2009 December | Green Living

Gloss Find: Natural, Eco-Friendly and Really Cool Wipes!

snwipes Gloss Find: Natural, Eco Friendly and Really Cool Wipes! I’m loving these cool biodegradable wipes from simplyneutral! The little compressed disks expand into a soft and durable alternative to pre-moistened towelettes with just a bit of water.

When you need a wipe, just pop one out of your purse or diaper bag (I also keep a small bowl of them in our bathroom), add about a tablespoon of water and — poof! — there’s your wipe. I also love that they’re 100% natural and contain no chemicals or artificial fragrances.

And, the kids love them…no more arguments when I need to wipe off their faces!

simplyneutral Biodegradable Wipes – $7 for 50 at simplyneutral.com

Gloss Find: Experience and Smell With Mo

mo 228x300 Gloss Find: Experience and Smell With Mo A book full of great smells is a welcome break from the funky odors created by our kids and pets.

Written by Margaret Hyde and illustrated by Amanda Giacomini, “Mo’s Nose“ experiences the world through the nose of a rescue dog. Employing innovative Press-2-Smell technology, scent dispensing packs are embedded in the book so that readers can sniff along with Mo.

The first book “Mo Smells Red” focused on the scents of fresh picked roses and sweets strawberries. The second “Mo Smell Green” offers whiffs of mint, grassy meadows, and limes. In Hyde’s most recent book, “Mo Smells the Holidays” fall leaves, pumpkin pie, and pine trees evoke winter and build upon the author’s mission to help children and families feel compassion for living things.

Mo’s Nose donate 10% of the proceeds to the Best Friends Animal Society. the smell technology is provided by Aura Cacia Pure Aromatherapy, who shared their commitment to sustainable living.

Right now all three books are available at Mo’s Nose for $40.

Gloss Find: AOI Tea

matcha p Gloss Find: AOI Tea I’m a huge fan of Green tea, particularly the powdery Matcha tea, which can be consumed as a tea or added to all kinds of yummy recipes. You need to be sure that you are getting really good quality Matcha, and so we’ve been around the block sampling.

We love AOI Matcha and think you will too. The health benefits are numerous, so if you’re addicted to an afternoon latte, consider substituting the coffee for Matcha and enjoy a sweet and creamy Green beverage! I make my Matcha Latte with Almond Milk and Agave Syrup. Also check out this fantastic recipe for adding your Matcha to scones for the holidays.

Matcha Scones

One favorite use for the premium powdered green tea from Japan is in making Matcha scones, crafted from cake flour, baking powder, butter, salt, sugar, milk, and eggs, plus the special ingredient matcha.

Ingredients:

9 oz Cake flour
1/3 tsp salt
1 tbsp granulated sugar
3/5 cup milk
1 egg, separated into yolk and white
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp Matcha
2/1/2 oz butter
strawberry jam and fresh whipped cream to taste

Directions:

The recipe calls to sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, Matcha, and sugar, then combine small pieces of butter into the mixture with your fingertips until it becomes dry and flaky.
Next, add the milk and egg yolk and pour the batter into the flour a little at a time.
Mix and knead into moist dough, but not so moist that it become sticky.
Preheat the oven to 360F.
Place the dough on a floured board and knead slightly until smooth. Roll out to a thickness to 1 inch and cut out shapes with a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass.
Brush the tops with egg white, place the scones on a baking sheet, and bake in a 375-degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until slightly brown.
Serve the scones warm, cut in half with jam and fresh cream.

These scrumptious scones make a healthy breakfast treat, laced with all the health benefits of matcha green tea.

About the Author

Sophie Uliano is a passionate environmentalist who has developed an earth-friendly lifestyle that appeals to women who don’t want to compromise their glamour and style. She is the New York Times Best Selling author of “Gorgeously Green”, “The Gorgeously Green Diet,” and the soon to be released “Do It Gorgeously.”

Read more amazing tips from Sophie at GorgeouslyGreen.com

Gloss Find: Naturally Knotty

I’m rather tempted by these gorgeous Bamboo pashminas by Naturally Knotty. We all know that bamboo is a renewable resource, so that might justify another teeny addition to my collection.

Technique Over Technology

There’s an awful lot of to-do about hand-sanitizing this month, and not surprising, since Swine flu seems to be the hot topic.

Gloss Find: Chivas Goat Milk Soap

Donna Johanson and her daughter Lauren named their first two goats Sugar Muffin and Precious. This mother daughter team makes Chivas Goat Milk Soap on a small farm just outside of Los Angeles.

Gloss Find: Greenroom Recycled Paper Products

greenroom 300x162 Gloss Find: Greenroom Recycled Paper Products For many, eco-friendly = expensive. While it can be pricey to buy ‘green’ products, we’re here to uncover methods and products that make reducing your carbon footprint and being good to our environment easy and affordable.

One of our favorite finds that is both affordable and well-designed? greenroom recycled paper products. The line of notebooks, binders, stationery and more features beautiful designs that are all printed on recyclable and sustainable materials and non-toxic soy inks. They look like fine paper goods you’d usually dig up in expensive boutiques, but are available at Target for the same price as other paper products!

greenroom recycled paper products – available at Target.