All Natural Paraben-Free Lipstick

Bare Escentuals All-Natural Lipsticks

I know I just touted their paraben-free mascaras, but I just have to give a shout out once again to Bare Escentuals. Their all-natural, paraben-free lipsticks are just to die for. They literally feel like cream, they stay on for hours, and the color choices are practically endless. There are a lot of great paraben-free lipsticks out there, but not all of them are 100% natural. Man, this nation-wide company is doing something right! With its mineral base, exotic oils, natural waxes and conditioning plant extracts - the Bare Escentuals lipsticks feel more like a spa treatment than a beauty enhancer.

If you haven't kicked your expensive perfume-tasting, phthalate-riddled, toxic department store lipstick addiction yet -  Bare Escentuals may just be the lipstick that will take you to the green side once and for all.

Available in local stores or online at bareEscentuals.com

My Go-To Shade: Ripe Fig

How to Disinfect a Cutting Board Naturally

Cutting boards are breeding grounds for bacteria - especially boards that are used to cut raw meat. With plastic cutting boards made of polypropylene, harsh chemicals can be used to sanitize the surface, which is fine unless  (a) you don't want harsh chemicals absorbing into the material you use to prepare your family's meals and (b) you mind the inevitable leaching of toxic chemicals into your family's food from the scratched (and rescratched) plastic surface. Should you care about these things - then wood is your only true option. And wood is a sponge for bacteria. Since wood should never be treated with chemicals or cleaned in a dishwasher, a natural solution is your only option: salt and vinegar.
CLEANING STEPS:
1) Right after cutting meat, rinse the board with hot water.
2) Sprinkle one (1) tablespoon of table salt across the wet cutting surface.
3) Massage the salt into the board for 30 seconds then rinse.
4) Pour 1/4 cup of distilled vinegar across the board, and then rinse with hot water.

Green Resolutions for the New Year

I don't make New Year's Resoultions anymore that pertain to losing weight or getting better organized - but I do make Green Resolutions;  promises to myself to do better at maintaining my health, the health of my family, and the health of our shared planet. Here are my resolutions for this year:

• Turn off all WIFI at home when computers are not in use
• Only talk on my cell phone with a wired headset (or on speaker phone)
• Banish cordless phones in our home
• Only replace items in our home with items that are used and off-gassed or new and eco-friendly
• Stop using disposable produce bags at the grocery store and remember to bring my cotton bags
• Shop more in bulk - and always bring my own containers or bags
• Buy butter that comes from grass-fed cows only
• Meatless meals twice a week and only 1 serving of meat all other days
• Avoid soy and soy lecithen in all products - with the exception of non-GMO organic edamame
• Bike to school with my kids once a week
• Take my kids to school on the City Bus once a week - and then walk or jog home
• Don't drive at all one day a week
• Start composting - even though we live in a townhouse
• Take my kids hiking and camping
• Plant a mobil veggie garden on our patio
• Buy less, consume less, share more

What are your Green Resolutions? Please COMMENT and share!

Best Stainless Steel Lunch and Snack Containers

LunchBots Stainless Steel Lunch Containers

I'm proud to say I have never used a plastic container for my children's school lunches. I won't even buy those adorable and incredibly functional bento lunch boxes because the insides are always plastic, plastic, plastic. I use only stainless steel containers when I pack my girls' lunches - so I've had the opportunity to try just about every brand on the market. My fav by far are the LunchBots. LunchBots are incredibly well made, sturdy and 100% stainless - including the lid. The Duo and Pico models are great because the divider allows you to pack multiple items in one container. I have bought several stainless lunch containers (made by popular companies) that have plastic tops, but the plastic tops all eventually tear or breakdown. Yes, you'll pay a few dollars more for a LunchBot - but when your kindergarten is packing that same container on her first day of middle school, you'll be thanking yourself.

Visit LunchBots.com today to see all their styles - or buy now on Amazon.com.