Love love love Soapwalla!  Rachel Winard, company owner and beauty product chef kindly sent us free samples of the following products:  Deodorant Cream, Almond Luxe Body Polish and Eucalyptus Organic Soap Bar so we put them to the test, and here’s what we think.

Soapwalla’s Deodorant Cream is fantastic. Do you know how hard it is to find an organic deodorant that really works, and isn’t prohibitively expensive? Well, this one fits the bill. It feels and smells great, and so will you! Since it’s handmade and filled with organic ingredients, of course it’s going to cost more than any of the mass-produced, conventional brands filled with not-so-body friendly ingredients. I just ordered some and can’t wait to receive it. A little is all you need…(2 oz, $10).

The Almond Body Polish is also highly concentrated, so you can use it sparingly. The sweet scent of organic almond oil is powerful and refreshing each time you open the jar. There’s a hint of cardamom and organic raw sugar in the mix…free of sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens or harsh, synthetic ingredients. Exfoliating is one of the keys to keeping skin fresh and smooth; I thoroughly enjoyed treating my body to this delicious concoction; (8 oz, $35).

Like the entire Soapwalla line, the Eucalyptus Organic Soap Bar is vegan, and long-lasting. This bar actually feels sleek and clean, the texture is amazing, and it leaves no soapy residue. The Eucalyptus oil has antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic qualities, while the Shea butter penetrates skin and moisturizes.  You’ll feel like a brand new clean machine. And hey, another perk — soap bars are more planet friendly than liquid soap; (4 oz, $7.50)

Soapwalla is created in the kitchen of Brooklyn-based, Rachel Winard (at right) …when she’s neither at the sink nor post office, she can be found performing original violin compositions around New York City, maintaining a daily ashtanga yoga practice or hanging upside down on a trapeze!

The story behind Soapwalla Kitchen is unique so I asked owner Rachel Winard to share a little bit with us…

AC:  Rachel, how are your products an expression of your lifestyle?
Soapwalla was born directly from my lifestyle choices, specifically my intention to treat lupus (an inflammatory autoimmune illness) with natural, homeopathic remedies. I also firmly believe that we must treat our skin with the same kind of respect and diligence that we do our other systems. If we wouldn’t put something in our bodies, we shouldn’t be putting it *on* our bodies either.

AC:  What’s the greatest challenge in running your business?
Time management! Because I am a one-woman business, I’m the chef, IT person, administrator, publicist, bookkeeper, and shipper. As a result, there are always six thousand things vying for my attention. I’m working on carving out small spaces of time that are just mine.

Sometimes the shape of the building lot dictates the shape of a home. This cool looking site-built home, designed by California-based Office of Mobile Design, is a manifestation of OMD’s SwellHouse design. The prefab’s construction features a modular grid of exposed steel columns and beams that create 3,130 sf of graciously open live-work space.

The SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) system of prefabricated wall and roof panels provides this hacienda with modular structural stability, plus thermal and acoustic insulation. The SIP panels were assembled remotely, trucked to the site, and set in place manually.

This home is separated into two buildings – the main house, and a garage with a second floor recording studio. The two structures frame a courtyard. Two existing mature palm trees, and the small lot’s setbacks determined the placement of the structures.

Ceilings are high and the steel ‘I’ beams are exposed on the interior. The home’s rectangular shape and framing allow for plenty of sliding glass. A radiant tube heat system warms the concrete floor at the first floor.

Hey, our founder and publisher, Maureen O’Connor had the pleasure of being interviewed by Women Entrepreneur’s sustainability maven, Kimberly B. Keilbach.

Who knew M was a closet hippie?

more @ Eco Blogger Puts New Spin on Buying Green.

Despite how good it tastes when you add a spoonful of sugar or artificial sweetener to a cup of coffee or tea, there are negative health effects. Lucky for you and your sweet tooth, there are healthy (and sweeter) alternatives to add some sweetness to your life. Both Raw Honey and Agave provide sweetness and great taste.

Raw Honey Benefits

• Honey is much sweeter than table sugar, as well as healthier
• Provides an energy boost (without a sugar crash)
• Known to aid in relieving sore throats
• Honey is naturally antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and kills bacteria – put it on chapped lips or cuts and burns
• Can aid in relieving diarrhea
• Has natural calming properties (pair it with chamomile tea)
• Antioxidant (who doesn’t love antioxidants?)
• Also known to help curb high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes
• Credits: WHFoods, Bee Pollen Buzz, Global Healing Center

Agave Nectar Benefits

• Lower glycemic index than other sweeteners
• Contains anti-inflammatory properties
• Boosts immune system



• Sweeter than sugar (by approximately 3 times)
• Vegan
• Naturally anti-bacterial (similar to raw honey)
• Credits: All About Agave, She Knows

Try making limeade with raw honey or agave!

• 1 cup lime juice (organic and locally grown)
• 5 cups water
• ¼ cup raw honey or agave (or to taste to preferred sweetness)
• let chill and serve over ice!

• U.S. Sees Progress in Easing Climate Row with China - reuters
• It may be out of the news cycle, but it’s still down there. Deep-Water Dive Reveals Spilled Oil on Gulf Floor – npr
• Treehugger…Pa. Woman Rescued from Pickup Truck Stuck in Tree – myway
• Probably not a solution for us…Can Cacti ‘Escape’ Underground in High Temperatures? How Certain Species Will Potentially Handle Global Warming – sciencedaily
• Will Alien Life be Revealed at a Michigan Ramada Inn? – aol news
• Things could be heating up…Worst-Case Study: 7.2 F Warmer by 2060′s – msnbc
• American Indian Sailed to Europe With Vikings? – natgeo

photo credit: reuters

• No need to pollute your body and the air when you spiff up your nails…Kai House has you covered. Receive half off through Dec 1, via Grouponicus.
• No Minimum Order, receive free standard shipping today only, use coupon code GIFT75 at checkout @ coolibar.com – shop their Sale Gifts; (pictured above:  bamboo fingerless gloves + scarf set).

• Enter code thanks30 thru today and receive 30% off plus free shipping @ kaightshop.com; (above left – cute Letter Necklace regularly $48).
• On orders of $50 or more, receive 15% off plus free shipping today only @ maggiesorganics.com – use coupon code NOVFIFTEEN at checkout…socks, toys, leggings, wraps and more!

Love this illustration – it provides an opportunity to make any number of statements.  A few possible captions:

• “I guess his prayers weren’t answered…”
• “Man, I’ve been kneeling here a long time…”
• “Damn, these airport security checks are getting ridiculous…”
• “Hope springs eternal!”
• “Anybody up there?”
• “Just let me get through the holidays”

Printed with sea blue ink on an organic cotton (oatmeal-colored) tee.  The print is a reproduction from an 18th century anatomical illustration.

$44 @ james anthony apparel’s Supermarket web store

Victoria Klein, author of 48 Things to Know about Sustainability, kicks off her 3-week virtual book tour today, and we’re delighted to welcome her here on her first stop. After reading the book, writing the review and interviewing the author … here’s the lowdown:

Book Review
48 Things to Know about Sustainable Living — that’s a lot of good green info…Klein’s back to basics approach to greening one’s routine is easy to follow and well written. A powerful, compact package – it’s a handy, useful guide – perfect for anyone looking for a comprehensive introduction to green.

In an easy, breezy manner, author Klein defines the Three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and covers just about every aspect of our lives — clothing, food, shelter, investing, higher education, conducting business, rearing children, or tending to home and garden — an essential read for today’s enlightened consumer.

As an author and blogger focused on ecofriendly issues, Klein offers a wealth of valuable insights and experiences to follow and share. After reading this, you’ll want to follow and share them as well.

Interview with Klein

AC: Victoria, who do you see as your audience?Folks that are ready to make some changes but don’t know where to start. The book isn’t meant to convince anyone that sustainable living is the way to go – there are hundreds of great books on that topic already. 48 Things is for folks that are curious about what they can do to help the planet in any and every aspect of their lives.

AC: Is there anything green in the actual production of the book itself?
I’m sad to say, no. The book is published by a small publisher and, being a first-time author, I didn’t have much clout to argue for FSC-certified or post-consumer recycled paper and water-based inks. On the plus side, the book is only 6.5” x 5.5”, so less paper and ink was needed due to its smaller size.

How long did it take you to put this book together?
Almost 4 months. The first step was selecting what to include & arranging the table of contents. After its approval, I began research & writing, covering 2 tips a day every weekday until the book was finished. Following a week of editing everything, I submitted the final manuscript for publisher’s approval.

Did you find that your background as an environmental blogger/writer facilitated getting it done quicker or more easily?
Absolutely! Much of the facts and information I wanted to include was much easier to find because I knew right where to look. The difficulty was simply assembling all of the info into one useful, straightforward book that would actually help people.

Final Question – where do you think Green as a Movement is headed — politically and economically?
Oh wow – I could talk about that for months. I personally think sustainable living is going to continue to grow, both in regular consumer habits & governmental actions. There will always be resistance, but science continues to prove the importance of maintaining the health of our environment, and the fact that, as a population, we are doing the exact opposite. The movement will continue to grow; its logic is sound & the benefits are undeniable.

AC: We wish you much continued success. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your virtual book tour!

Post-script:  Priced at only $9.99, find @ victoriaklein.net

• Bad climate for climate change talks…UN Climate Talks Low on Expectations – bbc
• Cyber Monday Deals: Worth Waiting For? – cs monitor
• Could the faded memories of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island have something to do with this…Special Report: Nuclear’s Lost Generation – reuters
• Interesting…Methane-Powered Laptops? Scientists Unveil Tiny Methane Fuel Cells – sciencedaily
• Model for the U.S.? What to do if you don’t have oil and your neighbors all do…Israel’s Clean-Tech Boom Draws a New Green Line – npr