Henna Hair Dye

Sorry I haven't posted in a while! I was on vacation and didn't have internet access most of the time. But I have a new post today! Hooray! 


Henna hair dye is a wonderful alternative to chemical hair dyes. Henna is a naturally grown plant that when smashed to a powder and mixed with water and lemon juice turns into a thick paste, that can be used for henna skin art and hair dye. 

                                                www.hennapage.com


Henna can turn your hair from blond to red, light brown to auburn and dark brown to almost black. The more blond streaks in your hair the redder your hair will appear. I first hennaed my hair earlier this summer and it turned out so well! My hair is a light brown with natural blond highlights, and after hennaing it it turned to a medium auburn with red streaks. The longer you leave the henna paste in you hair the redder the hair will become. I left the paste in my hair for about 3 hours. For example, here is a before and after pic of someone who hennaed their hair:

                       http://indiasbeauty.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/henna-hair-dye-before-and-after


A great store that sells henna is LUSH, an awesome handmade cosmetics store. (Plus they're Cruelty Free!) They sell four shades of henna, Caca Brun, Caca Marron, Caca Rouge and Caca Noir. Read here why they call their henna "caca".


Try henna and you'll never go back to regular dye again!

Ratatouille

I love to cook, and I'm always looking for delicious new recipes! And I recently found this one, it's for Ratatouille (Remember that Disney movie :) and it looks very yummy! Here's the recipe if you want to try it out. Good Luck!

www.foodnetwork.com 

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 or more garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups (1 large) sliced onions
• 3 cups (2 medium) sliced zucchini
• 4 cups (1 small) cubed, cubed, peeled eggplant
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 green peppers, seeded and cut into strips
• 11/2 cups canned plum tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon capers
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

Heat the oil in a large skillet, add the garlic and onions and saute until the onions are transparent. Meanwhile, slice the squash and peel and cube the eggplant. Flour the pieces lightly. Add the squash, eggplant and green peppers to the skillet, cover and cook slowly about 30 minutes. Add the tomatoes and capers and simmer, uncovered, until the mixture is thick, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot or cold.   

Bundle Up

With fall and winter approaching we have to stay warm, but still be eco-friendly. That means not turning up the heat and emitting fossil fuels into the air. Here are some ways to keep your house warm without cranking up the heater. Inspired by the Daily Green's post. 

                               http://allourneedsarespecial.blogspot.com/2009/11/countdown-is-on.html


1) Run your fan backwards. Some fans have handy-dandy switches to make the fan spin in reverse therefore heating the room or space. 


2) Use a draft snake. Place a draft snake next to your door, blocking between the floor and the door.You can easily make one by cutting off a sleeve from an old long sleeve t-shirt and filling it with sand or rice, and sewing both ends closed. 


3) Hang heavier curtains. They will let the sun flow through and keep the heat in your room or house. 


4) Close off any unused rooms. By closing off unused rooms "the closed door makes that room another barrier between you and the frigid outdoors. It also stops air from circulating as much, which reduces heat loss." -http://www.wikihow.com/Stay-Warm-at-Home-Without-a-Heater


5) WEAR A SWEATER!!! I think that is pretty self-explanatory. :)

Organic Gardening

In my backyard I have 16 tomato plants, three stalks of corn, 2 huge zucchini plants, parsley, four cabbages, snow peas, peanuts, potatoes, an orange tree, a lemon tree, a forest of mint and a rather large compost bin. My family is very interested in organic gardening. Every spring we set off to the nursery and pick up various plants, my dad starts off with one or two tomato plants and ends the summer with over 10.

                            sunset.com

Organic gardening can help reduce your carbon footprint. You do not have to drive to the super market to pick up fresh veggies, the fruits and vegetables are not transported across the country to your local Ralph’s or Trader Joes, and the produce is the most locally grown it can possibly be! You can choose to add bug repellent and things of that nature, but I choose not to because I think it interferes with the delicious natural taste of the fresh veggies. So, consider dedicating a small part of your yard to organic gardening.  

Green Lipsticks?

Cargo Cosmetics has released a new cosmetics line, PlantLove, which is completely organic, natural and environmentally friendly. Celebrities such as, Whitney Port, Denise Richards, Evangeline Lilly and more have designed all the PlantLove lipsticks. The packaging for the lipsticks are all biodegradable because they are made of corn, not plastic so they will not clog up landfills. Also, the lipsticks come in cool boxes that have wildflower seeds embedded in the paper. If you wet the paper and plant it, flowers will grow! It is pretty awesome. 

Each lipstick costs $20 and there are 22 gorgeous colors, my favorites are Eve Pinky, Lindsay, Sarah and Cherry Bliss. Also, two dollars from each lipstick that is sold is donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. So, you are paying $18 for a beautiful, green lipstick and donating $2 to a children’s hospital. Great! I am definitely buying some of these lipsticks! 

                                

Vroom Vroom

http://www.greencleaningideas.com

You under 16-year-olds must be excited at the prospect of when you get to drive, right? If we follow in our parents footsteps the earth will become that much closer to complete environmental disaster! Instead we should use more environmentally friendly methods such as public transportation or biking. 

I personally prefer biking for these three reasons:

1)    It’s free

2)    It’s good for the environment

3)    It keeps you healthy and fit

Of course, cars are convenient when you have to go somewhere far away or the weather is not satisfactory (AKA rain or snow). If your destination is in the neighborhood or close by, biking is a great idea! 

Countries like the Netherlands and Denmark have great bike lanes and public transportation. Write a letter to your local government to make bike lanes safer and larger.

treehugger.com

PETA Apparel

      As you may know, one of my favorite organizations is PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and I recently found out that in their PETA Catalog they have some awesome clothing items! Like cute shirts and sweatpants and adorable shorts, bags and necklaces. Some of my favorites are these shirts. They each cost about $20 and can be purchased on the PETA website. I'm pretty sure the proceeds go the organization, but I'm not positive. I'm definitely buying some of these great things!!!

Too Much Stuff

Please watch this short, cute and very informative film on the world over-buying and consuming too much stuff. http://storyofstuff.org/ Click on the link that says "Stuff" when you reach the website. 

I recently saw this video thanks to a fellow blogger, Dare To Be Square, and it got me thinking that we DO use too much stuff. So I am going to try to remember those three "Rs" that we learned in the third grade, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. It is in that order for a reason. Reducing is the most important, if we reduce our consumption of products we will not need to reuse or recycle. Next is reuse, when you buy products it is better to buy reusable things. Like, lunch-boxes vs. brown paper bags or Kleen Kanteens vs. plastic bottles. Read this blog post to learn more about reusable water bottles. Lastly, recycle; people think that recycling is the most important thing to do. It is important, but it is the last thing you do after reducing or reusing. It's like the last resort. So really, consider this little video and try to change your method of consuming.

http://www.nataliedee.com/

You Don't Have to Be Cruel to be Beautiful

I am a make-up junkie. I love testing out fun color combinations and watching how-to make-up tutorials on YouTube. However, the choice of what brand you use can save animals lives.

               http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/04/toxic-makeup-all-around-the-world.html 

Animal testing, a cruel and inhumane practice that still goes on today, is behind the walls of many cosmetic laboratories. Animals are tortured, cut open and have their skin ripped off all for the sake of a new eyeliner or mascara. However, you can do something about it! Just buy Cruelty-Free brands! There are countless companies that do not test on animals, from drugstore to high-end lines. Try to ‘veganize’ your cosmetic collection by buying Cruelty Free cosmetics.  

                               http://theanimalblog.tumblr.com/page/24

But how do they test the products without using animals? L’Oreal has invented a form of synthetic skin called Episkin; this may help end animal testing! To make the synthetic skin donated human skin cells are put into a dish with collagen gel, sugar, water and amino acids. After three days, the Episkin is put out in the air to dry it and then a UV light is shone on the “skin” for ten days. After this, the Episkin is ready to be used in testing. L’Oreal still tests on animals, but they are researching Episkin and they plan to stop animal testing in 2013.

                      http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/episkin_growing.php

This list from Caring Consumer by PETA tells you all the brands and companies that DO and DO NOT test on animals. Here is the DO NOT test list, please check it out: http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDontTest.pdf. If a brand is not on this list you can Google it, research on their website or even email them. If you aren’t sure if they test on animals it's better to be safe then sorry.

Some of my favorite drugstore Cruelty Free lines:

-Revlon

-Physicians Formula

-Milani

-Almay

-Jane

Some of my favorite high-end Cruelty Free companies:

-MAC Cosmetics

-Urban Decay

-Benefit

-Too Faced

-Stila

-Smashbox

-Tarte

How Green Are You?

How Green Are You? This fun and easy quiz will help you find out! Please list your answer in the comments below! 

                                                                    www.greenclipart.com                                             


1.     How do you feel about the environment?

a.  Not my problem

b.  I can’t do anything about it…why try

c.  Super important! I’m doing everything I can do to help!

2.     How often do you reduce, reuse and recycle?

a.  Never     

b.  Sometimes

c.  ALWAYS!

3.     Does your family make a point of eating organic fruits, meats & veggies?

a.  What’s the difference?

b.  They’re too expensive and taste gross

c.  Yes, everyday!

4.     Do you participate in a school club to help preserve the environment?

a.  No. Why would I?

b.  There isn’t one at my school     

c.  Of course! I love sharing my thoughts on the environment with other people!

5.     What is your idea of a perfect vacation?

a.  A far-away golf resort in the desert. How do they get all this water in    the desert?

b.  A hotel with fun eco-friendly activities. I can choose whether to have them wash my towels every day.

c.  A camping in a forest with no running water. I love getting close to nature!

6.     Paper or Plastic?     

a.  Plastic. Double bag it please.

b.  Paper, I forgot the reusable bags in the car.     

c.  I brought my own bags

7.     Do you consider yourself  “Green”?

a.  No

b.  Sometimes

c.  YES

                                                                                      

                                             www.greenclipart.com

Mostly A’s: You are not green at all! Try doing some simple things to help preserve the environment that is quickly disappearing. You should try eating organic produce, recycling or using public transportation. It is important to be educated about the ecology of the world because it is something you deal with everyday.  

Mostly B’s: You can be green when you feel like it, let’s try to be eco-friendly ALL the time. It might make you have to walk a little farther, but make sure to throw that soda can in the recycling bin. 

Mostly C’s: Congrats! You are super green! Now it is your job to help educate your friends and family about the importance of the environment. However, keep up the good work! 

Eye of the Tiger

Did you know that in the past century the populations of wild tigers have declined 97%? And that three species of tiger are already extinct? According to the World Wildlife Fund, if the current population of wild tigers keeps diminishing at this rate then in several decades all tiger species will be extinct! 

                            NationalGeographic.com

Thanks to illegal poaching for the "black market demand for tiger skins, bones and organs" in many parts of Asia including India, China, Indonesia and more (according to the World Wildlife Fund). Tiger bones are widely used in tradition Chinese medicine, even though researchers have found alternatives and shared new methods with the medicinal practitioners, the demand for these products are still very high.   

                            NationalGeographic.com

Tiger Facts: (National Geographic) 

-Tigers are the biggest cats in the feline family

-The average life span (in wild) for a tiger is 8-10 years

-Can weigh from 240 to 500 pounds 

-Tigers can eat more that 60 pounds of food a day!  

-By 2022, almost all the tiger species will be extinct

-There are approximately 3,200 tigers currently in the wild

                            NationalGeographic.com

Tigers are beautiful creatures; it would be a horrible loss to the world if tigers became extinct. They protect unique forest environments and keep the food pyramid running smoothly. Tigers can help very poor villages, because where there are tigers and wild animals there are tourists. In addition, with tourists the villages can make money to keep their village plentiful. Lastly, tigers have been developing for thousands of years, they are hanging on the last thread of survival and we must help them survive for the next few decades. 


If you are moved by these gorgeous animals then you can go to these organizations to see what you can do to help.


-Save the Tiger Fund


-Save Our Tigers


-The Tiger Foundation

Top 5 Reasons NOT to Eat Beef

A year ago, I lowered my meat consumption by not eating red meat anymore. I do still eat poultry and seafood, but since I stopped eating beef and pork, I have definitely lowered my meat digestion. Here are the top five reasons to stop eating beef, inspired by PETA’s list. 

1) Beef has a high fat content, much higher than a turkey or soy product.


All beef products have "artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fat... it is a good way to increase both your waistline and your chances of developing impotence and diseases" and "research has shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease than are meat-eaters, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters,” according to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

2) It is useless to feed cows grains and other crops when those crops could be fed to poor families. There are over 1.02 billion people currently suffering from world hunger (www.worldhunger.org). 

3) Beef production is one of the largest causes of deforestation in the Amazon. Cattle ranchers must burn many acres of land to create new ranches. The trees and plants being burned may never grow back again, depriving the world of much-needed oxygen. 

4) The thousands of cows in massive factory farms produce huge amounts of waste, which seeps into lakes and rivers close to the farms, infecting the fish and killing many other life such as plants and micro-organisms. The horrid stench pollutes the air around the factory farm and thins the ozone layer even more. According to GoVeg.com, a website by PETA, "Numerous studies and governmental reports have shown higher rates of miscarriages, respiratory problems, and neurological diseases among people who live near factory farms.” 

5) Cows in factory farms are crammed into crates and cages so small they cannot turn around. They are fed unnecessary huge quantities of food chock-full of harmful chemicals and hormones. Cows have their horns sliced off, tails chopped off, they are branded with scorching hot irons, all without the use of painkillers. Is that worth a steak or cheeseburger? 

  

    

No more sushi?

The BP Oil Spill…  The oil in the BP (British Petroleum) rigs is currently contaminating the Gulf of Mexico, at a rate of 2.5 million gallons of oil a day (TheDailyGreen - Business Week). That is enough oil to hypothetically fill 102 average sized school gyms from the floor to the ceiling! In addition, it is jeopardizing the lives of many wildlife species. Thanks to BP many species are in great danger. From frogs, alligators, deer and foxes to birds, fish and other sea animals.    

Like many other people, I want to know what I can do to help. A species greatly endangered by the BP spill is the Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. The Gulf of Mexico is where most of the Bluefin tuna go to mate and spawn. The eggs are at their most vulnerable stage and the oil is infecting the tuna eggs, killing most of eggs. The Bluefin tuna has been over-fished, making it a 'Critically Endangered' (CR) animal on the Conservation Status List. That is one step away from being 'Extinct in Wild' (EW) and 'Extinct' (EX). (See chart below)

I love sushi, as many people do. Tuna is one of the more popular fish used in sushi, like my fave...the Tuna Handroll. But lately I've been worried that the tuna I'm eating is Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. I do not want to push this fish to the edge of extinction!!!

I did a little research and found out that maguro, toro, akemi, chutoro and otoro are all names for different parts of the Bluefin Tuna. I had no idea of this! Now looking back at my sushi consumption I realize that I ate quite a lot of bluefin tuna, making this fish closer and closer to complete extinction. Now that I know this I will STOP eating maguro and start eating Salmon Handrolls. Yum.