Hip Green Living Guide

Of course, being hip is subjective... I am not claiming to be a hip person however, I am not really your typical Tree Hugger either. I used to work in the Arts and Entertainment in New York City for ten years and was pretty much into going out, eating at all the hole in the walls as well as trendy restaurants, and just trying to make it in the concrete jungle. However, I was also into yoga and started becoming more aware of how I shopped. You can read about my path to Eco-conscious living, which fueld my passion for the green life.

I just wanted to share my findings and research (which I have a knack for) and help others find their inner greenness. What I didn't realize is that there's so many like minded
people who were becoming more environmentally aware. Eco Consumerism has exploded in the last year in the wake of Global Warming concerns. (Rightly so) and I am here to make my contribution. If I can go green, then so can you. To me, Hip is a state of mind... someone who's stylish, unapologetically so but still want to be a do-gooder. Tree Huggers are no longer just the crunchy granola Mother Earth types. We come from all walks of life. I say, do couple things for the Environment and together; we can all make a difference

On April 1st, 2008; I gave birth to my daughter, Layla (yes, an April Fools baby) and became obsessed with creating a natural and non-toxic home. Most of the convention cleaners were shucked for Eco-friendly cleaners like Mrs. Meyers, Organic Cotton Onesies and blankets were purchased, and furnitures were rehabbed with non-toxic, zero VOC paint. I also joined Eco Child's Play, Natural and Green Parenting Blog, as a contributing writer to share my findings with other parents who were interested in creating a sustainable home.

Listed at Squidoo Directory

1.Conserve Energy: Energy is what makes the world go around but too much of it can be a bad thing... so conserve. How? Invest in Compact Florescent Lights. These screwy light bulbs commonly known as CFL are great energy savers and will save you loads of money in the long run.

Turn off appliances you don't use. Better yet, unplug them. Do you know that appliances still consume 75% of the electricity when they turned are off but plugged in? Invest in powerstrips with buttons you can click on and off.. convenient and inexpensive. Also make your next appliances that you purchase Energy Star certified.

2. Don't buy Water Bottles. Water bottles are things of the past. It has gotten backlash due to the plastic that's being dumped into the landfill on a massive scale. Restaurants are going back to Tap and Cities are banning them. Purchase a Steeless Kanteen or Stylish Sigg Bottles to tote around instead.

3. Use Reuseable Shopping Bags and Recycle: There are so many options now when it comes to reuseable shopping bags. From plain beige to funky bright prints, alternatives to plastic bags are all the rage. I highly recommend the Envirosax (see below) I carried 15 library books using public transpo with these stylish yet highly durable bags.

Recycle: It only takes couple of minutes and it helps keep trash out of landfills. Composting is also a great option of keeping trash to a minimum.

4. Buy Organic products. Convention cotton farming methods are harsh on the environment. Support Organic farming which uses no pesticide and utilizes sustainable farming methods which is good for the land. Organic food is also good for your health as well as Earth friendly. Buy from local farmers if Organic is too pricey. Usually small farms use more natural farming methods even if they are not "certified organic"

5. Use Less Fuel: Buy a Hybrid or a compact car with good gas mileage. Bike or walk to work or school if its close enough one day out the week. More if you can. Use public transportation or carpool. Organize your errands so you can do it in one trip. Take unnecessary items out of your trunk and maintain your car. Do not speed. All these will help with gas consumption which is smart considering the outrageous gas prices these days.