My favorite thing about Big Green Purse is that MacEachern doesn’t just suggest which items to buy and which to avoid, but she also explains the why behind everything. And she motivates the reader by explaining which steps to take first. The book doesn’t overwhelm, but encourages. The author doesn’t come across as a finger pointer, but rather as an effective environmental counselor willing to help those who seek to make change happen for the environment.

Some of the topics covered in Big Green Purse include:

• Cosmetics and personal care products
• Coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate
• Fruits, veggies, dairy, meat, poultry and seafood
• Cleaners, scrubs, polishers and fresheners
• Clothing, accessories and jewelry
• Lawn, garden and patio
• Baby and kid food, gear and toys
• Lights, appliances and electronics
• Furniture, paint, flooring and fabrics

Why is MacEachern talking so much about how we spend our money? To quote the author:

“By intentionally shifting our spending to products and services that offer the greatest environmental benefits, we can use our purse like a bright green ring threaded through the nose of the marketplace bull — and pull that bull in a greener, more eco-friendly direction.”

Since Big Green Purse is so throughly researched and comprehensive (411 recycled pages), it can easily serve as a big green bible for anyone looking to live a greener life. More resources are also available online. At BigGreenPurse.com, you can take the pledge to shift just $1,000 of your annual spending budget to green products.

Next week: Check back for your chance to win a copy of Big Green Purse. Details to come in a separate contest post.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

BabyBam Collection is the brainchild of Jody; nature lover, designer, and more importantly, a mama looking for eco-friendly and adorable baby products that would work with both her children’s’ sensitive skin. Frustrated with what was available for the smallest members of her family, she started collecting ideas. When she found bamboo, the BabyBam Collection was inspired.

We’re already a fan of bamboo everything around here, and bamboo baby items are an especially stellar idea. Following are some reasons why bamboo and babies go hand in hand…

• Naturally hypo-allergenic and anti-bacterial.
• Helps to prevent odor, allergies and skin irritations.
• Bamboo is a moisture wicking material thus it keeps little ones warmer than cotton in cool weather and cooler than cotton in warm weather.
• Bonus – bamboo is a great sustainable material – overabundant and grow well all on its own.
• Double bonus – bamboo makes the most adorable clothing. I love it; it always looks and feels nice.

Why this is your lucky day – if you happen to be a Tree Hugging Family reader…

The folks over at BabyBam Collection have been gracious enough to offer one lucky reader a very nice couple of gifts, from their lovely collection of products.

One of our readers will win both of the following items:

Bamboo and Organic Cotton Onesie: This super cute onesie is made of soft naturally colored bamboo and organic cotton. No bleach what-so-ever and nice low-impact dye round out this tagless onesie.

This awesome Little Lathers Organic Bamboo Baby Soap: This exclusive mild castile soap is a total treat! Handcrafted with saponified, cold-pressed olive oil, wild yarrow, organic calendula, organic aloe, saponified castor oil, and pure essential oils of lavender and sweet orange. Nice. Biodegradable. Vegan. Cruelty Free. I love how creamy and pretty this soap is – like a tiny ocean.

This is an awesome onesie & soap gift package – great for babies with sensitive skin, the perfect shower gift, and the soap is mama friendly too.

Now how can you win this gift?

1. Anyone in the free world can enter, barring co-blogger Peggy and I. So yup, other b5er’s feel free to play.

2. I think it would be cool if you paid the BabyBam Collection online store a visit. After visiting come back here and leave a comment on this post about your favorite product.

3. It doesn’t matter which product you like best, and it’s really all on your own karma to pay them a visit. Obviously, I’ll have no clue if you did or not, but I do think it would be nice.

4. Make sure you enter by March 19th at midnight. (I’m not going to get fussy about east coast vs. west coast time).

5. On the morning of March 20th I’ll be drawing a random name (or Cedar will) for the winner.

Good luck – and look for more about the BabyBam Collection here at Tree Hugging Family – I have to tell you my favorite product. In the meantime, the company has a really nice BabyBam Collections blog going on, with all kinds of stuff I like. You might be interested in paying their blog a visit too.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family