I used to think that a mindfulness meditation had something to do with turning off my constant mind loop and just being “present.” Whatever that means. But a friend who happens to be a trained mindfulness coach and therapist taught me what a mindfulness meditation really is. There’s a whole… read more
The story behind EarthyB
My son was born right before the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. As a new mom at home on maternity leave, I sat exhausted in my rocking chair feeding him and watching the coverage of oil spewing into the ocean for weeks on end. I… read more
“Who Gives A Crap?”
Who gives a crap, anyway? Most people don’t, but Who Gives A Crap is for the few who do. This company sells forest friendly TP, tissues and paper towels. Because we don’t need to wipe our butts with virgin trees, right? But you can buy recycled toilet paper from Costco. So why… read more
Method: Gentler Than a Thousand Puppy Licks
Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan wanted to make cleaning products that were “gentler than a thousand puppy licks. Able to detox tall homes in a single afternoon.” They succeeded. You can buy Method cleaning products almost anywhere now, but their first sale came from Mollie Stone’s grocery store in Burlingame,… read more
Why Buy Earthy Stuff?
Marketing messages are everywhere, whether you’re aware of them or not. A few of my favorites. “Because You’re Worth It,” L’Oreal. I deserve a new lipstick. “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful,” Pantene. Go ahead, be jealous. “The Power of She,” Athleta. I want to be powerful. “It Keeps Going,… read more
How to Buy LED Lights You’ll Love
I’ve clearly lived in San Jose too long. I can turn the LED light in my bedroom on and off from an app on my iPhone. Then I can choose from millions of colors (hours of entertainment.) When my dog is home alone, I turn the light on for her,… read more
Non-Toxic Lice Treatment and Prevention
The kids and I got lice last year. I freaked out and ruined a perfectly beautiful Sunday afternoon with a tornado of cleaning and lice treatment research. Since then, I’ve learned enough about the little bugs to say confidently that there’s no need to panic. If you just found a… read more
Good Job America ;)
Bad news first: CO2 emissions increased by 1.4% globally. I hear a glacier cracking in the distance. But wait. Turns out the United States did something good this time. We decreased emissions. “The biggest decline came from the United States, where emissions dropped by 0.5%,” according to the International Energy Agencies… read more
Safer Sunscreens
I’m picky with sunscreens because, as you probably already know, they often contain a ton of questionable ingredients that I don’t want anywhere near my kids. The Environmental Working Group puts out a Safe Sunscreen Guide each year, so that’s the place to go for more info. However, if you… read more
Reusable Water Bottles
If you don’t already have a favorite water bottle, I’ve listed a few of the best ones my family and I have used over the years. The Reusable Water Bottles I Use Hydro Flask 32 oz Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Leak Proof Sports Water Bottle Wide Mouth with… read more
Reusable Lunch Containers
Reusable lunch containers are an easy way to prevent plastic pollution. Here are a few of my favorites. Small Lunch Containers U Konserve Nesting Trio Stainless Steel Containers with Leak Resistant Lids – I bought my first set of these in 2011. I now have two sets, one for each… read more
Is DEET Safe?
Summer is here, and so are the mosquitoes. The best parts of summer almost always come with bug bites. Last summer I sprayed my son with DEET and sent a silent prayer that it wouldn’t make him grow a third eye. This year, I needed to know what the best… read more
People like us are the solution to most environmental issues
When I talk to friends about their feelings toward environmental issues, the one thing I hear over and over again is they either feel powerless, guilty or apathetic. I rarely talk to someone who feels like their choices are making an impact. I hear them, and before I started EarthyB,… read more
How To Reduce Plastic Pollution and Waste
Plastic pollution is one of those depressing environmental problems you know is happening and don’t want to think about, so I’ll spare you the sad statistics about plastic islands, dead sea turtles and yucky chemicals leaking into your food. I know you’ve heard it all before. The New Plastics Economy… read more
The Real Reason For Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products
Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.” E.B. White, Author of The Elements of Style and Charlotte’s Web I’m pretty sure E.B. White was referring to prejudice against people when he wrote that, but I believe it can also apply to… read more
Almost Edible, All Natural Skin Care
When I first started looking at the ingredients in my food and skin care eight years ago, I quickly switched from commercial skin care products to “natural” products I could buy on Amazon or at Wholefoods. For the most part, I looked for products that scored well on the EWG’s… read more
Can We Replace Old Traditions With Low-Emissions?
As a kid, I spent every summer at my grandmother’s beach house in Sweden. With my aunt and uncle and cousins, it was a tight squeeze in that two and a half bedroom house. Not exactly my idea of vacation now, but piling into tiny beach homes is a Swedish… read more
Dirty Little (Secret) Skin Care Ingredients
I’m attached to my products. My pink toenail polish and a tiny bottle of Channel # 5 I only use on special occasions. I even have a prescription for Retin-A, so I kinda feel like a hypocrite writing about toxic skin care ingredients. I’m pushing past it, though, because I… read more