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On MeridaMeridian:
       November is Black and White (and a bit inbetween)
       Ansel Adams: The Master of Art in Black and White

On Examiner:
       Today is America Recycles Day
       Best Websites for Green Holiday Shopping
       Top 6 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dishes
       Boston Green Drinks Networking Event

Image Courtesy of GulfNews.com

Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Hair Spray Review

Dry winter air = static hair. I have frizzy wavy hair and have tried lots of products to tame and smooth my hair. Hair products are basically bottles of chemicals, so searching for a healthy hair spray alternative was no easy task. After reading lots of labels, I settled on Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Hair Spray by Alterna. The claims were promising: No parabens, sulfates,synthetic dyes, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan. And though none of it was third-party verified, I was excited to read this:

"This product is made with sustainable ingredients that are ethically traded, eco-certified, fair-trade compliant, and certified organic. The production and sale of the ingredients aids in supporting the development of local communities.    This product does not contain sodium chloride, gluten, and TEA phthalates."

So now you're probably wondering: does it work? Yes, it works well as a medium-hold hair spray. I suggest using it with a light touch because over-spraying makes hair look greasy. Although it didn't have as firm a hold as my previous hairspray, my hair styling lasted all night, and I was delighted to see that my hair was still straight the next morning - no need to brush before brunch!

I highly suggest this product for women with thick or frizzy hair. Girls with straight or more oil-prone hair may want to try a different product though because the organic kendi oils and bamboo extracts may make the hair look wet. (On thick hair, these oils have a great smoothing and shining effect). 

This product is not yet reviewed on the EWG Skin Deep Database. 

When "Eco" is Evil

The words "green," "natural," and "eco," are widely used to market products in today's economy. When they are used properly, these words help consumers purchase more responsible products and make a positive difference in how goods are produced and sold. However, these buzzwords aren't always used to market good products, for example, I was shocked and horrified to see an add for "eco-friendly" cigarettes! I was flipping through a popular woman's magazine when I found this add:

While it is great that this company (Natural American Spirit) is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint and minimize its waste, it is still shocking that it is using this to sell cigarettes. This add is morally confusing! Smokers should still strive to quite - regardless of whether they are smoking "green" cigarettes. Afterall, by smoking, they are posing immediate environmental hazards to everyone around them...even long after they've stubbed out their cig (see: 3rd Hand Smoke).

GWBW: Thanksgiving Edition

Its been a good week for local harvest - especially items like pumpkin, cranberries, and butternut squash which are easily available in Massachusetts.

Image courtesy of mikes-table.themulligans.com

It has been a bad week for Turkeys (duh!). But Turkeys may have a higher carbon footprint than you think:

"Most likely your turkey traveled by truck to get to your grocer. That trip probably started in a state like Minnesota or North Carolina, which are leading turkey producers. The cranberries are most likely from Wisconsin or Massachusetts, two states that produce more than 80 percent of the nation's cranberries. But the National Resources Defense Council suggests that many ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner can be found at local farmers markets." Steve Inskeep, NPR, 2008

7 Reasons to Avoid Black Friday

1. Green Gift Monday - be a responsible shopper and get great deals on sustainable gifts by waiting until the Monday after Thanksgiving.

2. Small Biz Saturday - skip Macy's and support your local economy by checking out Small Biz Saturday deals in your area.

3. Crowds! - The sheer chaos of Black Friday is enough to keep me away!

4. Long Lines - even if you can handle the crowds, the long lines at the registers are sure to test your patience.

5. Parking - simply put, parking is a nightmare at any mall on Black Friday.

6. Sleep in - enjoy your long weekend and forget waking up at 4am.

7. Spend quality time with visiting relatives and friends - instead of shopping, do something that allows you to cherish your time together.

image courtesy of thisfrugallife.com

7 Ways to have a Sustainable Thanksgiving

1. Stay local. Why leave the metro-Boston area? This is where Thanksgiving began!

2. Cook seasonal dishes from locally grown goods. In MA there are plenty of local cranberries, squash, potatoes and even turkeys. A great goal would be to make your entire feast from ingredients grown/produced within 100 miles or so from where you live.

3. Cook an appropriate amount. Do you always end up throwing out food in the weeks after Thanksgiving? Try to cut down on the waste this year.

4. Skip the nasty casserole. Is there a dish that barely gets touched but you still cook it every year out of tradition? Stick with the delicious traditions and skip the outdated/unloved ones.

5. Do something active. Hiking is a great way to enjoy nature and get a head start on losing that holiday pudge.

6. Store leftovers in glass (or at least reusable) containers. NO PLASTIC BAGS!!!

7. Complete the meal by serving biodynamic wine choices.

Easy Urban Homesteading

Urban homesteading can be an intimidating word - not all of us are ready to raise chickens in downtown Boston, but in all reality, there are many ways to add small bits of the urban homesteading lifestyle into your everyday routine. I recently read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Urban Homesteading which has some great tips for how to grow edible plants (including an entire how-to guide for growing mushrooms in your closet...woah!).

After reading the book, I decided to grow some herbs in my window sill. Since my herb box is indoors, I'll be able to have fresh herbs all year round. My basil plant is doing particularly well, which is great for making pesto, bruschetta, pasta dishes, and pizza.