear (or use) bio bags you should definably check them out. They are made from GMO free corn and take about as long as paper to decompose. If you use plastic bags often you should defiantly check them out http://www.biobagusa.com/ for information. Drugstore.com is a great place to get them as well.
Keep it Biodegradable! =)
If you post green things you do on your blog and are entering the Organically Amber Go Green Challange, just leave a comment and I will enter you, if not make sure to send me an email with a few of the thigns you did this month, as some of you already have =). I can't even imagine how much we reduced our carbon footprint by the month!
I'm so happy so many of you girls are as excited about going green as am I. It's so nice to share things we do and push each other to make more changes.
It seems as if I'm getting a reputation, for using canvas bags that is. Look at this little "Organically Amber" designergal (www.designhergals.com) my friend Suzy made of me! How cute is that, it totally made my day. Thanks again Suzy. That is totally how I look when I am out with my canvas bags =)
Keep it green
Last week my good friend Mandi got some kale in her fresh veggie box, I told her to make some kale chips (not sure if she did or not) but it got me in the mood for some salty vinegar kale chips. So I picked up some kale this week at the farmers market to make my own batch.
You are not going to believe me but these kale chips chips taste like potato chips, seriously! They are perfect side for my veggie sandwiches. Even my husband likes them. I coat kale leaves in a tablespoon of oil (I used flax) and a bit over a tablespoon of vinegar (I used red wine) and some sea salt to taste and bake at 350 for 10-15 ish. Click here for an official recipe.
Some chips cooling off:
While we are the subject of salt, I snapped pic of my Himalayan salt candle holder. I have few of these on hand and keep them near my computer and TV. My Mom introduced these to me, they are supposed to balance out the positive/negative ions that electronics put off, to naturally maintain air quality(info from Gorgeously Green). My Mom, among other sources, Gorgeously Green for one, swear by Himalayan salt.
By the way I picked this baby up at TJ Maxx for a mere $8, a steal. If anyone is interested you should defiantly check your local TJ Maxx or if not, health food store. I hadn't been in ages and my husband (of all people) was so excited to find this amazing deal at Tj Maxx.
Casey and I got a solar powered battery charger to charge our reusable batteries. So I snapped a pic of my batteries charging today as the sun was heading down.
Oh and of course pics my weekly farmers market trip hual! Plus Vegetables are totally solar powered right??..lol... This week I got a wheat bread baguette, wheat sour dough bread, cantaloupe, grapes, corn, tomatoes (mine are almost ready!), bell pepper, cucumber, cilantro, romaine, garlic, an onion and kale.
I already made some more pesto with my own basil and the garlic. And my strawberries are still out of control and delish! My mom and I have BIG farmers markets plans for next week ;)
Tell me about your green weekend, I know Jen was on it!
Keep it Solar!
The LA times published a great article about a proposed policy to keep California's oceans clean. California leaders are recommending a strict state policy including a smoking ban statewide on beaches, forbidding fast food restaurants from distributing plastic foam cups and it also recommends banning plastic bags.
"An estimated 19 billion plastic bags are distributed in California each year. Fewer than 5% are recycled." The article warns that the banning of plastic bags would produce more CO2 to transport paper bags,but it fails to mention that canvas bags are the best option. But we already knew that =)
Hopefully legislation like this catches on quick. If China can ban plastic bags, it is time for the US to step up to the plate.. Click here for the article.
Keep it Canvas =)
Hope you all have a great green weekend! Hit up the farmers markets, go shop with canvas bags in hand and skip Starbucks and have some fair trade brew instead (all great ways to get involved in our challenge! Click here for more information)
And if you have a chance sign this DoNotMail petition "Return to sender, address unknown..." Oh sorry, I told ya'll I'm an Elvis fan right ;)
Keep it green!
Ya'll know I hate plastic bags but here is some reason for you to hate (or hate them more)too. Ok lets all vow never to forget our canvas bags ever again.
When my new issue of Martha Stewart arrived this month I could not have been more excited. The whole issue was dedicated to"Local pleasures across the country". I felt as if Martha and I were on the same wavelength, well maybe I just wished we were.
Here I am buying as much local as I can, banning myself from items made in China and I get and issue like this from Martha. I just love it. As I flipped through pages of local places to visit in the US, items made in America and recipes just perfect for my farmers market treats, I felt as if my crazy label reading, banning ways had been reinforced by a reliable source.
Buying local not only makes me feel good but I know so much gas and energy is being saved by purchasing items that did not have to travel on a boat or plane to get to me. Knowing buying local is Martha approved makes it all the sweeter! Thanks Martha!
Keep it Local.
My sister just (like10 minutes ago!) bought Prius and I could not be more excited for her. I am hoping to purchase one as well. I was just so excited I had to post. LOL! I can't wait to check it out. Go Sister! Keeping it Green!
I've been posting what I have buying locally so I also wanted to show what I have been eating Local as well.
This morning I had some cantaloupe and whole wheat toast (both from the farmers market), I know my farmers market is awesome! Also local peanut butter from my local health food store, yum!
For lunch I had a veggie sandwich. The bread, tomato, and lettuce, all from my local farmers market. The avocado, cucumber, and mustard also from local areas. The side cherry tomatoes from my farmers market as well.
Dinner: Napa Chardonnay (I'm Spoiled and what a "LOCAL" excuse), mixed greens, tomatoes, and vinaigrette (all farmers market), pesto (home grown basil, so yummy, and farmers market garlic) with rice brown noodles. Just about everything LO-CAL all day!
Keep it Local! =)
Can you tell I use my I'm not a Plastic bag a lot? The poor thing broke today after many, many shopping trips. Luckily my handy dandy husband was able to repair her, she's almost good as new. I just probably won't be packing her as full as I used to. Poor old girl, I hope you love your canvas bags as much as I love mine.
Keep it Canvas =)
So I had a fabulous time in Sacramento yesterday! Defiantly worth missing my farmers market for for. I meet a wonderful group of girls (Lindsey, Erynn, Kara and Courtney) and all their babies! We had a great day. Thanks so much girls!! Lindsey was so good about asking for paper bags, the salt water taffy lady gave her a paper bag with the salt water taffy in a plastic bag but Lindsey brought the plastic bag back to her. Go lindsey! And Erynn even brought me some Green presents! How cute. And we all were green by packing us girls deep in two cars and carpooling, thanks for the ride Kara. We can be fabulous and green!
I did make it make it to the farmers market today, I went to different one then my normal one but lots of my favorite stands were there, they all mentioned I was not at my normal Saturday market . It was nice to go a different one and check the scene out there.
This week I picked up cherry tomatoes (a favorite of mine), grapes, romaine, some mixed greens, carrots, shady girl tomato, apricots, garlic (I am making pesto this week with my basil I am growing), red onion, corn cantaloupe, whole wheat sourdough bread and more of my own strawberries.
I also bought and was given some green presents this week! I ordered myself a "love bottle" a recycled glass refillable water bottle and a solar powered battery charger, it can also charge other things I will let you know how that all goes. I also picked up some vegan mascara and vegan perfume this week at Whole Foods.
As I mentioned before Erynn brought me some green presents! How cute of her! She brought me a recycled paper notebook that says "Green isn't just my favorite color on it!" Love it! I LOVE notebooks, so it was perfect for me. She also got me the cutest book 1001 ways to save the earth. It has lots of great tips and facts like #41 that informed me I save 15lbs of pollution every 4 miles I ride my bike! Nice!Thanks again Erynn!
I just read #59 before I posted this which says: Think Bigger. Try adapting some of the changes your making to your personal life to other contexts. Let people know what you are doing, they may want to get involved, which will help you make a bigger impact. Which is exactly what many of you girls are doing! <3 Live green!
To meet some friends! I am missing the farmers market for this so it better be good =P. It's the first farmers market I have missed this season. I am going to try to hit up another city's farmers market tomorrow, will report back ;)
Hope you have a wonderful Saturday!
Live green.
Thanks for the dare Mandi! So after a few of my girls (Dee, Amanda and Mandi) and I were disgusted by Vanessa Minillo's recent excess plastic bag usage I decided to take it upon my self (after Mandi's great idea) to send her a letter. The best I could find was her publicists email (if anyone sees a better one let me know, or send your own letter). So I sent her off a very polite letter telling her how happy I would be to see Vanessa using some canvas bags.
Maybe we can get her to join the Green side ;) LOL
I was flipping thought my emails this evening when I came across one from ShopRapunzels.com and it could not have made me more excited. They have decided to use green shipping methods, yippee! Shopping green, now that rocks ;)
I have not posted this yet but as part of my green ways I had stopped shopping from online places that ship their items in plastic bags. Although sometimes shopbop.com still ships in plastic and sometimes in cardboard, but gosh that is addiction hard to break.....must be time for another email.
Anyways I was so happy to see an online company taking responsibility for their shipping I had to post. I may have just have to place an order from a company that thinks like this. Ahh that inner shopaholic turmoil feels a bit relieved.
Shop Green =)
Email makes it so easy for me to voice my opinion. I am constantly writing letters (not that they do much, besides make myself feel better). I write letters to my newspaper editors constantly. I wrote a letter to my city asking them to consider composite bins along with our yard wastecans. I wrote a letter to my local mall asking them to encourage and educate patrons not to have their items bagged in plastic bags and so on.
Today I sat down and wrote to Torn by Ronny Kobo because I was upset their company was a reason for my made in china ban slip up. I love their bamboo tank tops but I wrote that I could not support a product made in sweat shops and asked them to consider either adding made responsibly in China (a new trend) or to reconsider and how they manufacture their products.
I am well aware of my one lone letter is not going to make a difference, but I feel like it's duty to voice my opinion, and I am hoping others voice their opinions as well. Plus I know since I emailed these letters nothing is wasted (i.e. paper) but my own few minutes, in which I spent doing something I am passionate about, Live green =)
Gahh sometimes I drive myself crazy with what I feel like I have to do to be green. I banned myself from items Made in China, I slipped once ( I was tempted by that shobop code!) but gosh has that been tough. Shopping with my mom and sister at F21 the other day was torture, my sister kept picking up so many cute things while my eyes were mercifully trying to avoid all the cute trendy pieces I could totally see myself rocking.
Yesterday I stopped by Pottery Barn which was having a huge sale, I walked in eying all the cute items I would love to decorate my house with. But instead I walked around turning over every piece I saw, no not to check their crazy low prices, but to see in dismay the Made in China stamp on every item I picked up. Once again walking out of the store as a frustrated shopaholic.
Another issue blaring me straight in the face is my ever growing dark roots in my highlighted blonde locks. I have been reading about the toxins in hair dye (why do I read such things!!) and my green conscious tells me not to buy into treating my ever growing highlighted roots. I am currently looking into some eco friendly dyes and other options, but until then promise not to hate on my new "accessory" ;) What is it with those blonde's and their inner turmoil? Well we do have more fun right??
Live Green!
Just my weekly trip to the farmers market making personal effort to keep it local. This week I picked up some sour dough wheat bread, carrots, peppers, onions, nectarines, corn, blackberries, cherry tomatoes, an early girl tomato and some whole wheat pitas. Also my strawberries are still coming strong I put them in a bigger container just for you Erynn, actually there were way too many to fit in my other bowl this week. I also was given some yummy home grown plums from my mom's friend that are really delish! So many local delights. Localtarian, Localvore whatever you call it just Keep it Local =)
I've seen so many of you girls going above and beyond on in my challenge and just in going green(er) in general! I wanted to post a peak of the reward, to get you even more motivated...if that is even possible right now =)
Live Green this Weekend!
So much in ours lives today is disposable, it really too bad we are used to getting rid of things so quickly. I have been trying to do away with as many disposable aspects of my live as I can. Starting with replacing plastic bags, water bottles, napkins, and paper towels with non-disposable options
I like to think first of what things can I replace with non-disposable items, or if it has to be disposable I try to find the best option, recycled paper, glass over plastic and so on. For example I now look for glass options rather then plastic at the grocery store, I forgo toilet seat covers (a hard change for the germ-a-phob in me), and I carry around an old sample cup from Trader Joes so when I stop by I can still sample their new Fair Trade brews without feeling guilty(yes I have gone mad) . These little things may not add up all that much but applying them to my life constantly make me think about what I am going to use, why and if it is necessary.
Some of my recent efforts to eliminate disposablity (is that a word? LOL) in my life is getting rid of disposable feminine hygiene products, thanks to some trusted girls reviews of the Diva cup! "In 1998, 7 billion tampons and 12 billion sanitary pads and their packaging were disposed into landfills and sewage systems in the U.S. alone. With landfill". Nice to know I will no longer contribute to that pollution.
Another change I have made is refillable milk jugs! I am so happy to have found a place that refills glass milk jugs with LOCAL organic milk. Gosh I am just so excited about this LOL. I mean how cute and charming is this! It's so nice to go back to old ways before convenience became a way of life, Amanda I just might be a bit of an Old Fashioned Girl myself ;). I wish more things would be become refillable it such a great way to eliminate dispoablity (if that's not a word it is now!).
Live green! =)
Well the tomatoes aren't quite ready yet but I just picked some "local" strawberries from my backyard. Mmmm, the perfect July 4th treat! Hope you all have a safe and happy Holiday!
Keep it Local =)
Have a safe and happy 4th of July! Remember to keep it green. Try bringing your own reusable cups, napkins, plates, forks and knives to those bbq's so you don't have to use plastic versions. Hit the farmers market for some corn to grill. And make sure to recycle all those beer bottles and soda cans =)
Since so many of you are going green I decided to compile a challenge for the month of July. I put a list of Go Green challenges together, some of which I'm sure you are already doing! Everyone who completes at least 5 of these challenges and emails me is eligible for the raffle and the winner of the raffle will receive a few of my favorite green items (which I have previously posted about)! All you need to do is complete at least five of theses challenges for one raffle ticket and if you complete all 10 you receive 3 raffle tickets. Just send me a quick email to organicallyamber@gmail.com telling me what challenges you completed in the month of July and how (brands, which challenges what you liked or had a hard time with, ect). All entries must be sent by July 31st and the raffle will be held on August 1st! Since this is a small blog the chances of winning should be very high! =) I just want to see people get excited about being green..... Live green!
Challenges (These are easy! Wait until next time!)
1.Buy Local at least one time this month "Buying local can reduce to amount of petroleum consumed to transport your dinner by as much as 95%" *The Green Book
2.Stop buying plastic water bottles. Buy a refillable (BFA free of course!) and refill your own water "You save and average of 14lbs of plastic." *The Green Book
3.Cut your shower time to three minutes this month. Or at last take off 2 minutes of your regular showering time.
"Every 2 minutes you save on your shower can conserve more then 10 gallons." *The Green Book
4.If you don't already, recycle this month. Plastics, paper, aluminum and glass.
"if everyone tossed these item in the recycling bin, we could decrease the amount of waste sent to landfills by 75%" *The Green Book
5.Bring your own canvas bags shopping, remember to bring your own produce bags and bring the canvas bag to the mall and errands as well =)
"Each year an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide - that's over 1 million per minute." *We are What we Do
6.Replace your dish soap, hand soap and laundry soap this month with vegetable based products
"If every household in the U.S. replaced just ONE bottle of 25 oz petroleum based dishwashing liquid with SG 25 oz vegetable based product, we could save 81,000 barrels of oil! That's enough to cool AND heat 4,000 U.S. homes a year" *The Green Book
7.Replace your napkins and paper towels with recycled versions or better yet cloth versions this month.
"If every household in the U.S. replaced just one roll of 180-sheet virgin-fiber paper towels with 100-percent recycled paper towels, we could save: 1.4 million trees, 3.7 million cubic feet of landfill space, and 526 million gallons of water, and prevent 89,400 pounds of pollution" *The Green Book
8.If you are a coffee drinker (or chocolate eater) switch to fair trade variates
"Just one household switching to certified coffee a year is enough to protect 9,200 square feet of rain forest" *The Green Book
9.Wash your clothes in cold water and air dry your laundry (as possible) this month. (See my making good use of this 100' heat post)
10. Go vegetarian once a week this month. Meat requires more packaging and energy to produce then vegetables "If every household reduced their beef purchase by just one pound per year, 250 billion gallons of water would be saved" *The Green Book. Make this month the month you cut back on.
Keep it green =)
-Amber
As part of my green lifestyle I have been riding my bike to work lately. Today as I was peddling furiously my (LOL) favorite pair of jeans got stuck in the gears. I almost fell off the bike since it stopped everything from turning, thankfully that did not happen. I did have to rock holy jeans for the rest of the day, but I wore them proudly. I will be on the sewing machine shortly stitching these babies up...
Keep it green =)
