I love all those natural pampering bath products, like soaps, body scrubs, lotions, oils… They smell like heaven in the shower when I use them and they make my skin feel great, but they are all so expensive.

So I decided to see if I could create my own.

After a little experimental trial & error, I finally came up with two DIY exfoliating body scrubs that are similar to store bought products, but are from ingredients on hand in most kitchens.

DIY Sugar Body Scrub

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup (or so) Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Vanilla or Almond Extract

Step 1: Add the 2 sugars to a containter, mixing until well combined.

Step 2: Pour in most of the olive oil. Let it bubble down to the bottom, then pour in a little more. Mix with a spoon, if needed, until you have a nice sticky scrub.

Step 3: Mix in vanilla.

Step 4: Add a cute ribbon & this indulging exfoliating scrub makes the perfect gift.

DIY Citrus Salt Body Scrub

Ingredients:
3/4 Cup Sea Salt
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
2 Slices of Lemon
2 Slices of Orange

Step 1: Add olive oil & sea salt to blender.

Step 2: Slice your fruit.

Step 3: Add fruit with the peel to the blender & mix.

Step 4: Once completely mixed, so the fruit peel is itty bitty, transfer scrub mixture to a container.

Step 5: Add a cute ribbon & this summery exfoliating scrub also makes the perfect gift.

Switching to LED (light emitting diodes) light bulbs is one of the easiest ways to lessen your carbon footprint & save big bucks on your electricity bill.

SuperBrightLEDs.com is a St. Louis, Missouri based online company that offers all sorts of LED bulbs for the home, office or vehicle.

One of the most popular bulbs SuperBrightLEDs.com offers is the 9 watt Globe LED Bulb, which is available in both warm white (like a traditional bulb) or cool white (white with a tint of blue that actually puts off more light). The light output is comparable to 55 – 60 watt incandescent bulb, but consumes just 9 Watts of power.

Priced as affordable as possible, SuperBrightLEDs.com extends significant savings to their customers. Plus their bulb comes with a standard 2 year warranty, however the bulb should last way longer than that.

Top 3 Reasons to Switch to LED Light Bulbs:
1- LEDs are much more efficient than incandescent lighting.
2- LEDs don’t get as hot as traditional lights, lowering the risk of fire & burns.
3- LEDs last way longer than conventional incandescent lighting.

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Most cat owners use traditional clay based cat litters because they are so easy & convenient. Unfortunately, these litters are not very kind to our planet or the health of your furry feline. But there are other options out there that are just as easy and convenient, plus they smell a little better, like World’s Best Cat Litter.

World’s Best Cat Litter uses the natural absorbency of whole-kernel corn to deliver hassle-free cat care that doesn’t harm the environment. Their formulas are made of 100% all-natural ingredients and contain no synthetic chemicals, additives or artificial perfumes. So it limits odors, clumps fast, scoops easy and is pet, people and planet friendly.

World’s Best Cat Litter Eco-Features…

• Outstanding Oder Control: World’s Best Cat Litter is the only litter made from whole-kernel corn. That means it has a naturally microporous structure that keeps nasty odors and smells inside the litter.
• Quick Clumping: World’s Best Cat Litter traps the liquid and limits the wetness from seeping, sinking to the bottom or sticking to the sides of the box.
• Easy to Scoop: With its patented formula and quick-clumping abilities, World’s Best Cat Litter is easy to scoop. Cleanup is a breeze!
• Long Lasting: Quick clumping keeps the rest of the litter dry. As a result, one 7-lb. bag of World’s Best Cat Litter may last one cat more than 30 days. That saves you time and money!
• Pet & People Friendly: Because World’s Best Cat Litter is made from all-natural ingredients—with no added chemicals—it’s safe for cats. And unlike clay litters, there’s no silica dust for you or your cat to breathe.
• Planet Friendly: World’s Best Cat Litter isn’t made from mined, drilled, or artificially made ingredients. It’s milled from renewable whole-kernel corn.

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Chicagoland just got a little better with Door to Door Organics, a unique delivery service that brings good food right to your doorstep.

Door to Door Organics has partnered with organic farmers to offer the freshest seasonal, local produce and the perfect selection of natural groceries to support healthy lifestyles, local farms and a healthier environment!

They also offer great planning and shop-by-recipe tools, you can be sure to get good food on to the table that is nourishing your health, your family and the environment.

Be good to your body & the earth by ordering fresh, local produce from Door to Door Organics.

And for all you new customers…enter in the promo code “GoGreen” at checkout to receive $10 off your first order of any of their organic produce boxes.

As the summer starts winding down and school is kicking off again; it’s time to go supply shopping and get organized.

There are lots of choices these days for folders, binders and labels but not all are eco-friendly and offer great design like Des Moines, Iowa’s Naked Binder.

Naked Binder started back in 2008 designing their 3-ring binders to look so good you won’t want to get rid of them.  They have everything you might need to impress a client, store your taxes, organize your class notes or decorate your office / dorm room, plus they are 100% sustainable.

Naked Binder Eco-Features:

• Recycled: We use only board that is 100% post consumer waste and 100% recycled.
• FSC Certified: Nearly all of our materials are FSC certified.
• Stronger: Our binders have been tested to 250,000 flexes without fail, making them perhaps the strongest 3-ring binder in the world.
• No Plastics: Naked Binder does not use plastics, vinyl or other toxins in manufacturing or shipping so everything is easily returned to the recycling stream. This takes pressure off of your waste management system, landfills and reduces the need for new production of virgin resources.
• Recyclable: Our binders are 100% recyclable.
• Innovating: We constantly test new materials to craft the most environmentally safe products that last longer, work better and look great.
• Local: All of our products are made in the USA, minimizing world wide travel to get to you. Our manufacturing plant is in Des Moines IA.
• Community: Naked Binder works and donates to two causes, education and wilderness preservation. Over the years, we have donated thousands of binders to kids who need them across the country. We have discounts for teachers and schools and have worked with organizations who are working to increase access to educational resources. As a member of 1% for the Planet, Naked Binder also works with and donates to organizations striving to preserve wilderness and open spaces.

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Looking to class up your average flower planters around the house? Try this unique and fun DIY project by Chrisjob over at Curbly that turns an old used book into a gorgeous one-of-a-kind planter.

Supplies Needed:

• Book
• Electric drill
• Hole saw
• Safety glasses
• Dusk mask
• Scrap wood – 2 pieces
• Clamp
• Exacto Knife
• Screen
• Hot glue gun & glue sticks
• White glue & small paint brush
• Clear polyurethane spray
• Plant with a shallow root system & dirt

Step by Step Directions:

Via: Curbly

Summer equals picnics in the park, barbecues in the back yard and campfire cookouts; but being on the go with all that food comes lots of disposable cutlery, plates & napkins.

Take the first step this summer to lower your carbon footprint by switching from toxic plastic cutlery to Eco-gecko’s biodegradable and compostable wooden forks, spoons & knives.

Eco-gecko Wooden Cutlery Eco-Features:

• Made from FSC-certified birch wood
• 100% natural – no coatings added to the surface of the cutlery
• Biodegradable
• Compostable
• Smooth edges – making them safe for children to use
• Strong – knives can even cut steak
• Stylish – can be used at weddings or other catered events

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Baking yummy vegan treats can be difficult. Finding that right substitute for the eggs in your recipe can make or break that mmm factor. See how Sangeeta Kumar uses common household ingredients such as bananas, tofu, flax seeds, and other foods can be used as alternatives to eggs in cookies, cakes, muffins, and other baked good recipes.

Before you consider an incomplete set of dominoes as trash, think about crafting some unique drink coasters for your coffee table or as a gift for a friend that is a game lover. It’s a pretty simple DIY eco-friendly project when you use this step-by-step guide by NaturalMindset.

Supplies Needed:

• Hot glue gun & glue
• Scissors
• Old set of domino game pieces
• Eco-Friendly felt

Ever wonder what the variation is between different alternative fuel cars like a plug in hybrid, a flex fuel or an electric car?

Here’s a breakdown of all the different types of green vehicles that are currently available and also in development.

Hybrids

Hybrids combine two or more different propulsion systems, typically a gasoline engine and one or more electric drive motors. Most hybrids on the road today compliment their gas engines by charging a battery when breaking. Engines running on diesel or other alternative fuels can also be used in hybrids. A hybrid drive is fully scalable, which means the drive can be used to power everything from small commuter cars to large buses and even locomotives. Hybrids get more MPG or miles per gallon than most non-hybrids, and usually have very low tailpipe emissions.

Plug In Hybrids

Plug in hybrids get high MPG, cover many miles on battery power alone, and include a gasoline engine to provide greater range as needed. Plug in hybrids are mostly recharged from the grid, but some plug-in hybrid models can generate electricity when using them.

Electric Cars

Electric cars use one or more electric drive motors, powered by batteries, for zero-emission motoring. Electric cars are recharged by plugging into the grid, either  at home, or with special electric vehicle charging stations. Car manufacturers are actively developing a new generation of electric cars using technologies and lessons learned from electric vehicles developed in the 1990s. Electric cars are extremely efficient and run for pennies per mile, much cheaper than any other alternative fuel.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a renewable alternative fuel made from various sources ranging from waste vegetable oil to soybeans. Biodiesel can be used in most diesel powered cars without modification. Biodiesel is a cleaner fuel than standard petroleum diesel.

Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel made from biomass. As a popular alternative fuel, ethanol is typically used in the form of E85 to power flex fuel cars outfitted specifically to run on this blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. There are  more than 30 flex fuel vehicle models that have been designed to run on two fuels from the same tank. Most ethanol today is produced from corn or sugar cane, although this will change as cheaper cellulosic ethanol made from fast growing woody grasses and other biomass becomes a reality.

Hydrogen Cars & Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen is perhaps the cleanest of all alternative fuels, burning with nearly zero emissions in an internal combustion engine and with emissions of only water vapor and heat in an electro-mechanical fuel cell. Hydrogen vehicles are being developed in many forms by most major car manufacturers.

Air Powered Cars

Air powered cars are relatively new to the green car scene. Compressed air is currently being explored as a viable ‘alternative fuel’ to efficiently power car engines with little or no environmental impact.

Natural Gas

Natural gas, the cleanest-burning fossil fuel, is being used by an increasing number of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Natural gas is stored and used in its liquefied or compressed states. It is most commonly abbreviated as LNG for Liquefied Natural Gas, and CNG for Compressed Natural Gas. While a variety of light-duty natural gas cars were once available, the only factory-produced natural gas car made today in the U.S. is Honda’s Civic GX. Other car models may be developed and sold in the United States as additional focus is placed on natural gas as a fuel source for alternative fuel vehicles.

Via: GreenCar