Elyse Essentials : Local Organic Skincare Line

When Samantha Johnston Twining launched her line Elyse Essentials this spring one of her goals was to “become a first-class retailer specializing in natural products promoting a relaxed and tranquil lifestyle for everyone.”

Relaxed and tranquil? Easier said than done you might think as you scramble to complete your to-do list and get a decent nights sleep most days .

Well, don’t be so cynical. Elyse Essential are not only organic and made with sustainability in mind – they’re luxurious enough to offer a few moments of “me time” in your busy life.

Samantha was inspired by

The Greenzys: A Sweet Read

Books from childhood (some read by teachers) have the power to stay etched in our memories forever. For me it’s books like Where the Wild Things Are, the Amelia Bedelia series and Little Women to name a few that I can still quote lines from to this day.

The Greenzys by the reputable children’s author Danielle Mentzer just hit shelves on Earth day 2010 and is a story with a message worth remembering. Greenzys is an “eco-friendly, literary-based brand” that parents and teachers alike should be happy to promote.

When GreenPhillyBlog was given an advanced copy of Greenzys to review I was pretty stoked. I love reading – kids book included! My take on the Greenzys book?

Do You Know Where Has Your Salad Been? Use This Tool!

As the public becomes more aware of ways to cut down on our carbon footprint – one area to keep in mind is our food intake. Just where does most of our consumption come from?

Beyond the produce sticker on loose fruit at the grocery store sometimes it’s tough to know where your food originated.  

Here’s a cool tool from Fresh Express to check out just how far your salad has traveled. Just type in the code found on the front of your salad mix bag and you’ll learn where your greens originated!

Track your greens here!

Posted by Beth

Green Your 'Concealed' Parts…

You feel good about carrying reusable bags, drinking out of your SIGG and cleaning with homemade eco-friendly products . Making sustainable, smart choices in your daily habits can go a long way.

What about less frequently marketed ‘green’ products? Here’s two daily items you may not have considered – yet :

Enter to Win FREE EcoSmart Natural Bug Killer

Warm weather’s outside, Spring’s in the air… which means insect season will soon be in full swing. Although insects & bugs are happy outside, they can be pests in the home or outside a BBQ/picnic.

Rather than using dangerous sprays or traps, EcoSMART offers organic pesticide & insect repellents. Made from essential oils, they’re non-toxic – making them kid & pet-friendly.

This may seem like an oxymoron- How can you have a safe and non-toxic pesticide?

Chester County Bamboo

Chester County Bamboo believes that “bamboo is an integral piece of the sustainable puzzle.” The more one learns about Bamboo the clearer this philosophy becomes. Bamboo actually generates 35% more oxygen into the atmosphere than an equivalent stand of trees. This super plant can be harvested 3-5 years after being planted. An oak, maple or cherry tree require 30-50 years before they can be harvested.

John Kohler spent numerous years in the corporate world before launching Chester County Bamboo – a sustainable business he’s truly passionate about.Chester County Bamboo is the first in the Philadelphia area to specialize in bamboo and one of the first in the country to offer full service bamboo management and removal.

Their bamboo products include

Tea Time: 4 Simple Ways to Green Your Habit

Did you know tea is the second most consumed beverage next to water in the US?

If you’re a tea drinker you probably know its health benefits are numerous. Most teas contain high levels of antioxidants. And, tea has been said to help lower bad cholesterol and may even help heart disease.

How can you make a good choice even better? Here’s 4 ways to green your tea habit:

Dirty Girl Brigade : Eco Fashion and More

Dirty Girl Brigade is an example of how simple it can be to get quality, environmentally responsible duds and lifestyle products these days. Goods range from women’s and men’s apparel, cleaning supplies, bath & body essentials, home décor, jewelry, pet items and gifts.

What makes Dirty Girl Brigade a sweet source for clothing and more?

Adam Rung Woodworks – Eco-friendly Furniture Company

Adam Rung Woodworks is a Philadelphia-based, eco-friendly furniture company. The works are beautiful – Need proof? Check out the Dogwood Cherry bench/coffee table below:

This work has a

Valentine's Day Happenings and Specials

Ah, Valentine’s Day is almost upon us – arguably the most divided holiday of the year.

Whether you think it’s a contrived “hallmark holiday” or you love an excuse to give and get candy hearts and chocolate, there’s a few cool sales and events in the area :