GREEN EVENT: Beyond Green Jobs - A Lecture by Van Jones

For immediate release: September 15, 2010
Media contact: Jennifer Loessy, jloessy@princeton.edu, (609) 258-3216

Former White House advisor Van Jones will speak at Princeton, Sept. 27

Former White House advisor Van Jones will give a lecture titled "Beyond Green Jobs: The Next American Economy and The Politics of Hope" at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, in McCosh Hall, Room 50, on the Princeton University campus. The talk is free and open to the public.

Jones holds a joint appointment at Princeton as a distinguished visiting fellow in the Center for African American Studies and as a visiting lecturer in the Program in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

"We live in a time of both ecological and economic crisis; jobs prospects are going down and global temperatures are going up. The economy that failed us was characterized by consumption, excessive credit and ecological destruction," Jones said. "The next American economy should be characterized by production, thrift and ecological restoration. But can our political system meet the challenge of helping America transition to a green economy? Or will a politics of fear ultimately derail the politics of hope?"

Jones will discuss the prospects for putting America back to work -- and pulling America back together -- by making clean energy innovation the cornerstone for our national renewal.

An expert in human rights and the clean-energy economy, Jones is a co-founder of three non-profit organizations: the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change and Green For All. He also is the author of the book "The Green-Collar Economy." He served as the green jobs advisor in the White House in 2009.

Jones currently is a senior fellow at the Center For American Progress and a senior policy advisor at Green For All.

For information regarding this event, please contact Jennifer Loessy at the Center for African American Studies at jloessy@princeton.edu or (609) 258-3216.

*Media interested in attending the lecture must contact Jennifer Loessy at the Center for African American Studies by emailing jloessy@princeton.edu no later than 5 p.m. Sept. 23.

GREEN EATS: Kale the Super Greens

I've been eating kale since I was a kid, but it wasn't until after college when I embarked on a vegetarian diet that I realized the "power" of kale. The nutritional value of kale is what makes it a super green. Kale greens are loaded with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, fiber, Potassium, Calcium and other necessary minerals. Not everyone likes to or knows how to prepare kale. It's one of the heartier greens that doesn't soften up quickly like spinach, during cooking. For years I washed my bunches of "curly" kale and just dropped them in a pot of water, along with onions and garlic powder. Now I like to "activate" the good taste and nutrition of the greens by either eating them raw (along with chopped onions, carrots and garlic) or sauteeing them lightly. Tonight, my greens of choice for dinner was lacinto kale. Lacinto kale, also known as "dinosaur" kale has a more bumby, textured leaf and is usually a deeper, darker green than curly kale.

Here is a simple, yet yummy recipe for lacinto kale that I prepared tonight.

Luscious Lacinto Kale
Makes 1-2 servings

5 lacinto kale leaves (washed)
1/4 cup water
1 tbs apple cider vinegar ( I use Braggs)
1 garlic clove
1 tsp EV olive oil
1 tsp Mrs. Dash table blend (or other unsalted seasoning blend)

Wash and rinse lacinto kale leaves. Cut the stems. Chiffonade your kale greens (stack the leaves, roll them up, then cut them into long, thin strips). Place greens in a skillet on stovetop. Add 1/4 cup water followed by 1 tbs apple cider vinegar. Chop 1 garlic clove and sprinkle over greens. Season greens with Mrs. Dash table blend or other unsalted seasoning blend. Turn stove on to low. Cook greens on low heat. As your greens begin to cook, add 1 tsp olive oil (if you prefer, you can add the oil after the greens have cooked). With your cooking utensil, mix and saute greens for 3-4 minutes. Do not overcook. Greens should still have a slight crunchiness, yet be well immersed in the apple cider, olive oil and water mix. Serve warm. Enjoy!

GREEN BODY: De-bug naturally with chemical free repellant

Want to stay bug-free while basking in the sun and participating in your favorite outdoor activities? Here are several products that may keep the bug bites away without all of the harsh chemicals:

Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellant is a spray that combines Rosemary, Lemongrass, and Citronella oils.

BiteBlocker® Herbal Insect Repellent Spray formula protects against bites from mosquitoes and black flies.

Terrain Herbal Armor Natural Insect Repellent Pump Spray is biodegradable, cruelty - free, and contains no petrochemicals or animal byproducts.

Quit Bugging Me Insect Repellant Spray made by Jason Natural Products is DEET, PABA and paraben free and contains natural oils to repel bugs.

Kiss My Face Obsessively Natural SwyFlotter Tick & Insect Repellent with Lemon Eucalyptus is DEET and paraben free and also safe for kids. The product contains citronella, pennyroyal and tansy.

GREEN EATS: Raw Beet Salad

I love beets because they have a sweet, earthy taste. I like to buy them in bunches. You can store them for weeks in your refrigerator and they won't go bad. This is one of the veggies that can stain your hands a bit, but the nutrients you'll get from eating them is well worth it! Here's a great recipe!

RECYLE: What to do with those old cell phones and computers

Have you ever wondered how you should *responsibly* recycle old, broken and otherwise unwanted cell phones, printers, computers, and other electronics? I've been waiting to find the nearest place to drop off such items. Over the years I've accumulated four cell phones that I no longer use, and yes I've been saving them for the day that I finally recycle them. Not to mention, the old printer I have that no longer works, and tons of old CDs, DVDs and a broken digital camera. My precious greenies, there's hope for those of us who continue to save these old items, resulting in unneccessary clutter in our homes. It's time to do the right (green) thing and recyle them!

If you're in the NYC area, you can drop off the above items for recycling on July 10th at the Electronics Recyling Event at TekServe. If you live in a different area, by all means, go online search "recycling cell phones and computers" for the nearest drop off point.

GREEN BEAUTY: PeaceKeeper Yum Glazes & Lip Balm

PeaceKeeper's new YUM Glazes are USDA-certified 95% organic, making them FOOD-GRADE. Made with real organic fruit flavors (Citrus, Raspberry, Strawberry, and Blueberry), they create a delicious fruity, glossy glaze on your lips--perfect for wearing over lipstick for a little extra shine or on their own for a gorgeous fresh-faced look!

Mega Balms are almost double the size of PeaceKeeper regular balms (0.25 oz versus our regular 0.15)! They are made with organic flavors such as Spearmint, Chocolate, RoseBerry and organic stevia, an all-natural, long-lasting sweetener from the and Stevia plant that’s an amazing sugar substitute. They’re extra-tasty and extra-eco-friendly, and guaranteed to keep your lips moist, smooth, and nurtured—even in the Summer heat!

GREEN EATS: Top Green Eating Tips From *Planet Green*

Top Green Eating Tips

1. Indulge in the Big O
   When you eat organic, don’t just picture the healthy food you are putting in your body, picture the healthy ecosystems which produced that food, the workers who are safer from chemicals, the land, water, and air that is being protected, and the wildlife that is being allowed to thrive. Organic vegetables, fruits, grains, juice, dairy, eggs, and meat (and don’t forget the organic wine and beer), are grown and processed in ways that support healthy people and a healthy planet. (While you may not be able to find or afford organic options for everything you need, certain fruits and vegetables are more pesticidy than others.) For details on the meaning of organic, see the USDA Organics homepage.
   
   
2. Feast on Fair Trade fare
   Fair trade certified food ensures a proper wage and working conditions for those who harvest and handle it. But fair trade is green for the environment as well. TransFair, the only fair trade certifier in the U.S., has strong environmental standards built into its certification process that protect watersheds and virgin forests, help prevent erosion, promote natural soil fertility and water conservation, and prohibit GMOs and many synthetic chemicals. TransFair claims that their environmental standards are the most stringent in the industry, second only to USDA organic certification.
   
   
3. Go local
   Buying seasonal, local food is a boon for the environment for a lot of reasons. Since most food travels many miles to reach your table (1,500 miles, on average), locally sourced food cuts back on the climate-change impacts of transportation. Local food also generally uses less packaging, is fresher and tastier, and comes in more varieties. It also supports small local growers and lets them get more for their produce by not having to spend so much on packing, processing, refrigeration, marketing, and shipping. The best way to track down local food is at farmers markets or through community supported agriculture (CSA), which often offer home delivery.
   
   
4. Don’t follow the pack
   Instead of buying foods that come in extensive packaging (most of which is petroleum-based plastics) look for unpackaged or minimally packaged foods, experiment with bringing your own containers and buying in bulk, or pick brands that use bio-based plastic packing. And of course try and recycle or reuse any packaging you end up with. [Trader Joe, we love you but it’s a packaging nightmare in there]
   
   
5. Compost the leftovers
   Greening your meals isn’t just about the food that winds up on the plate—it’s the entire process, the whole lifecycle shebang. Composting leftovers will ease the burden on the landfill, give you great soil, and keep your kitchen waste basket from smelling. Apartment dwellers and yardless wonders can do it too! And yes, a composting toilet can be part of the miraculous cycle as well. (see below for more resources)
   
   
6. Grow your own
   In the garden, in the greenhouse, in the window box, or something fancier. Even urbanites can get quite a bit of good eats from not much space.
   
   
7. To and from
   Just as buying locally grown food cuts on “miles per calorie,” buying from local sellers cuts back on emissions, fuel consumption, and unnecessary traffic.
   
   
8. Just enough
   Put some extra planning into the amount of food you cook will cut back on waste. If it’s something that will spoil quickly, try to avoid making more than you or your family can eat. If you’ve got extra, make a friend happy with a home cooked surprise. If it’s a bigger affair, give the leftovers to those who may need it more.
   
   
9. Eat it Raw
   Many people swear by the benefits of eating raw. Whatever the health advantages may be, preparing raw food consumes less energy and because raw food is usually fresh by definition, it is more likely to be locally grown.
   
   
10. Ease up on the meat
    Meat is the most resource-intensive food on the table and eating less of it can be the single most green move a person makes. Producing meat requires huge amounts of water, grain, land, and other inputs including hormones and antibiotics, and leads to pollution of soil, air, and water. A pound of beef requires around 12,000 gallons of water to produce, compared to 60 gallons for a pound of potatoes. If you’re a meat eater, for starters, try cutting out a serving of meat each week. Going vegetarian or vegan is a profoundly meaningful environmental choice, and it’s done wonders for Chris Martin and Prince.

GREEN EVENT: 7/29 Sustainable Fashion and Textiles Workshop

THE SUSTAINABLE FASHION AND TEXTILES WORKSHOP

Thursday, July 29, 2010 from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM (ET)

New York, NY

O U R P U R P O S E

Drive sustainability in fashion

H A V E Y O U H E A R D

More than 8,000 chemicals are used to make your clothing

Almost 70% of clothing workers worldwide are women

US consumers spent $500 billion on sustainable products in 2008

25% of the world's pesticides are used to grow non-organic cotton

Today America is the largest exporter of cotton in the world

W A N T T O K N O W M O R E

The Sustainable Fashion & Textile workshops are curated, easy to understand and interactive presentations on sustainability. Held nationwide in creative settings such as the Pratt Institute, the workshops engage audiences in the important facts about sustainable fashion and textiles to drive positive change in the industry.

E V E N T F E E D B A C K

"I thought that the event was great, very enlightening."

"The workshop was eye-opening."

"The talk we all had was informative and exciting."

D U R IN G T H E E V E N T Y O U R E C E I V E

In-depth review of current practices and innovations

Clarity around the various sustainability claims being made by companies

Resources to take home and learn more about sustainable fashion

Understanding of new career opportunities and personal development

S C H E D U L E

5:30 - 6:00 = Kick Off and Networking

6:00 - 6:45 = The Current State of Fashion

6:45 - 7:00 = Your Questions

7:00 - 7:45 = Innovations and Opportunities

7:45 - 8:00 = Your Questions

Tickets will move fast - so don't delay!

A special thanks to the Pratt Design Incubator

The Pratt Design Incubator for Sustainable Innovation is a vibrant and energetic group of creative professionals working to link sustainability to enterprise. It provides a place for designers, artists and architects to actively participate in world changing projects and become a part of a growing network of people who share a common belief – that economic sustainability must also account for our world’s environmental and social well being.

GREEN REVIEW: The Healing Patch Cookbook

I had the pleasure of interviewing Julie Hofenberg and Sarah Woodward yesterday on my talk radio show Global Vision Coaches and Healing Therapies. They are the authors of the new cookbook, The Healing Patch Cookbook. I was excited to receive this book in the mail because I love trying out new recipes and gaining more knowledge about natural living, including raw and vegan food recipes. Here is my review of the cookbook!

The Healing Patch Cookbook
Healing Patch Publishing
$14.99
133 pages
*****************************
The Healing Patch Cookbook provides easy to follow vegan and raw food recipes, as well as important information on transitioning from a heavier, meat eating, diet. The authors have studied natural health for several years and cite positive changes in their own health and appearance as a result of eating raw and vegan foods. The authors advise you to listen to what your body needs and take simple steps to incorporating natural foods into your diet. The recipes in this book are appealing to the eye as well as the taste buds. You can start your day off with a Coconot Protein Shake (p. 52) or the Lean Green Smoothie (p. 53). Each of these smoothie recipes feature fresh fruit ingredients such as coconut and banana, as well as natural sweeteners like raw honey and optional nutritional additions such as green superfood powder. If you love dips and Mexican inspired dishes like I do, you'll enjoy the heavenly recipes for Holy Guacamole (p.64) and the Taco Bowls (p. 108). Those of you who love a hearty, power packed vegetarian meal will enjoy recipes for Stuffed Mushrooms (p.97) and Pesto Pasta (p.102). I enjoy green salads for lunch or dinner, and this cookbook has several recipes for them. The Asparagus Cucumber Salad (p.70) gives you the refreshing kick of cucumbers and chives, the Fresh Fennel Salad (p. 72) combines green herbs with sweetness from whole raspberries. The Superfood Salad (p. 76) is a raw salad with plenty of the colorful antioxidants your body needs. I look forward to trying all of the recipes in this cookbook over the next few months.

Visit your neighborhood food coop, farmer's market or health food store to stock up on plenty of fresh ingredients, herbs and seasonings to make these wonderful dishes right in your kitchen!

Yours in a sea of green,


DuEwa Frazier

GREEN EATS: Power Berry Purple Smoothie

1 1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries
1 cup frozen organic strawberries
1 ripe organic bannana
2 cups of soy or rice milk (you can also use juice or almond milk)
2 tbs of flavored soy powder (such as Spirutein or Source of Life)
1 tsp of powdered nutmeg
1/2 to 1 cup (to taste) of raw honey or raw agave nectar

Makes 4 - 6 servings

I love this drink! This drink is smooth, velvety, packed with vitamins and nutrients and it's sweet! This smoothie can give you extra energy and stave off cravings in between meals. It is a great drink in the morning or after dinner.

For this recipe you will need a blender as well as the above ingredients. If you would rather use ice and fresh fruit instead of frozen fruit, that is fine. I prefer not to have the extra water content of the ice. The fruit and soy or rice milk adds enough liquid and the frozen fruit adds flavor and the desired consistency. Squeeze or spoon your honey or agave into the blender. I like to put the sweetener on the bottom of the blender first, because it is close to the blade and the blade will evenly distribute it through the rest of the ingredients for an even taste.

Add all of the ingredients into the blender. You may have to stir it once or twice to prevent the fruit from clumping. Blend until smooth and creamy. If it's too thick for you, you can always add a little more soy or rice milk. When finished, pour into glasses - garnish with a lime wedge, mint leaves, or a strawberry.


Yours in a sea of green,


DuEwa Frazier

GREEN ENERGY: Go out, save energy in your home

Here are the top 10 places you can go to, during the summer heat, and save the energy in your home. When you're at home during the day, you have to use your fans, your air conditioner, your computer, etc. This one is for those of you who work at home, or are off of work during the summer.

I'm going to do this David Letterman style (LOL)!

10. Bake or buy a lovely batch of brownies or muffins and take them over to a friend or your sweet grandmother. You can relax at their house, enjoy the brownies with muffins or herb tea and save energy at your house! This is not to be confused with freeloading, for the simple fact that you are bringing an edible offering with you!

9. Volunteer at a local youth or senior center. Participate in or lead fun activities such as: games, creative writing, visual art/crafts making and movie screening.

8. Drive to a nearby town or the next state over and go sight seeing. Pack a lunch so that you don't have to spend any money!

7. Check out new exhibits at local museums.

6. Go for a walk and a picnic lunch in the park. Take a friend, books and magazines, and a frisbee to make a day of outdoor fun.

5. You may have to spend a little money, but if you love the spa for manicures, pedicures, facials, etc. you can spend some hours there pampering your body and easing your mind. Maybe plan to spend $50 or less, at least less than what it would take to cool your home for the 8-10 hours that you may normally be up using power.

4. Barnes & Noble, Borders and other bookstores stay open all day and much of the evening. Read your favorite books and enjoy coffee or teat in their cafe.

3. The library is always free and kept very cool and quiet! You can read, write, and check your email on the computers. Quiet as it's kept some people have been known to find a cushy corner of the library and take a nap!

2. Go to your gym and work out, try some laps in the pool to strengthen and cool off!

DRUMROLL...And, the number #1 place to go when it's hot and you want to save energy in your home: THE BEACH! You might as well enjoy the sun and sand. Remember to drink plenty of fluids AND wear your sunscreen!

Remember, when you're away from home, you are not using power in your home. The whole idea is saving power = saving energy=saving the strain on the environment=saving $ and resources!

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier

GREEN EATS: Brown bag it baby!

Wanna know how to shed some pounds (or at least maintain), save money and time while at work? Go green and take a bag lunch. I can remember the times when I wasn't "brown bagging it" for lunch. During those times I spent $25-$30 per week on lunch and I probably wasn't eating as healthy as I should. First you buy the sandwich, or soup and a roll, then you want something sweet so now you're buying a muffin or a cookie or a candy bar (adding on fat and calories you don't need) and before you know it, your money is spent!

Preparing your lunch at home, either the night before or the morning of, saves calories and materials. Just think: when you make your own lunch you control the ingredients you are putting into your mouth. You can reuse sandwich bags, containers, and tin foil to wrap your food in. My favorite brown bag lunches to make include: veggies with pasta and an apple, hummus with pita bread and a bannana, Amy's organic meals with a piece of fruit, salad greens with avocado and a piece of fruit, and tuna/veggie sandwich with eggless/dairy free mayonnaise or mustard. I also like to add snacks such as almonds, raisins, baby carrots, rice cakes, organic fig bars, organic crackers and an assortment of fruits like pears, tangerines and mango. When I take my lunch and put thought into it, I know I'm on track with my health and saving money. Make your lunch colorful and fun! Add your favorite healthy snacks, jazz up your sandwiches and soups with seasonings and fresh produce, take some herb tea in a thermos, bring your water or juice in a reusable bottle.

Taking a brown bag lunch saves money and time. When lunch time comes you can take your full 30 minutes or 1 hour, instead of rushing to the deli or fast food joint, only to realize your time to eat has been cut short! Maybe you can actually get some reading done from your favorite book or magazine while you eat! You'll find over a period of time that you are saving more money, which will free you to invest in other things. We've heard about how people who start making their own coffee at home instead of going to the neighborhood cafe each morning, save tons of money per week and per month.

Go ahead and take your beautiful brown bag lunch, you just may inspire someone else to eat green as well.

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier

GREEN CLEAN: Washing fruits and veggies

Have you ever noticed that some of the organic produce you buy, comes with special guests? There's a few cobwebs in your kale, a snail hanging off of your broccoli and a crab like creature on your organic apple (LOL)! Sometimes water is just not enough to ensure that your produce is free of dirt and insects before you consume it. You can purchase a solution of veggie cleaner from the health food store, but here's a more simple and cost effective way to clean your produce:

• Soak and wash your produce in apple cider vinegar and water





• Soak and wash your produce in organic lemon juice

Both apple cider vinegar and lemon juice have the extra acidity needed to wash away dirt, residue and insect parts from your produce. You can use them separately or mix them together as a solution for both organic and conventional produce.

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier

GREEN BEAUTY: Zoya Nail Polish

You can totally GO GREEN with Zoya this summer! Zoya Nail Polish, a professional nail lacquer is my favorite nail color right now. Zoya Nail Polish is formaldehyde, toluene and camphor and DBP free. I recently ordered a pack of Zoya polish, which I received when I exchanged (and mailed to Art of Beauty, their parent company) my old, mostly chemical ridden nail polish to receive the same amount of Zoya polish. Zoya comes in delicious shades of red, orange, browns, greens, and even blue, silver and gold! What am I wearing on my toes right now? ZOYA "Trixie" a fabulous metallic silver shade!

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier

GREEN BEAUTY: Natural, alternative nail color!

If you read my last post on giving yourself a natural manicure and pedicure at home, well check out this latest post on some of the natural nail color!

PeaceKeeper Nail Paint is a vegan line of nail polishes for which all profits, after taxes, are used to support women's health advocacy and human rights issues. All PeaceKeeper beauty products fund projects such as breast and reproductive cancer research, osteoporosis research, clinical depression research, domestic violence prevention, gender equality advocacy, infanticide prevention, and rape prevention.

My favorite PeaceKeeper Nail Paint, (which I purchased at Whole Foods and I paint my toes with it) is "Paint Me Grateful". It is a rich purple color, one I liken to the hue of grapes, and it's absolutely divine. I enjoy supporting PeaceKeeper because their proceeds go toward health and human rights issues that are truly important in our world. Visit their website for more information.

No Miss Nail Polish does NOT contain: Formaldehyde * Toluene * Dibutyl-Pthalate or Camphor. Cosmetic Colors, come from earth. No Miss Nail Polish NEW and IMPROVED ingredients are: Nitrocellulose-a fiber used for viscosity. Ethylacetate, N. Butyl Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol-solvents used to dissolve Nitrocellulose. also may contain: Mica, made from sand, cosmetic titanium dioxide, (white),cosmetic iron oxide blue, (indian paint pot grey/blue), iron oxides, earth born colors made from rocks, zinc oxide, from the earth, used to promote drying and to deflect harmful UV rays from the sun.

No Miss Nail Polish colors are absolutely beautiful. I first started using their nail color back in 1998. My first bottle (which I totally used up, it was my favorite) was a bluish silver nail color and I wore it with everything! I bought my first bottle at Wild Oats in St. Louis (my hometown). Most recently, I've been sporting the sassy hot pink No Miss Nail Polish "Wakulla Watermelon" which I purchased from Whole Foods. This is a great summer color for your toes, it really pops with sandals! Visit their website for more information.

HONEYBEE GARDENS , Honeybee Garden Waterbased Nail Color is an alternative to solvent-based nail enamel. The water-based polish is odor-free, and:

· Non-toxic: no toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate
· No FD&C colors; only natural mineral pigments
· Water-based, not solvent-based like traditional polish

I have not personally tried Honeybee Gardens Nail Color, but I see that the colors are beautiful and this product does not contact many of the harmful chemicals we have come to know in other mainstream nail color brands. I will certainly order one of their nail color products in the near future and see how I like it! Visit their website for more information.

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier

GREEN BEAUTY: Give yourself a natural at home manicure and pedicure!

I'm a gal who loves to make sure my hands and feet are pampered, naturally pampered that is. I occasionally go for a professional mani/pedi, but I also know how to take great care of my hands and feet on my own. And I buy the tools and beauty products that serve me in this way. Pampering your hands and feet shows you care about yourself and when you choose not pay someone else to do it, you save money! Beautifying your hands and feet is also an ancient ritual practiced by women of many cultures. From drugstores to specialty boutiques and healthfood stores, you can find many of the tools you need, to give yourself a fresh manicure and pedicure right at home. And if you're striving to give your hand and footcare a "green makeover", well that's even better!

Natural Pedicure

I live in New York City and sometimes walking the long, city streets can be hard on your feet, especially if you're not wearing the most comfortable shoes each day. Most women want to show off their beautiful toes and wear the most fashionable sandals during the summer, and for this, your feet must be prepared! So let's start off with a natural at home pedicure to wake up those tired feet and put that "pep in your step"! Here's what you need to get started:

Tools:

Gather a small/medium size pan, a loofah, a pumic stone, a towel, bath and body gel, lotion/cream or body oil, a facial or body scrub, a nail file, toe nail clippers, nail polish remover, flip flops, cotton balls, and favorite nail polish. NOTE: Top and base coat polish is optional.

Step 1
Using cotton balls, take off your old nail polish, using natural nail polish remover or other nail polish remover.

Step 2

Use a small/medium size plastic pan, like a washpan that you can fill up with warm water. Fill the pan with warm water and a natural, scented bath and body gel like Avalon Organics Lavendar Bath and Body Gel. Use enough soap to create suds. You can also add your favorite essential oil to the warm water, such as: rose, geranium, peppermint, ylang ylang, or orange.

Step 3

As you soak your feet, use a strong, scented scrub such as Queen Helene Mint Scrub and a loofah to slough off the dead skin on the top and bottom of your feet. Rub vigorously for a few minutes. The rubbing and the water will clean your feet well and remove the dead skin. Also take your pumice stone to rub any hardened dead skin on your toes and any scaly, dead skin on your heels. This is the removal of all of those unsightly layers of skin on your feet. Rub vigorously and continuously until every part of your feet feel smooth and soft. Clip any hangnails, and even out your toenails using a toenail clipper. When your feet look just about "shiny and new", take them out of the pain.

Step 4

Dry your feet with a towel. Lovingly massage your feet with a refreshing lotion/cream such as Burt's Bees Peppermint Lotion. Or if you love scented body oil, try massaging your feet and conditioning them with Aura Glow oil in Coconut or another favorite scent. Once your feet have been moisturized, now it's time to file.

Step 5

Use a nail file to shape your toe nails in a round or square shape, whichever is most flattering to you.

Step 6

Slip into your favorite flip flops and prepare to paint your toes.

Step 7

Paint your toes in a fabulous, eye popping color. Some nail color lines I suggest are: (a few of which have less harmful ingredients than most mainstream nail color lines) No Miss Nail Polish, Peace - Keeper Nail Paint, and Sinful Nail Color. Put on two coats for more lasting color.

Step 8

Rest and let air dry!

Natural Manicure
Writing, washing dishes, cleaning your home and all of the other duties that require strong and capable hands, can leave your hands and nails dry and lackluster. Why not give yourself a manicure, at home to pamper yourself. Of course, it's quite similar to the process for a pedicure, but here are the tools you will need:

Tools
A small bowl, a towel, nail polish remover, bath/body gel, nail file, nail buffer, nail clipper, nail cuticle stick and remover, antiseptic, lotion/cream or oil, favorite nail polish. Note: Top coat and base coat are optional.

Step 1

Use natural or other nail polish remover to take off your last coat of polish

Step 2

Fill up your small bowl with warm water. Add a bath/body gel soap such as Avalon Organics Lemon Bath and Body Gel to the water, enough to suds.

Step 3

Soak hands for a few minutes. In between soaking, use your cuticle stick to push back the skin from around your nail cuticle. Use your cuticle remover to take off any hangnails or other jagged skin from around your nails.

Step 4

Rinse your hands with wam water at your kitchen or bathroom soon. Dry your hands.

Step 5

Apply Carol's Daughter Lemon Cuticle Oil or other oil, lotion/cream to your hands and massage each hand.

Step 6

Use your nail file and nail clipper to shape the nails and even out any nail edges. Use your nail buffer to smooth out the surface of the nails.

Step 7

Now that your nails are just almost "so fresh and so clean", polish them using your favorite color.

Step 8

Relax and let air dry!

For more information on healthy nails, visit dermatologist, Dr. Susan Taylor's website!

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier

GREEN REVIEW: Taiwo Soaps 2-1 Conditioner

Every now and then we break the routine of using our tried and true bath/body and beauty products. I love to incorporate new products into my daily beauty regimen! This post will be the start of my "Green Review", my reviews of green products that I feel you may enjoy! Yetunde of Taiwo Soaps, a natural body products company, sent me one of her scrumptious products. And I've been using it with much glee! Taiwo Soaps 2 - in - 1 Silky Body Wash and Conditioning Shampoo (enriched with Cocoa & Shea Butters) is a light and refreshing, liquid soap that doesn't leave any residue on your skin. I love the Pear Glace fragrance and you don't need to use alot of the soap in the 4oz bottle I received, to work up a lather and get clean.

The ingredients for this fragrant body treat are:

• distilled water
• saponified coconut and corn oil
• cocoa butter
• shea butter
• and borax ( a natural mineral)

The soap itself is a light golden color and the bottle is recyclable which I love! What more can I say!

Visit Taiwo Soaps to find out more about the natural body products they offer, and tell Yetunde I recommended it!

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier

GREEN EATS: Ice Cream Alternatives!

When I was a little girl and visited my lovely grandparents, in the evening after dinner one of our favorite pastimes was sitting out on the screened-in porch, listening to the Cardinals baseball game and eating a bowl of cherry vanilla, neopolitan or mint ice cream. Oh how sweet it was! In my life I've been a lover of all types of ice cream treats: from frozen eclairs, to Dairy Queen Blizzards and of course Ben & Jerrys! In the last couple of years, I've tried some of the more lowfat ice cream alternatives and even started making my own fruit smoothies to fulfill my ice cold, sweet treat craving. Here are a few of my "healthier than ice cream" picks for frozen treats! PLEASE NOTE: Some of these treats contain sugar, cane sugar, brown rice syrup or corn syrup for those of you watching your sugar intake.

• Tofutti Cuties - These little individual treats are just like the ice cream sandwiches we had as kids, minus all the chemicals. This product is milk free, no butterfat, lactose free.


• Rice Dream - I enjoy all of the flavors of this treat which comes in 1pint servings or quarts. It has flavorful, natural ingredients and no dairy. Rice Dream is also not "too sweet." If you don't like alot of sugar, this is a good treat for you. My favorite flavors are: carob almond, cookies n' dream and mint chocolate chip.


• Rice Dream Frozen Pie: Hhhhhhm! My favorites: chocolate pie and mocha pie. Absolutely delicious on a hot summer day!


• Haagen Dazs Fat Free Sorbet: One more way to enjoy your favorite fruit flavors. My favorite is mango!


• Natural Choice Organic Frozen Fruit Bars: These wonderful frozen fruit bars come in a variety of flavors. My favorite is strawberry!

Now for my scrumptious and nutritious fruit smoothie:

Measure 2 cups of frozen fruit (pineapple, strawberry, and/or wild berries): Cascadian Farms or Dole brand varieties and place in your blender

Add 1 tablespoon of honey or brown rice syrup or agave to sweeten

Add a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon for a spicy kick

Add powdered vitamin c and/or protein powder

Add 2 1/2 cups of soymilk (plain or vanilla), or rice milk or fruit juice

Now blend all of your ingredients until you have a smooth and creamy consistency. You may have to put your blender on liquefy just to get all of the frozen smooth nice and blended with your sweetner, juice and spice. You can taste it just to see if it's sweet enough for you. This mix makes 2-3 servings depending on the size glass you use. Enjoy!

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier

GREEN BEAUTY: Strawberry Cleanser for Your Face

A precious, green beauty isn't complete without her daily health and beauty regimen! Whether you have been using the same beauty products for years or you have recently switched to more natural, non-toxic products, you know that your skin is going to show how well you take care of it. Years ago, I purchased a wonderful little paperback handbook, titled The Herbal Body Book by Stephanie Tourles, filled with natural beauty tips and recipes. Inspired by many of the recipes, I began making a few of my own beauty products at home. One of the things I did, was to experiment with natural ingredients to create facials for myself. Here is one of those fabulous recipes!

STRAWBERRY CLEANSER

• Good for: normal or oily skin
• Use: daily - when strawberries are in season
• Follow with: astringent or toner
• Prep time: 5 to 10 minutes
• Mix with: mortar and pestle, spoon
• Store in: Do not store. Mix only as needed.
• Yields: 1 treatment
• Special: The strawberry juice can also serve as a tooth cleanser and whitener. Very refreshing!

Ingredients: 4 very ripe medium-sized strawberries, sliced , 2 drops essential oil of yarrow or peppermint

Mix/Prepare: Mash the strawberries and press through mesh strainer or squeeze through cheesecloth or panty hose. Catch juice in small condiment bowl. Add essential oil and stir to blend. Apply to face and neck with a saturated cotton square and massage with finger tips for about 1 minute. Avoid eye area. Rinse with cool water.

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier

GREEN CLEAN: Dr. Bronner’s Classic Soaps

I can remember as a little girl, the strong smell of peppermint in our family’s bathroom on the second floor of the house. Was the smell coming from peppermint candy? No. Or how about peppermint room spray? No, not at all. It was the scent of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Pure-Castile Soap, a product that has been around since 1948! Dr. Bronner’s makes several scented, non-toxic soaps which can be used for a variety of things. I love the peppermint soap because of it’s fresh, clean smell. Sometimes I use the soap to clean the bathroom and I also use it as a hand soap. You can definitely use Dr. Bronner’s soaps in place of any toxic, chemical ridden, cleaning product that you have in your home. One thing is for sure, this soap is strong! My bottle of peppermint soap states, you must “dilute, dilute, dilute” the soap with water before using. If you’re a vegetarian, you’ll be happy to know that Dr. Bronner’s soaps are 100% Vegan! Also a little bit of the liquid soap goes a long, long, way! My second favorite Dr. Bronner’s soap is lavender. Lavender is probably my favorite natural scent of all time (followed by rose, orange, patchouli, honeysuckle and ylang ylang). I love lavender bath salts, lavender room spray, lavender satchets and hair products with lavender. If you have a favorite scent, you may find that Dr. Bronner’s makes a product that is just for you!

Additional green info. to make you smile: All oils and essential oils in Dr. Bronner’s soaps are certified organic to the National Organic Standards Program. Dr. Bronner’s liquid soaps are packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.

TIPS to Help You Get the Most Green Use Out of Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soaps:

• Wash your face and body with the soap
• Wash your hair and scalp with the soap
• Wash your baby
• Use it to shave
• Wash your delicate clothing
• Wash your hands and feet
• Clean your car
• Wash your pet
• Dilute in water and mop your floors
• Dilute in water and wash your sink, counters and dishes
• Wash your make-up/beauty tools
• Wash your children’s toys

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier