Celebrate Green Blog

By Lynn

Random news, heads-up thoughts, ideas and other stuff I want to share that doesn’t fit elsewhere. Enjoy!

Help! We’re confused!

Are you confused by ads for products that say “natural,” “safe,” “eco-friendly,” or “green?” You’re not alone. It’s easy to fall prey to these buzz words that in actuality mean nothing at all. But there are organizations and individuals who are doing the work of evaluating these products so you and I don’t have to. You probably already know about the Environmental Working Group, but here’s another place to have a look, it’s a post by Organic Gal on Green Options. You are welcome to add your opinions too.

Safe Chemicals Act passes committee

For the first time in thirty-six years, Congress voted to update our out-of-date chemical safety laws. You can help the cause by thanking the Committee for helping protect families.

Send a tweet to thank Sen. Frank Lautenberg, author of the Safe Chemicals.
Send a tweet to thank Chairman Sen. Barbara Boxer for championing the Safe Chemicals Act.
Send a tweet to thank each Committee member for voting yes to pass the Safe Chemicals Act:
Sen. Max Baucus
Sen. Thomas Carper
Sen. Benjamin Cardin
Sen. Bernard Sanders
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Sen. Tom Udall
Sen. Jeff Merkley
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

And to keep updated on the act, go to Safer Chemicals Healthy Families.

Sustainable Olympics

This year’s Olympic organizing committee made determined steps toward greening the venues, travel, food and waste. They also pledged to send zero waste to landfill and send 70% of waste for recycling or reuse. Will they do it? And if they can, hopefully every Olympics from now on will do the same.

Staying hydrated

One reason heat and I don’t mix is because when the temperature is above 75 degrees and I’m doing something active, I start feeling weak kneed and nauseous. I need to remember that in the summer, I should drink twice the amount of water I usually do. But I also will take the advice of this article at Good Girl Gone Green about eating hydrating foods as well as drinking plenty of liquids.

Summer planting

Already creeping toward the end of summer when many farmers markets will close and those fresh veggies won’t be coming our way any more unless we grow them ourselves. That’s why it’s a great idea to start thinking about doing a little mid-summer seeding as suggested by Anna Hackman at Mommy Bites.

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.