10 Summer Outfits To Waltz Through The Hot Season

Are you struggling to find the perfect summer outfits to don this year? Well you’ve landed on the right webpage. In this article, I’m going to give you some oh-so-stylish summer looks that you can wear comfortably and flaunt proudly, because everything here consists of natural fabric and organic clothing options. So without further ado, let’s get into the list of the 10 best summer outfits for 2021! 

1. Work Hard, Play Hard 

Browse through organic clothing at Faerie’s Dance to find the best summer outfits

How many of you are late to work because you can’t decide what to wear? Is your head screaming “I have nothing to wear”, while your wardrobe is literally choking on clothes? Don’t stress, because Faerie’s Dance has the perfect workwear for you! Pair this chic jacket with these comfy pants and white bamboo cami, and accessorize with this cute matching recycled glass neckpiece and earrings. Voila! You’re ready to be the eco-chic boss lady.           

2. Working From Home 

Bamboo polo and linen bermuda shorts make the perfect summer outfit

If you’re still working from home, or maybe have always worked from home, the perfect summer outfit is business on the top and comfort on the bottom. Mix and match formal tops or polo shirts with comfortable, classy shorts and get productive.

3. Thank God It’s Friday!

Find summer outfits at online clothing shop FaeriesDance.com

What can be better than knowing that the weekend is FINALLY HERE? Knowing what you’re gonna wear to that weekend night out. Well stress no more, ‘cause this halter dress will make you look the hottest in the room. Keep your makeup and going-out essentials in this VHS bag and there you go! Not your style? Browse through our summer maxi dresses to find your personal favorite.

4. Sunday Brunch Time! 

Three organic cotton pieces to make the perfect summer outfit

A perfect Sunday consists of two main things – waking up late and having a Sunday brunch with your family. And to make the most of it, you need to wear the comfiest summer outfits. Since you couldn’t decide what you’re gonna wear (that’s why you’re scrolling through this article, right?), I suggest you wear this basic white tee with this flowy skirt and wrap your wrist with this cute li’l organic cotton bracelet.   

5. BRB… Outfitting for the Grocery Run

Outfit combo showing organic clothing, dresses and sustainable jewelry

Who says you don’t need to look cute while going out to pick up groceries? What if some producer/photographer discovers you and wants to sign you for their next movie/shoot or you bump into your next great love at the coffee bar? Either way, why take the risk? Always go out looking and feeling good about yourself — try any of our beautiful dresses with an elegant, grounding necklace, and thank me later! 

6. Finding Zen at yoga class (or the gym)! 

woman wearing organic cotton pants and workout bra for a summer outfit.

Need to find some calm and grounding at yoga class or work off steam at the gym? Don’t sweat about your outfit. Pair this organic clothing duo (skinny pants + workout bra) with virtually any top in your closet and you can go directly from… well, anywhere… to the studio or fitness center. 

7. I Got Asked Out!

Summer outfit with eco-fashion dress and recycled metal bracelet

Swiping right on your crush is fun, but when they swipe back at you – it’s a DATE! Date dressing can be so nerve-racking. It’s important to look your best while also feeling comfortable! Going out with your crush can already be a nervous affair, you don’t need your clothes to cause you any more discomfort. EcoSkin (a Faerie’s Dance exclusive brand) makes eco-fashion dresses that look like a million bucks, while feeling like you’re wearing pajamas! Pair it with a simple recycled artisan bracelet, and go with a natural makeup look.

8. Meet Me At The Beach

Recycled plastic swimwear for the perfect ocean-friendly summer outfit

Right one or left one? Pick your favorite one or pick both! Both of these bikinis are made from recycling plastics and ocean waste into comfortable, ocean-conscious swimwear. Have fun in the sun, swim like a fish, dance with the waves, and when you’re finally done with water splashing just relax at the beach wearing this beautiful coverup

9. Time to Walk the Pup

organic cotton leggings paired with a hemp top for an eco-friendly summer outfit

Complement your pup by looking as cute as him/her! Wear these stylish organic cotton leggings with a comfy two-tone top and play fetch with your little buddy. Don’t forget to take some sweet pictures of your pup and then post them on social media.  

10. It’s A Lazy Day

bamboo shorts and tee for a lazy-day summer outfit

There are days when we want to overachieve and then, there are days when we want to do nothing. For the latter, you would just want to curl up on your couch; binging on your favorite snacks while watching your favorite TV shows. Guess what? You should do it often. It’s not about being lazy, it’s actually about taking a break from your busy life, which is really good for your mental health. And for the outfit part, pair this bamboo tee with these matching bamboo shorts and just chill!

Okay now you don’t have to thank me for helping you out in picking the best summer outfits because I’m more than happy to help! Just don’t forget to share this article with your girl squad to help them too. And check out Faerie’s Dance for more organic clothing for every season.  

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Support Small Business this Holiday & Find Gifts that Give Back

business open sign

2020 has been a real punch in the nose for many people and small businesses. Since Faerie’s Dance already had an online presence, we were lucky compared to many other companies. Still, planning has a been a nightmare with our lowest sales month in more than 10 years occurring within three months of our highest. Supply chains have been affected and in some cases, we simply can’t get products in to back fill orders. Our fun Mismatched Socks are nearly sold out – even at the manufacturer, and we won’t be able to restock all the missing sizes of our best-selling Treasure bra until February. That said, we still consider ourselves very fortunate compared to restaurants, spas, gyms and brick-and-mortar retailers.

If you’ve maintained employment throughout the pandemic, and find yourself in a secure position, you may be wondering how you can best support small businesses and hard-hit charities this holiday season. Here are a few tips that might help.

Support Small Business

Shop small

Supporting small business is more than just that initial purchase. Of course, shopping small is where it all starts. Shop for holiday gifts at small online stores or don your organic cotton face mask and head over to one of the unique boutique-style shops in your community. Sometimes you may end up paying a few cents more to support a small business, but local businesses often add to the character of your community, and online businesses almost always offer a selection of items that can’t be found anywhere else.

wellness dots organic cotton bra

At Faerie’s Dance, we’re proud to be the only shop in the USA carrying European bras from Swegmark, Comazo and Peau-Ethique. But if you don’t need a bra, or don’t want to give one as a gift, buying any of our everyday items helps support us and allows us to continue bringing you that selection of exclusives you’ve come to love.

Exchange Rather than Return

One of the biggest helps to small businesses is to exchange items that don’t fit, don’t meet your needs or weren’t perfect for your recipient. In addition to losing the sale, credit card fees are not refundable for small businesses. So refunds always constitute a loss. Doing an exchange instead can be a little lifeline for businesses that are struggling.

Christmas gift card

Give Gift Certificates

If you want to support a small business, or a restaurant that may currently be operating take-out only, get a gift certificate. Not only do they make great gifts – both for your recipients and for yourself – but it puts much needed capital in the hands of the business now while restrictions are still in place.

Read the About Us Pages

While not revenue-related, small companies put a lot of time and effort into telling their customers who they are and what they stand for. Does the small business you are buying from support charity? Are they minority or woman-owned? Are they focused on sustainability? Do they give back to the community? Spending a few minutes learning about a small business can be so beneficial. And the more people care about those extra steps companies are taking to do good, the more businesses will eventually follow suit.

Avoid Amazon (and other Big Box stores)

Amazon is convenient. Nobody can argue that. And most of the time, Amazon is cheap, too. But Jeff Bezos and Amazon stock holders don’t need your money. Early on in the pandemic while small businesses were closed, Amazon and big box stores that sold groceries were still open and raking in profits. They really don’t need any more.

If you do find something on Amazon, check the “shipped from” notice. Many times small business (including ours) sell a portion of their offerings on Amazon to increase revenue. We charge a little more on Amazon to offset all the fees. So you pay more, we get less and Amazon earns the extra. Instead, search for the “shipped from” company online. If you find their website, you can support them directly!

If you can’t find a small business that has what you need and Amazon is looking like your only option, be sure to order from smile.Amazon.com to have a portion of your purchase donated to charity.

after christmas sale image

Shop After Christmas

While everyone is focused on the holidays, January and February can be rough for small businesses. Be sure to save a little to shop early in the year. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of after-Christmas sales. While margins may be lower, most companies are looking to lower inventory or gain revenue to stock new items. So bargain hunting can be a win-win for everyone.

Buy Gifts that Give Back to Charity

In addition to small businesses, many charities are struggling with diminishing donations. Many charities get a good portion of their operating budget from live events and large gatherings which are currently curbed. Symbolically adopting an animal has been a mainstay of holiday charitable giving for years. While we love this idea, here are a few more unique ones you may not have heard about.

People hiking on an earthwatch expedition

Plan an Adventure

One of our sponsored charities, EarthWatch, is having a particularly rough year since most of their donations come from volunteer expeditions. While their expeditions are currently on hold, you can start an Expedition Fund for anyone for as little as $25. The Expedition Fund allows you to crowd fund your future EarthWatch adventure, or simply save up for it over time. If you start a fund for someone else this holiday, your recipient would have until the end of 2024 to to apply those funds to an EarthWatch Expedition.

Soften Your Skin While Giving Back

Heading to the local mall? Pick up Lush’s Charity Pot Body Lotion. 100% of the price of this luscious, ethical, vegan lotion is donated to small groups working in the areas of human rights, animal protection and environmental justice.

Africa quest charity wine

Buy Wine, Help Animals

Africa Quest imagines “an Africa where wildlife habitats are protected and endangered species coexist and thrive with their human counterparts.” They’ve partnered with a high-end wine maker to offer Africa Quest Wines with $40 from every bottle purchased going directly to charity.

Personalize a Brick

Whether you’re into space exploration, historical preservation or helping build new hospitals, you can leave a lasting memento for yourself or a loved one by purchasing a personalized paving brick.

Support Small Businesses that Support Charity

Do double duty by supporting small businesses who also support charity. (You’ll know who they are if you’ve read their About Us pages!) Faerie’s Dance gives 1% of all gross sales to charity. That’s gross sales, so even if profits are down, our charities are still being supported. I’m happy to report, we’re not alone in this. Many, many small businesses support charities. Most smaller companies go into business with high ideals of not just earning a living, but being a productive part of our larger communities. Find businesses and charities that align with your values and everyone will be elevated.

post office mail truck

Don’t Forget Your Postal Carrier!

Many small businesses rely on the post office to ship lightweight items economically and ecologically to nearly every address in the country. In addition, so many home-bound Americans rely on the post office, particularly this year, for their medications, mail and even voting ballots. Postal workers were a bedrock of consistency for us all year. Faerie’s Dance could not have operated without them! Our Self Care Gift Set makes a great gift for your postal carrier. Of course, gift certificates, restaurant gift cards, locally made craft beer, and cash are always appreciated too. Give them a small “thank you” this year for all they do!


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What Does it Mean to Have a “Minimalist” Wardrobe?

A minimalist wardrobe

After two decades of throw-away “fast fashion” and wardrobes stuffed with pieces that are never worn, the concept of the “minimalist wardrobe” is coming back into vogue. This means fewer clothes, higher quality, and an increased focus on endless combinations. Here at Faerie’s Dance, we have tips to develop a minimalist capsule wardrobe that is great for the planet and looks fantastic!

So What Do You Need For a Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe? 

Basics Can Be Beautiful

The first step to going minimalist with your wardrobe is choosing pieces in classic cuts that always look good and never go out of fashion. Here are our top picks for basics that you can wear through every season!

A pair of eco-friendly black leggings

Leggings

Soft, stretchy, and comfortable, leggings are a mainstay of any minimalist wardrobe. Wear them under an organic tunic for work, with a sustainable dress and boots in winter, or switch it up with capri-length leggings for added confidence under a summer dress or short-length organic cotton skirt.

Black is the most popular shade for leggings due to its unparalleled versatility, but you can also fill your minimalist capsule wardrobe with leggings in basic tones like blue, burgundy, navy, or coffee-brown.

A woman wearing pink camisole and black pants from a minimalist capsule wardrobe.

Camis

Next up we have the classic camisole. A trendy take on the singlets our mothers made us wear as children under basic tees, these minimalist wardrobe staples transition easily through the seasons — providing an added layer of warmth in winter, modesty under V-neck tops in spring and fall, and functioning as a standalone piece for hot summer days.

Day-to-Night Wear

Now that you’ve got the underlayer covered, it’s time to add the “defining pieces” to your minimalist capsule wardrobe. These are the garments that make your outfit and set the tone for your entire look. If you’ve gone for neutral tones with your leggings and camis, your “defining piece” can be the colorful or bold patterned piece that matches all the other items in your wardrobe and transitions easily from day-to-night.

A dozen tunics, shirts, blouses, and short- and long-sleeve tops in different weights should see you through the seasons in style. For daytime wear, combine your top with some subtle jewelry and a pair of work-ready flats; dress things up for an evening out with boots in winter, stilettos in summer, and an extra-shiny layer of stylish eco-friendly jewelry!

A woman wearing a white top and a pink ruffle cardigan from minimalist capsule wardrobe.

The Warmth Factor

No minimalist wardrobe would be complete without a select few jackets and coats to keep you warm. Organic cotton cardigans and wraps are fantastic for day-to-night wear. Drape over a blouse or organic cotton tank for long days in the office, or pull over a little black sustainable dress for date night.

Ethical winter coats are essential for the cooler seasons and can be styled in several ways. For jackets, we recommend classic styles that fit well into a minimalist capsule wardrobe and won’t go out of fashion with the season.

A pair of twisted metal earrings with purple tear-drop pendants from a minimalist capsule wardrobe.

Accessories

This is where you can bring in the greatest diversity to spice up a minimalist capsule wardrobe. Even if you recombine the same few tops, pants/skirts, and jackets, a change of accessories can make it feel like a whole new outfit!

We suggest three complete sets of contrasting jewelry, inspired by the following categories:

  • Small and dainty
  • Colorful and pretty
  • Large and statement
  • Whimsical and fancy-free

The exact jewelry you choose will be influenced by the color scheme of your clothes and should ideally cover two or three different tones. That way, you have something for every mood while still keeping your wardrobe minimalist!

A woman dressed in a minimalist wardrobe stands in a green field.

Seasonal Variations

Some modern eco-conscious women prefer to put together a minimalist capsule wardrobe for every season, while others cycle through the same clothes all year long. Whichever approach you prefer, you can easily add some seasonal variation with a couple of feature pieces for the four main seasons.

Spring

Bright colors, florals, polka dots, and stripes all give a spring feel to your minimalist wardrobe. For a spring-time look in three easy pieces, try a colorful organic skirt with a basic organic tee and complete the look with sandals and some colorful jewelry.

Summer

The warmer months give us the perfect excuse to feel pretty and feminine in a flowing, fair-trade summer dress. You can create a one-and-done minimalist capsule wardrobe with a different dress for each day of the week or dress up your spring skirts with a colored cami and contrasting summer poncho for variety!

Fall

Your minimalist wardrobe for fall is all about the color. Browns, yellows, oranges, and reds are our go-to’s for fall that transition easily into winter with dark boots and a jacket. You can also carry over a few of your summer dresses for fall weather with the addition of boots, some cozy leggings, and those cardigans we mentioned above!

Winter

A minimalist capsule wardrobe for winter can actually be easier to put together than a minimalist wardrobe for summer. Why? Because people rarely catch a glimpse of the inner layers! A few warm long-sleeve tops and leggings or a dark-wash pair of pants can form the core of your winter closet, with easy variations added with sweaters, jewelry, and an elegant knee-length jacket for good measure.

Holidays

Feeling festive? We’ve got you covered! Holiday organic socks, hand warmers and knitted hemp sweaters in green and red keep you holiday-ready with a few easy garments you can pull out at multiple events.

Complete Your Minimalist Wardrobe Today

At Faerie’s Dance, you can find almost everything you need for your minimalist capsule wardrobe. The best thing? It’s all made ethically from environmentally-friendly fabrics and low-impact dyes. Browse our eco-friendly women’s clothing today and enjoy the long-term savings of a minimalist wardrobe that you can combine and recombine to your heart’s content!


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Tis the Season… to Save The Planet! – The Best Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas This Holiday Season

Woman holding plant

Looking for eco-friendly gift ideas for the holidays? Faerie’s Dance has you covered! With an extensive selection of practical and sustainable clothing and accessories, we offer the best eco-friendly gifts for the whole family in one place. Here are our top picks for the men, women, children, and significant others in your life!

Best Eco-Friendly Gifts For Him

Ok—so we don’t sell reclaimed timber baseball bats or bamboo bicycles just yet, but we do have a selection of eco-friendly gift ideas — like stylish sustainable men’s clothing — to keep the men in your life cozy and comfortable all year round.

A man in a brown, striped sweater.
The Driftwood Crew in 100% Organic Cotton

A Soft and Sustainable Pullover

Made from hemp and organic cotton, our luxuriously soft men’s pullovers are perfect for keeping your man snuggly and warm all winter long. Made in ethical conditions within the United States or in fair-trade regulated factories overseas, these classic men’s garments are a wardrobe staple that he can layer with a tee or polo for a versatile look. 

A Pair of Bamboo Boxers

It’s not something he’d usually buy for himself, so take advantage of the holiday celebrations to treat your man to some silky-soft bamboo or organic cotton underwear. Whether he’s into briefs, boxers, long johns, or thermals, you can find it all in our eco-friendly collection.

PrAna Lybek flannel
The Lybek Midweight Flannel

An Organic Cotton Button-Down 

The best eco-friendly gift ideas are those that can be used straight away. A classic button-down in timeless colors will have the man in your life rocking the holiday parties in style. An organic shirt—while great for the planet—is also good for your man and your home as well. With zero toxic finishing products or harsh dyes, our shirts are not likely to irritate his skin while he enjoys doing what he loves most.

Best Eco-Friendly Gifts For Her

Buying for women can sometimes be easier than men—when it comes to organic women’s clothing, the choices are nearly endless! Here are our top eco-friendly gift ideas for the ladies.

Cotton Knit Knee-Highs

For most of us, the holiday season comes with a blast of cold that’s enough to make you want to tuck up by the fireplace all winter long. Keep your loved one’s legs toasty and warm with a colorful pair of knee-high socks. Some of these knee-highs are mismatched on purpose to chase away the winter blues. Buy two pairs—or three!—and bring a smile to her face as she steps into the fun of ethical fashion.

Indigenous designs alpaca coat
The Winter Coat from Indigenous is Ethically Made from both a Human and Animal Perspective

A Free Range Alpaca Coat

Set at a higher price tag than many eco-friendly gift ideas, a bamboo, hemp, or alpaca eco-friendly winter coat is one of those luxury gift items that is worth saving for. Give this coat or jacket as a mouth-dropping standalone present, or pair it with a scarf, hat, and a pair of gloves for a complete set of the best eco-friendly winter gifts.

Peace bronze recycled earrings
Seven Rings of Peace Recycled Earrings

Recycled and Sustainble Jewelry

Our natural jewelry is another great gift for the special woman in your life. Chic and affordable, choose from our selection of recycled metals and nature-inspired designs featuring seeds, clay, nuts, and grasses. These eco-friendly gift ideas are beautifully rustic and avoid the problems of conflict stones and strip mines that plague the conventional jewelry industry.

Best Eco-Friendly Gifts For the Kids

Little ones can join in on the eco-friendly fun, too! After all, it’s never too early to teach your little one about the importance of looking after the planet. Watch your children’s eyes light up with these easy eco-friendly gift ideas:

A stuffed, eco-friendly fox plushie
Organic Cotton Plush Toys are Safer for Babies Mouth

Organic Cotton Plush Toys

Like most of us reading this article, you can probably remember a prized teddy that was given to you as a child. Create the bond of a lifetime while keeping your little ones safe from chemicals with our gorgeous animal-themed organic cotton plush toys. These adorable teddies are free from pesticides and finishing products and come in sizes as large as 16”.

Mismatched Rainbow Socks

Solve the problem of missing socks once and for all with the best eco-friendly gifts for children (and their parents!): funky three- and five-packs of mismatched kids socks from the family-owned American company Solmate Socks! Complete your children’s eco-friendly gift ideas with soft organic cotton kids’ clothing that is as soft on the kids’ skin as it is gentle on the environment.

Bamboo soap dish
Skip the Plastic, A Bamboo Soap Dish Makes a Great Stocking Stuffer

Best Eco-Friendly Gifts For Everyone

Eco-friendly gift ideas extend beyond the immediate family to your wider circle of relatives, friends, and work colleagues as well. Our bath and spa accessories add ambiance and charm to any home with naturally flavored soy candles and tea lights, essential oil soaps, bamboo soap holders, and ergonomic bamboo hairbrushes and scrunchies. 

For a family that is expecting a new arrival or has recently had a baby, our organic cotton and hemp baby clothes are sure to be appreciated. Ideal for newborns’ sensitive skin, these adorable baby onesies, bibs, sleeping bags, and layette sets are provided in gender-specific and neutral colors and include sizes to fit babies from newborn to two years old.

The Perfect Gift

Is there someone who you think would enjoy shopping for the best eco-friendly gifts on our website but you’re not quite sure what they would like? Give the gift of choice with our site-wide gift card! Our eco-friendly gift card receipts are emailed to the email address of your choice and can be purchased in the recipient’s name—the perfect low emissions present that won’t be re-gifted!

Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas that Give and Give Again

When you shop the clothing, accessories, toys, and jewelry at Faerie’s Dance, we give 1% of the gross sale price to three well-known environmental charities:

  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Sierra Club Foundation
  • EarthWatch Institute

This is our gift to the planet for a peaceful and more prosperous world for everyone and continues to make a difference all year round.

If you’d like help with eco-friendly gift ideas for someone special or want to know if your order will arrive in time for the holidays, please contact us. We are happy to help! Shop our selection today to find the perfect gift for the loved ones in your life!

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Celebrating Earth Day – Meet Your Planet

This post was originally published on April 8, 2016 and updated on April 11, 2019

 

Earth Day is Every Day!

You hear this phrase all the time.  In one very important sense, it’s true.  We should be considering our impact on our planet home every day, with all of our decisions.  But is there any value in actually taking time out to celebrate a single “Earth Day” each year?  Yes, I believe there is.

Like any holiday, celebrations remind us of things that are important to us that we may have lost track of in our busy schedules.  Celebrations help us rejoice and come together as communities with shared values.  So I believe it’s well worth taking note on April 22nd of all the activities that effect our environment and having a little fun together in the process.

So, what should you do for Earth Day?

 

Visit a National Park
The single best thing you can do for the environmental is to get outside.  People fight to protect what they love, and they only love what they know.  So go introduce yourself to the beautiful places in your area.  To facilitate this, the National Park Service offers “Free Entrance” Day to all parks countrywide on April 20. 

You can also check your state for a state park near you.

See the source image
Bryce Canyon National Park

Volunteer
There are so many beach, trail and forest clean-up efforts centered around Earth Day.  This is a great time to chip in a few hours, get outside, and meet up with other caring folks.  While there’s no single website or link that covers every area, a quick web search should point you in the right direction for a local event.

For example “Oregon Earth Day Clean Up” produced these helpful links:
EarthShare Oregon Volunteer Opportunities
SOLVE Oregon’s Environmental Clean Up

If you’re feeling ambitious, Earth Day might just be the time to schedule your next vacation.  What about something adventurous with a side of helping the planet?  EarthWatch Institute has some absolutely amazing volunteer vacations.  Many of them are unique opportunities you might otherwise never get a chance to do, like their newest one counting wildlife and checking reforestation efforts in Brazil.

You can take action in other ways as well. Sign a pledge, plant a tree or find out how to reduce your footprint.

 

Donate
Chip in a few hard-earned bucks to an environmental charity.  There are so many great organizations, you can definitely find one that resonates with your values.  Choose one of the environmental charities that we support, or find one that resonates with you and your priorities.  Charity Navigator rates charities based on how they use funds that are collected.  It’s a great way to ensure the charity you give to is using your money wisely.  The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Guide also helps donors make more informed giving decisions.

 

See the source imageWatch and Learn
Stay informed on environmental issues.  There are a lot of ways to learn that are fun as well as informative.  For example, Portland holds an Eco Film Festival as does the University of Miami.  Even if you don’t live in Oregon or Florida, you can check out any of these environmental documentaries to learn more about our planet.

 

Vote for the Environment
The League of Conservation Voters is a non-partisan, political action group that “works to turn environmental values into national, state and local priorities.” Check them out to find out how your elected representatives are voting when it comes to the environment.

Contact your Senators and Congressperson to let them know you’re pro-environment.

 

Attend a Fair or Festival
Many conscious businesses, artists and organizations spend a lot of time and effort to set up earth day festivals.  So if you’re lucky enough to have one in your area, go check it out.  Learn, mingle and just enjoy all of the effort.

The best way to find a local event is to do a web search using your city name, check with your local paper or contact your city hall.

 

Whatever you decide to do, just taking a moment out of our busy schedules to notice all of the ways our every day decisions effect the long-term health of our planet will be amazing.   Please tell me what your plans are in the comments or other ideas you’d like to share.

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A Year of Green Living – Eco-Friendly Sunscreen

Ah sunscreen, white goop filled with unpronounceable ingredients slathered liberally over those of us with particularly pale skin.  The debate over eco-friendly sunscreen still rages, with some respectable websites recommending to cover up rather than use any sunscreen at all.  That’s all well and good, but wearing long pants, a long sleeve shirt and floppy hat to the beach can be a bit of a bummer.  And have you tried playing beach volleyball while wearing a full getup?  Yeah, not so much.

The Environmental Working Group, whose Skin Deep Cosmetics Database is a personal go-to of mine, has come up with a balanced approach to sunscreen.  They note that it should be a last resort, but don’t dismiss it out of hand.  If you’re going to be in the sun for a period of time and covering up is just not practical, sunscreen is still better than bare skin.  (Especially if you’re pasty white like I am and tend to burn to a crisp within minutes with peeling and blistering following shortly thereafter.)  My quest for the perfect sunscreen includes the following criteria:

  • broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection
  • at least SPF 50
  • paraben-free
  • low-toxicity rating
  • no animal testing
    thinksport

The problem is, while EWG rates the ingredients, some brands are just unpleasant to use.  Think Sport SPF 50 gets the lowest toxicity rating at just a 1 (on a scale of 1-10), and it is very effective.  I used it all last summer while marathon training, and I must admit, I didn’t burn once. However, it is a pasty mess that would remain white long after I’d rubbed it in and would get in my eyes as I started to sweat.  It had a very mild scent, though, so it might still be a good option for some folks.

badger

I’ve also used Badger Sunscreen Cream, which comes in an unscented version for those that prefer no scent.  Again, it has the lowest toxicity rating at just 1, and is very effective.  It only has 5 ingredients, which is pretty impressive, but I’ve only seen it in SPF 30, which isn’t high enough for me most of the time.

facefactor

Like my trial and error with Deodorants, sunscreen is one of those things that I’ve spent a lot of money on to get products that I haven’t really liked.  So this summer, I was out and about and needed to pick up some sunscreen without having my trusty EWG database with me.  I’ve used a number of products from Kiss My Face, so I figured that would be a good bet. I got both Kiss My Face Cool Sport SPF 50 air-powered spray and Face Factor 50.   The Cool Sport SPF 50 is the most convenient thing I’ve ever used!  It goes on super easy, no mess, no pasty white stuff.  It has a strong, but pleasant coconut scent.  It’s not really practical for the face, but the Face Factor turned out to be light and easily absorbed.  I absolutely fell in love!  I’d found my permanent sunscreen!

Unfortunately, once home, I learned that my newly beloved Sunscreens weren’t as safe and natural as I’d hoped.  Sigh.  The Cool Sport comes in at a whooping toxicity level 5, while the Face Factor rates a 3.  Kiss My Face has an air-spray version, Bare Naked Air Powered Body Mist, that rates a 3 toxicity with an SPF of 30 (which I have since purchased and likely equally well as the Cool Sport for limited time outdoor stints).

With the summer almost over, I’m probably done experimenting for this year.  How about you?  Have you found a light-weight, non-pasty, high SPF, low toxicity sunscreen that you just love?  Please share.  I’ll put it on my shopping list for next summer.

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Green Cleaning Products – A Year of Green Living Tip

Green cleaning products are fairly easy to find these days, and not just in specialty stores, but just about everywhere.  The biggest complaint I hear is that green products are more expensive than their every day (often toxic) counterparts.  So let’s start with some great, inexpensive, DIY cleaning options.
Cleaning with fruit acid
Limoneira just put out this round up of easy, inexpensive cleaning options using lemons. You can also use oranges or grapefruits in these recipes.  One caution, never use acidic fruits or cleaners on granite, marble or natural stone.
Cleaning with vinegar

Vinegar is an amazing product.  Not only does it clean and disinfect all around the house, but you can even use concentrated vinegar (which is not edible) as weed controller in your garden. Reader’s Digest came up with 95+ Household Uses for Vinegar. Again, never use vinegar, which is also acidic on granite, marble or natural stone.  Also, as an odd fact, pearls can dissolve in vinegar!  It takes a while, it’s not instant on contact.  Still, it’s a good idea to take off your jewelry or wear gloves when cleaning with vinegar.

The benefits of Baking Soda
Baking Soda is another inexpensive, miracle cleaner.  Good Housekeeping advocates 21 Cleaning Problems You Can Solve With Baking Soda.

Combinations
Most of the recipes listed combine several ingredients.  In general, you can mix and match the above products with simple soap like Dr Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap for extra cleaning power and add essential oils for fragrance.  Tea Tree Oil also has disinfecting properties.

Steel Wool
There are several brands that sell steel wool pads filled with cleaning agents.  Let’s face it, sometimes you need the strength of steel wool and elbow grease to clean burnt-on pans, ovens or other really tough stains.  But you don’t need to buy pre-fab steel wool at the grocery store.  Any hardware store will have medium grade steel wool that you can augment with your own cleaning agent.

Store Bought Green Cleaners

If you don’t have time to make your own, or your looking for something specific, like the elusive granite and marble cleaner, here are a few really good options that I’ve personally used and love. Earth Friendly Products Creamy Cleanser – When you need to really scrub down that kitchen or bathroom this scrubs without scratching.

Zum Frankincense and Myrrh Granite and Counter Cleaner – This has an intoxicating scent that I absolutely love.  But beyond the scent, it does an excellent job on my granite and quartz surfaces.  It has no acids, so it’s completely safe.  If this scent is too much for you in the kitchen, it also comes in several others.

Biokleen’s Bac-Out Bathroom Cleaner – This enzyme-based cleaner helps keep mold and mildew at bay.  It’s an easy spray-on and wipe or rinse off.  I tend to spray this in between deep cleanings for a quick clean.  Leave it on for a few minutes before you wipe it, rinse it or flush it to allow the enzymes to work.

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Greening Your Laundry: A Year of Green Living Tip

If you’re reading this blog, you probably already know about the harsh chemicals and detergents in mainstream cleaning products.  Chlorine bleach and ammonia are the most well known, but the list is long and filled with toxins particularly hard on the lungs.  Happily, there are a lot of resources already available to find eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaners.  The Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning is among the best.  Additionally, a few eco-friendly brands have moved beyond the health food store and into the mainstream.  Big grocery and department store chains are now carrying brands like Biokleen and Seventh Generation.

biokleen laundry liquid

With all this information already out there, I thought I’d bring you some personal tips on cleaner effectiveness (it’s great that it’s eco, but does it actually work?), as well as a few tricks I’ve put together over the years.

This week we’ll tackle Laundry.

Biokleen Sport Liquid Laundry detergent is my personal favorite.  While it’s designed to get sweat smells out of sport clothing, I end up using it for everything.  It makes all my clothes smell great and cleans very well.  It’s also reasonably priced compared to some other natural brands.

Eucalan delicate wash

Eucalan No Rinse Delicate Wash, which we sell at FaeriesDance.com, is absolutely
amazing for hand or gentle machine washing delicates.  The Jasmine scent is intoxicating. It smells so good, I’ve tried using it for the regular wash, but it just gets overwhelmed by the rinse cycle.  Though I have added a capful to the fabric softener tray when I’m out of lavender bags.

Use lavender bags in the dryer instead of dryer sheets and fabric softener.  This is a great tip that can be very cheap if you take a few minutes to put them together yourself.

muslin lavender dryer bags
  1. Buy a bulk lot of small, cotton muslin drawstring bags.  You can get them at craft stores or on eBay.
  2. Buy a large bag of bulk lavender flowers, again on eBay or Amazon or at a craft store or apothecary.
  3. Fill the muslin bag with lavender flowers until it’s stuffed.
  4. Add a cotton ball at the top to avoid having any spill out.
  5. Make a double knot at the top.

That’s it!  Add one lavender bag to the dryer and your clothes will come out smelling awesome!  Each bag lasts about 4-5 loads in the dryer, though the first one is always the strongest.  I try to put a new one in with my sheets because I love the strong lavender scent on the sheets when I go to bed.

You can also untie your knot and reuse the muslin bag over and over again.  Use the remnant lavender flowers in craft projects, your composter or sprinkle them directly on the lawn.  There’s no reason to throw them away.

Oxygen Bleach
There are a number of products out today that use a hydrogen peroxide base bleaching agent to clean and brighten without the use of chlorine.  I have personally tried Earth Friendly Products Oxo Bright and Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus.  I have not noticed a significant difference between the two brands, and generally buy the cheapest.

oxo brite

Advantages of oxygen bleach:

  • Brightens whites
  • Completely safe and non-toxic
  • Readily available in stores, and inexpensive

Disadvantages of oxygen bleach:

  • Doesn’t seem to work well in cold water washes
  • Requires a bit of effort as a stain remover

As a stain remover for white clothes, just putting oxygen bleach in the machine doesn’t seem to make much of a difference.  For the best results, make a paste with your powdered oxygen bleach and hot water.  Gently rub your paste directly onto your stain.  Let it sit for a few minutes before putting the item in the wash to allow it to really soak in.

Finally, the very best thing you can do to green your laundry is to do it less.  Laundry uses a lot of water and energy.  Here are a few guidelines.

  • While you should wash undergarments after every wash, jeans and sweatshirts can often be worn a few times before washing.
  • Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. (I wash almost everything in cold except whites and workout/running clothes.)
  • Do laundry at night and on weekends when power usage tends to be lower.
  • Hang dry clothes if you can.
  • If you live in a rainy area or just don’t have the time to hang dry, set your dryer to a low heat setting to save energy and make sure the lint screen is cleaned after each dry, as that can also effect drying time.
  • If you’re in the market for a new washer, check the energy star rating and choose one that is both energy and water efficient.  Most front-load washers use much less water than top-load varieties.
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A Year of Green Living – Is a Home Energy Audit Worth it?

On Wednesday, I received a $362 check (woohoo!) from the Energy Trust of Oregon.  This isn’t the first check I’ve received, but it’s been the biggest so far.  And why did they grace me with this new found money?  For insulating my attic.  The 1957 home I purchased in 2012 still had its original, now much compacted, insulation and was leaking heat.  This October, I finally upgraded to R38 insulation before another winter set in.

insulation

The surprising part of completing this project is how the living room “cold zone” almost instantly became the same temperature as the rest of the house.  Even better, my heating bills are down 25% this winter over last!  I hadn’t honestly believed it would make that much of a difference.  And while it’s unseasonable warm right now, we had a good snow and freeze early in January that I’ve already seen the bill for.

While conscious consumerism is an essential part of green living, we have to look well beyond shopping to make our largest impacts.  So to answer my own question; Yes, getting a Home Energy Audit is well worth the time and money.  Here’s a good intro video, though each state handles them a little differently.

In my case, I didn’t have the full-blown audit like the one shown, but I did have an inspector point out areas of concern.  Since I was already doing some renovations, I had my contractor make suggestions and then compared the two to determine which areas would have the most impact.  In addition to the attic insulation refund, I was able to take advantage of a rebate on an Energy Star refrigerator and a tax credit for upgrading to an energy efficient water heater.

If you’re not quite ready to have someone do something as extensive as in the video, you can also try Energy Star’s self-assessment test.  If it looks like you can make some improvements, whether from windows, appliances, heating and air-condition, insulation or elsewhere, there’s a good chance you can get some financial help for it.  Here’s a list of incentive programs by state

This is a great green step that not only has environmental impacts, but can also be a good financial investment for the long haul.

As a side note, we steered away from compact florescent light bulbs in favor of the more expensive, longer lasting, and much greener LED bulbs.  This Light Bulb Showdown has LEDs winning on price alone, with other benefits like no heavy metals in LEDs, being icing on the cake.

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Pretty without the Poisons: A Year of Green Living Makeup Review

I was at first reluctant to do a post on makeup, because when it comes to my face, I’m usually au naturel.  Like most women, I definitely look better with makeup.  So it dawned on me at a young age that if I wore make-up everyday, I’d look “bad” on relaxed, no makeup days.  Alternatively, if people were used to seeing my “normal” face, then when I got dressed up, the make-up would really add a punch of glamour.  Now at 50 my glamour days are fewer and farther in between.  The occasional wedding, holiday or upscale play will bring out the makeup a few times a year.

Two things made me decide to post this short roundup.  First, most makeup has been shown to contain toxic heavy metals as well as a host of other toxins and carcinogens.  I find that a little crazy.  Even if you discount the tiny amounts absorbed through your skin, most of us eat a little lipstick.  Second, and the one that tipped the scales for me, I recently read in Veg News Magazine about an organic, plant-based, edible makeup line by Gwyneth Paltrow!  Full disclosure, I haven’t tried this brand new line, Juice Beauty, but it’s now on my list and I was really excited to share it.  Please leave a comment if you’ve tried it yourself.

If you’re already using a line of makeup that you love, you can check the ingredients in the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database. It’s quite comprehensive.

natural mascara

In the meantime, here is my personal very short list of cleaner, more sustainable makeup brands.

Honeybee Gardens – I particularly like their Truly Natural Mascara.

nail polish remover

No Miss Nail Polish – I started on this brand quite a while ago and particularly like their Almost Natural Polish Remover.  Several companies have come out with even cleaner polish formulations (like Honeybee Gardens above), but I paint my nails so rarely that I haven’t needed new polish in forever.

makeup foundation

W3ll People – A comprehensive organic makeup line that can be a one-stop shop for everything you need.  I personally like their powder foundations and blushes.

I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention Dr Hauschka Cosmetics.  When I was initially doing research on cosmetics, this brand came up again and again as high quality with good ingredients.  Alas, my minimalist cosmetics approach never lead me to try it.  If you have, please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Hopefully this will provide a good starting point if you’re just looking into eco-friendly, non-toxic cosmetics.

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