Modern Hippie Mag » Fab Finds

The Good, the Bad and the Not So Pretty

Jaszy McAllister — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:00:07 +0000

Well eco-peeps we have some news for ya. The good news is that tomorrow is ‘Food’ day and as you’ve come to expect, we have a super yummy raw food dessert from Natalia in our video series In the Kitchen with Natalia of Glowing Temple. I won’t spoil it, but it’s really easy to make and very chocolate-y!

The bad news is that next week Modern Hippie Mag will be offline for a few days, but for a very good reason. We’re going green, people!! We are making the transition to iPage, a Green Certified Hosting Company. iPage reduces its carbon footprint by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) generated by wind power. That means that their servers, offices and data centers are powered by 100% wind energy. iPage’s energy efficiency is equivalent to planting 2,390 acres of trees or removing 510 cars from the road! We’re pretty excited about it!

But that brings me to the “Not So Pretty”.

Although I have complete confidence in the folks over at iPage, I’m gonna be freakin’ out just a tad as we get it all sorted out. Your patience and words of soothing comfort would be greatly appreciated.

I hope that you will still connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Also, be sure to catch up on our videos on YouTube and our podcast interviews while we make the transition.

Thanks so much for continuing to support Modern Hippie Mag and for being a part of our community of eco-peeps!!

The Good, the Bad and the Not So Pretty is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

{Giveaway} Soaptopia – Bath Certified, Junk Free!

Jaszy McAllister — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:00:47 +0000

We had a great time getting to know Soaptopia and well, it’s time to share the love! Blessed Soaptopia, makers of some pretty awesome natural & handmade soaps, have generously offered to gift one pretty cool gift set to one very lucky Modern Hippie Mag reader! Best of all, you get to pick one of these below if you’re fortunate enough be to chosen as the winner!

Sir Follicle Whisker III

Sir Follicle Whisker III Shaving Kit ($36 value) comes with Badger Shaving Brush, Two All Natural Shaving Soaps, Wooden Shaving Soap Dish & Travel Bag. Choose any two Eucalyptus, Rosewood or Sweet Almond Shaving Soaps. It is all natural, eco-friendly and old school.

Eco Luscious Green Gift Box

Eco Luscious Green Gift Box ($27.50 value) contains 1 Yummy Handmade Soap, 1 50/50 Body Balm & 1 Salt Soak Scrub. All natural, handmade and delicious.

Five Soap Bubble Box ($30 value) contains five Soaps to a box in a variety of flavors -

Five Soap Bubble Box

choose from Moist-O-Rama, Scrub-A-Go-Go, High Five, Shower of Love, Lavender Schmavendar, or Green (visit site for scent details).

Note: To be eligible you must be a Modern Hippie Mag subscriber receiving our updates via email, or RSS, Facebook fan, and/or Twitter follower (tell us your Twitter name in your comment below).

(Complete the following in separate comments below for more chances to win!)

In a comment below tell us which gift set you’d love to own and why.
Follow Soaptopia on Twitter, @Soaptopia.
Show that you like Soaptopia on Facebook.
Tweet this: {Giveaway} Soaptopia, Bath Certified, Junk Free! http://ow.ly/2ehcS @Soaptopia #soaprcks
(Tweet often but don’t forget to add #soaprcks to your tweet so that we can keep track!)

For additional entries, chat us up!

Blog about this giveaway and link to this post.
Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall.
Add Modern Hippie Mag to your Blog Roll or Featured Blogs list.

(Remember to leave a separate comment for each requirement for more chances to win!)

More details:

Open to U.S. entrants only.
Recipients chosen at random using Random.org.
Won something in the last thirty days? Last month’s winners are ineligible for this giveaway.
Giveaway ends 12 midnight EST, on Tuesday, August 3, 2010. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, August 4, 2010.
Winner will be contacted via email and/or Twitter. You will have 48 hours to respond at which time another winner will be randomly chosen.

Big thank you to Marc G. over there at Soaptopia for sponsoring this giveaway!

{Giveaway} Soaptopia – Bath Certified, Junk Free! is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Best bags for your veggies!

Jaszy McAllister — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:00:51 +0000

We’ve all heard the alarming stats about plastic, and even though I felt I was doing my part by reusing my produce bags to discard kitty poop, truth is whether or not you recycle plastic bags, the energy and expense of making them still takes a toll on our environment. So I started scanning the web for reusable produce bags for my veggies, and though I found several different ones, most of them were made of canvas…who can see through canvas? Which meant that the grocery teller would have to open the bags and possibly put their grubby little hands on my veggies (yes, I know it’s illogical, especially given that several hundred people probably put their grubby little hands on my veggies before I even know it!). But I digress. So just imagine my excitement when I found reusable produce bags that are virtually see-through!!

Flip & Tumble

I am so loving my Flip & Tumble Reusable Produce Bags (set of 5/$10.95) from ReusableBags.com! The Flip & Tumble bags are made from breathable, durable polyester, are compact and lightweight with drawstring closure, and resist staining and shrinking better than natural fiber bags. Plus, the fine mesh allows you to use them for smaller bulk items. Keeping them clean is a cinch – simply machine wash and line dry. And let me tell you, I turned some heads at the farmer’s market recently, everyone wanted to know where I got them! They are definitely a smarter and cooler alternative to plastic produce bags!

Reusablebags.com specialize in providing a huge selection of reusable shopping bags and related accessories. And check it out, they’re having a fab Summer Sale! Take advantage of some serious savings on some of their other popular high-quality items:

Reusable shopping bags (starting at under $4)
Stylish, durable water bottles (starting at under $7)
Lunch bags (starting at under $4)
Food containers (starting at under $8)
Items for kitchen & home (starting at under $4)

They also have great deals on reusables from brands like Klean Kanteen, SIGG, ACME, Thermos and countless others!

So do your part, ditch the plastic, buy your own Flip & Tumble Reusable Produce Bags, and be the talk of your farmer’s market!

Jaszy

Jaszy McAllister is the woman behind the curtain of Modern Hippie Mag. She is also the host for ModernHippieMag.com video and podcast interview profiles and a Green Guru for TheGreenGirls.com. Find her on Twitter, @msjaszy. Read more articles by Jaszy.

Best bags for your veggies! is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

The Very Best of Dining Etiquette – Fabkins

Jeanne Blaisdell — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:00:58 +0000

“Hey Mom, I’m eco-friendly!” my 10 year old says to me as he wipes his mouth off on his sleeve. “Very funny, now use your napkin!”, I retort.

Beach Bound

Though we haven’t used paper napkins in a while, my boys sometimes just seem to find their clothes an easier option. So now that I’ve discovered Fabkins, using a cloth napkin is a little more fun. These adorable, 100% certified organic cotton napkins come in bright colors with upbeat embroidered designs reflecting kids interests, making mealtime manners a possibility and of course, reducing unnecessary waste at the same time. Each of mine have their own Fabkin with a unique design from the Beach Bound and Extreme Sports collection and wouldn’t think of letting the other brother use it. Other styles include Prima Ballerina, Garden Friends and African Safari.

What I like most about Fabkins is the size – trimmed down a bit and perfect for smaller hands, mouths and laps. It’s also great for the lunchbox, traveling and for a place-setting-to-go. It can even double as a place mat and the tag has a line to write the child’s name. By simply adding a Fabkin to a waste-free school lunch, you can save around $250 and eliminate 67 pounds of waste every year. Now that’s something to smile about…so now…Use your Fabkin!

Jeanne

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness. She has also launched EcoAvenueLtd.com, an online shopping site featuring the latest deals and promotions from a collection of earth-friendly merchants. Jeanne lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Tom and two boys, Jack (10) and Ben (7). Find The Green Samaritan on Facebook, follow on Twitter @GreenSamaritan and @EcoAvenueltd.

The Very Best of Dining Etiquette – Fabkins is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

The Art of Natural Shaving

Steve McAllister — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:00:57 +0000

Last year, I started exploring a better way to shave. I’d been using a Schick Quattro razor, and while it gave me a pretty clean shave, I could only use each head for so many uses because it would get too gunked up, and the “disposable” aspect of using a disposable razor didn’t sit right with my eco-conscious constitution. I also realized that spending at least $10 a month on new razor heads wasn’t doing any great favors for my wallet. (I don’t know about you, but in any given year I can think of several better uses for that $120 than throwing more plastic into the landfill.)

So I took a few steps back to before people used disposable razors and invested in an old school safety razor. The razor itself cost me just over twenty bucks, and if I apply a little olive oil to the blades after I shave and clean them, a pack of ten blades that costs only two dollars or so can easily last me several months. I’m not only saving money; I’m not throwing away all of that plastic, and once I’m finished with the pack, I can throw all of the used razors into the recycling bin. (Every little bit helps, right?)

Since finding my new shaving tool, I’ve also been trying out new shaving creams, soaps, and gels. I have a half can of Barbisol in my medicine cabinet as a standby, but I haven’t had the need to use it in awhile so I don’t have to worry about releasing any more aerosol into the atmosphere or putting any unnatural ingredients on my skin.

As far as shaving with soap goes, Soaptopia has some excellent selections, and they come with a wooden shaving dish ($11 for both) that you can buy refills for ($5 each) when you run out. They also offer pretty reasonably priced badger bristle brushes (I’d hate to be the guy who plucked those out of the badger) for $28. The base consists of vegetable oil processed with castor oil, avocado oil, vitamin E, jojoba oil, macadamia nut oil, and aloe vera essential oils. They lather up with a brush pretty good and offer a nice, smooth shave. They offer eucalyptus, rosewood, and almond scented soaps, each with just enough essential oils to give a nice scent without being overpowering. My only problem with shaving with soap, and it’s one that is not that hard to get over, is that I have to shave in sections. The soap lathers up nicely, but it doesn’t last very long. Nevertheless, it’s still one of the most natural ways to shave and a bar of soap will last a good, long while. (On a side note, I highly recommend taking a few minutes to look through some of Soaptopia’s handmade soaps. Not only are they creative, all natural blends, the names they give them are very creative as well, like Woody Wood Pepper, The Grapefruit Gatsby, and Aloe Be Thy Name.)

For regular shaving cream, Everyman Jack is some pretty good stuff. It is not tested on animals and contains no parabens, phthalates, dyes, or sodium lauryl sulfate. It does, however, contain a lot of other stuff that I can’t pronounce, but I’m pretty sure they’re not as bad for your skin as those other things are. What is does have is squaline, a wheat germ derivative that lubricates and softens your skin; hydrating olive oil extract; soothing chamomile; and healing aloe. I use the unscented, but they also offer a mint scent. You can either lather it up in your hands or with a brush. Either way, it offers a really nice shave and only costs $6.

Since even broaching this subject already probably classifies me as a metrosexual, I’m gonna lean on my mention of Everyman Jack to balance my masculinity and delve forward into this next product. To be fair, when my wife got it for me, I did not realize that Whish Almond Shave Gel was “the original non-foaming shaving cream for women.” I just discovered that while researching for this article. Nevertheless, having already used it, I’ve got to say that it is the mack-daddy, bomb-diggity best! It has no parabens, sulfates, DEA or TEA, or petrochemicals. And it not only contains squalene, but also organic shea butter, organic green tea, and organic jojoba seed oil. They also don’t test on animals and it comes in an earth-friendly pump or jar. It goes on with a smooth sheen, and leaves me with a magically smooth face when I’m done shaving. It’s the priciest of the bunch at $24 for only 5 ounces, but thankfully, you don’t have to use as much. (As another side note, the guy who invented it did so because his wife liked his European shaving cream so much, but didn’t like smelling like English Leather. So I guess my masculinity is still intact.)

Steve McAllister

In addition to serving as Managing Editor and contributor to Modern Hippie Mag, Steve McAllister is an actor, musician, accomplished author and filmmaker. His most recent novel, The McAllister Code is available as an e-book at www.themcallistercode.com. Find Steve on Twitter, @InkenSoul. Read his reviews and articles here.

The Art of Natural Shaving is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

The Natural Beauty of Earth Essentials

Jaszy McAllister — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:00:19 +0000

I have been a fan of Earth Essential’s Earth Science products for some time now after being introduced to them in an article published in body+soul Magazine last year. At the time I was desperately searching for an effective yet gentle eye makeup remover and was pleased to find the Earth Science Chamomile & Green Tea Eye Makeup Remover. The results exceeded my hopes and expectations. Additionally, I was pleased to learn that the science and mission of Earth Science has always been to create affordable paraben free products, which they have done for the past twenty-five years. Their products are never tested on animals, contain natural and organic ingredients, and are extremely reasonably priced. Since that initial fab find I have incorporated several other Earth Science products into my beauty care routine and have been consistently pleased with their results. Imagine my excitement when I got an opportunity to chat with Ken Grand, Earth Essentials Owner & President.

Ken Grand

Ken has a long history in natural beauty care having founded Alba Botanica thirty years ago, and based on our conversation appears to be one really cool modern hippie! Check out our chat…

Two lucky winners will have a chance to try Purfection Hand Cream, the newest addition to the Earth Science line!

The Purfection Hand Cream is rich in vitamins C and E, aloe vera, shea butter and jojoba. It is extremely hydrating and in my humble opinion makes a purrrrfect all-over lotion too!

(Complete the following in separate comments below for more chances to win!)

Follow Earth Science on Twitter, @EarthScience_.
Show that you like Earth Science on Facebook.
Tweet this: {Giveaway} The Natural Beauty of Earth Essentials http://ow.ly/251vO @EarthScience_ #earthess (Tweet often but don’t forget to add #earthess to your tweet so that we can keep track!)

For additional entries, chat us up!

Blog about this giveaway and link to this post.
Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall.
Add Modern Hippie Mag to your Blog Roll or Featured Blogs list.

(Remember to leave a separate comment for each requirement for more chances to win!)

More details:

Open to U.S. entrants only.
Recipients chosen at random using Random.org.
Won something in the last thirty days? Last month’s winners are ineligible for this giveaway.
Giveaway ends 12 midnight EST, on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, July 21, 2010.
Winner will be contacted via email and/or Twitter. You will have 48 hours to respond at which time another winner will be randomly chosen.

Big thank you to Earth Essentials for sponsoring this giveaway!

The Natural Beauty of Earth Essentials is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

When life gives you lemons…

Jaszy McAllister — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:00:05 +0000

…try not to pummel anyone with them!

iStock image

I am a peaceful person, I love my neighbor, and I believe in the Golden Rule…and yet it took LOTS of mental and emotional restraint last week when we suspected that our beloved Modern Hippie Mag may have succumbed to a wretched case of HACKING!!

There was the initial frustration, anger, disgust and maybe a few tears but we’ve managed to fix the problem and want to sincerely thank you for your patience, support and understanding.

I want to give a shout out to David Dede, Sucuri Security for being on the ready to help and to answer my questions. Also, thanks to Jason Remillard, SiteSecurityMonitor.com for creating a kick-ass WordPress security plugin!

I want to personally assure you that I am committed to ensuring that your experiences with Modern Hippie Mag are stress-free and enjoyable. If you were put off by the annoying redirects and pop-ups, please know that we have corrected the issue and hope that you will continue to join us for really cool eco-tips, news and stuff!

Check out what’s ahead for this week…

Earlier this month we had the opportunity to interview Dr. Rich Pierce at Mote Marine Laboratories regarding the BP oil disaster. This week we’re following up with a couple local events focusing on our local community’s reactions.

First up is a video featuring the Hands Across the Sands event that took place on Siesta Key. Over 3,000 concerned citizens were joined by members of the Sarasota County Commission as they joined hands in solidarity at the shoreline, an event mirrored worldwide.

Later we got to ‘shake our groove thang’ at DISCOBALL, a dance party event with proceeds benefiting the Mote Marine Laboratory’s Oil Spill Emergency Fund, turn up your speakers because you’ll want to dance to some of the funky tunes!

We’ll also be chatting with Anna-Mieke Anderson of MiaDonna & Company, to learn more about “green” diamonds. And you don’t want to miss our podcast interview with Jennifer Branham, of NaturalLuxe.com with a special surprise ending!

Of course we can’t forget that the ROSEL sustainable fashion giveaway ends this week. One lucky winner will be chosen to receive a signature ROSEL shrug valued at $325! All entries must be received by 12p midnight EST, Tuesday 6/29/10. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, June 30th.

There’s more including fab eco-fashion, beauty and tips and more in store!

Jaszy McAllister

Jaszy McAllister is the woman behind the curtain of Modern Hippie Mag. She is also the host for ModernHippieMag.com video and podcast interview profiles. She is also a Green Guru for TheGreenGirls.com. Find her on Twitter, @msjaszy. Read more articles by Jaszy.

Please VOTE for Jaszy to win her very own talk show in the Oprah OWN contest voting ends 7/3/10!

Want to have your company, product or service featured in a video or podcast? Contact us! Watch our video profiles and listen to our podcast interviews.

When life gives you lemons… is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Ice Cream Insanity…There May Be a Cure

Shayna Teicher — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:00:51 +0000

We’ve all heard this one before- What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. When it comes to ice cream, I am definitely a nutter.

Despite the knowledge that I’m lactose intolerant, that my skin looks a hundred times better when I avoid excess dairy, and that even one cold, creamy, delectable scoop leaves me, well, let’s just say “uncomfortable” for at least two days, if it’s around I can’t NOT have ice cream. It doesn’t help that my roommate (who is also not so good with the dairy products) is a HUGE Ben & Jerry’s fan. She’ll bring home a pint (or two) and we’ll indulge “just this time”, but then we’ll run out…so I have to buy more, since she bought it last time. Before we know it, we’ve each gained two pounds, are grouchy, breaking out, and not feeling so hot, at which point I resolve to go back to being ice cream-free (until the next craving hits).

Additionally, I’m a foodie. I love to cook and bake which, to its merit, has kept me in avoidance of processed foods. My rule has been that I pretty much eat what I want, as long as it’s made fresh, from scratch, with as many organic ingredients as possible. On the flip side, though, I love great cheese and great bread. For me, a spinach salad with seared organic skirt-steak, tomatoes, red onion, orange wedges and homemade balsamic-olive oil-vinaigrette is only truly complete and balanced with a dollop of fresh Chevrie goat cheese on top. And so I continue to compromise- especially on the dairy thing. More especially on the ice cream thing.

Then, I read an article in the May 2010 issue of Psychology Today (sorry the article’s not online-but it’s worth buying the issue which has a ton of great articles) about the Paleolithic diet- the concept that, from an evolutionary perspective, human beings were never really designed to consume dairy and grains (even though the ubiquitous food pyramid would have us think differently)- certainly not in the quantities that we do today. Before the advent of modern agriculture, humans ate lots of plant foods- fruits, nuts, berries, etc- and lots of lean proteins from wild game and fish. But cheese? Milk? bread? The modern staples (practically) of the human diet- these were not part of the our original diet. This food theory goes on to posture that many of our modern diseases and health problems are due, in large part, to our diet. While there are arguments for and against this Paleolithic diet, I think Dr. Andrew Weil has perhaps the best, most intelligently guided advice on this subject. Basically, let’s do our best to go back to eating more like our ancestors, but still incorporate lots of fresh fruits and veggies (which they couldn’t always) and some carbs-but the right ones.

So I resolved that, while I’m just not ready to give up my morning latte (made with lactose-free milk), I would cut back on as much unnecessary dairy as possible so I could enjoy the benefits of feeling and looking better. Wouldn’t you know it, just before the weekend, a fun, spunky, very sweet girl happened to come into the store and we started talking about exactly this. She shared with me the story of her recent nutritional revelation. She cut out her soft drinks and juices, started using only fresh ingredients, and not only did she lose weight (10 lbs in a month!) without even trying, she was feeling better. She found that after a couple of weeks, she couldn’t even eat the processed, high-fat, foods that she used to without feeling ill. Buh-bye Popeye’s.

And then, she blew my mind…

“You have to try this ice cream!” she insisted. “It’s called Purely Decadent- it’s got these chocolate praline things in it and caramel, like, real, caramel! And it’s totally dairy-free.” She could see the skepticism all over my face. After all, being health conscious, lactose-intolerant, and right around the corner from Whole Foods, I had made a few forays into the world of non-dairy frozen treats before and was always disappointed. “Seriously,” she urged me “I was like- there no milk in this? You’ve gotta be kidding me.” The whole rest of the day, all I could think about was this supposedly delicious dairy-free ice cream.

So I went to Whole Foods after work, and bought a pint of the Turtle Tracks (she had been very clear that I was to get the one with the pralines in it). My first bite was cold, sweet and surprisingly creamy (far more than the coconut milk ice cream I had previously tried), with only a barely perceptible taste of the soy. By the time a got to my third bite (it was good enough to keep eating, for sure) the soy flavor was even less apparent.

Later that night when I dug into my second serving (I told you I was an ice cream-crackpot) I couldn’t even taste the soy. She was soooooo right- the pint was packed with tons of gooey caramel and dark chocolate covered pralines (which were my favorite part, too). The whole pint is gone now, and I’m going back to Whole Foods after work to try another flavor. Maybe one with less caramel this time. But seriously, when my only complaint (if you even can call it that) about this SOY ICE CREAM is that there might have been more caramel than was necessary, I think that’s pretty impressive.

Purely Decadent from Turtle Mountain is vegan and dairy-free and the Gluten-free flavors are clearly labeled as such. There’s also a coconut milk-based ice cream, but I haven’t tried it, so be sure you get the soy one. BONUS- click on the “Rewards” tab at the top of the website and you can print a coupon for $1 off- which, at $4 a pint is 25% off!

Epilogue: A Purely Decadent Evening

Naturally, I left my coupon in the car when I went to Whole Foods after work, but that didn’t stop me from getting another pint of Purely Decadent’s soy ice cream (you know, because I have to do my due diligence for you guys!). I finally decided on the Mint Chocolate Chip. Well, I didn’t wait until after dinner to try it- in fact, it didn’t even make it into the freezer! The Mint Chocolate Chip was even better than the Turtle Tracks- the rich, dark chocolate shavings were generously swirled throughout the entire pint (very Ben & Jerry’s style), and they were rich and very, very satisfying. The mint “ice cream” was dreamy, perfectly minty, and so creamy it could easily be mistaken for dairy. Purely Decadent now not only has my approval, but my deepest gratitude.

Shayna Teicher

After nearly three years managing a bath and beauty boutique, Shayna decided to go out on her own and open Butterfly Effect, a holistic, eco-conscious beauty boutique located in Sarasota, Florida. Our very own “Beauty Chick”, read Shayna’s other intriguing articles and product reviews here.

Ice Cream Insanity…There May Be a Cure is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

ROSEL, Luxuriously Sustainable Eco-fashion

Jaszy McAllister — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:00:58 +0000

Juliane wearing ROSEL shrug

Recently I had the pleasure of chatting with ROSEL designer Juliane Camposano and learned a bit about her passion for fashion and the environment. Named for Camposano’s great-aunt, a fashion designer based in Berlin in the 1930s, ROSEL is a full-fashion knitwear line created with respect for the environment and for the comfort of women.

ROSEL’s stylish wares are made with luxurious bamboo and cotton yarns that offer extraordinary comfort and natural wicking qualities, making them ideal for even sensitive skin.

Both the bamboo and cotton derived yarns used in ROSEL are sourced from fibers cultivated using organic and sustainable practices, are free of any pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and are fair-trade certified.

Listen to our chat to learn more. Check out the ROSEL line.

Roselwear

Modern Hippie Mag Podcast

ROSEL Boogie Jumpsuit

Personally, I was just smitten with the Boogie Jumpsuit, it speaks to my inner modern hippie! It’s fun, groovy and sustainably sexy…it doesn’t get any better than that. Unless of course if it were free!

ROSEL tote

Speaking of free, Juliane was kind enough to offer one very lucky Modern Hippie Mag reader a chance to own one of her luxuriously fashionable shrugs (she’s wearing it in the photo), valued at $325. This is our most valuable giveaway to date! You will also receive a signature ROSEL eco-tote made with 100% organic cotton.

For your chance to win a ROSEL shrug and tote you must:

(Complete the following in separate comments below for more chances to win!)

Follow ROSEL on Twitter, @roselwear.
Show you like ROSEL on Facebook.
Tweet this: {Giveaway} Get your Sustainable Fashion, ROSEL! http://ow.ly/1YtVA #roselwr @modernhippiemag. (For additional entries, tweet often but don’t forget to add #roselwr to your tweet so that we can keep track!)

More details:

Open to U.S. entrants only.
Recipients chosen at random using Random.org.
Won something in the last thirty days? Last month’s winners are ineligible for this giveaway.
Giveaway ends 12 midnight EST on Tuesday, June 29th 2010. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010.
Winner will be contacted via email and/or Twitter. You will have 48 hours to respond at which time another winner will be randomly chosen.

HUGE thanks to Juliane Camposano for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway!

Jaszy McAllister

Jaszy McAllister is the woman behind the curtain of Modern Hippie Mag. She is also the host for ModernHippieMag.com video and podcast interview profiles. She is a self-taught jewelry designer featuring her eco-conscious jewelry designs at www.Jaszy.com. She is also a Green Guru for TheGreenGirls.com. Find her on Twitter, @msjaszy. Read more articles by Jaszy.

Please VOTE for Jaszy to win her very own talk show in the Oprah OWN contest!

Want to have your company, product or service featured in a video or podcast? Contact us! Watch our video profiles and listen to our podcast interviews.

ROSEL, Luxuriously Sustainable Eco-fashion is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Cleaning Up Your Dry Cleaning with The Green Garmento!

Jeanne Blaisdell — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:00:11 +0000

We all have to do it…gather up dirty “dry clean only” garments and head off to the neighborhood cleaners every week or so. To help you clean up your dry cleaning dilemma, here’s a hit list of things to consider:

Perchloroethylene or PERC – While organic cleaners are not on every corner just yet, be aware of the associated risks with PERC, the major cleaning solvent which is now considered a “likely human carcinogen”.
Process – Don’t be shy. Ask your cleaner about their process for cleaning. Do they use a wet or CO2 technology which is safer than PERC? Check this directory to see if you have an eco-friendly cleaner in your neighborhood.
Hangers - Hang on to those hangers and return back to the cleaners.
Plastic bags – Did you know that 300 million pounds of single-use plastic dry cleaning bags end up in the landfill every year? Did you also know they can be recycled along with the plastic shopping bags? Consider adding that to your recycle list.

Green Garmento

Better yet, invest in your own dry clean garment bag to avoid the plastic mess altogether. The Green Garmento is a winner! I purchased one to try out from The Ultimate Green Store for $9.99 and it’s absolutely great. The bag fits nicely in the hamper to collect your clothes so all you need to do is pull out and you are bagged and ready to drop off. Then it converts to the garment bag upon pick up. There is a plastic sleeve on the front for an ID tag and I also have instructions on how to use the bag. What a relief not to have to unwrap and deal with the plastic. Best of all, my dry cleaner loves the bag too!

Though my dry cleaning, and perhaps yours as well, will never totally go away, we can strive to purchase clothes that do not require dry cleaning in the first place. And for those items that do, at least we can be a little cleaner in the process.

So clean up your dry cleaning and enjoy!

For your chance to win a Green Garmento:

In a comment below choose your color – blue or green.
Follow The Green Garmento on Twitter, @GreenGarmento
Follow me on Twitter, @greensamaritan.
Fan The Green Samaritan on Facebook.
Tweet this: {Giveaway} Clean up your Dry Cleaning! http://ow.ly/1WGSd #garmento @modernhippiemag

More details:

Open to U.S. entrants only.
Recipients chosen at random using Random.org.
Won something in the last thirty days? Last month’s winners are ineligible for this giveaway.
Giveaway ends 12 midnight EST on Wednesday, June 23rd 2010. Winner will be announced on Thursday, June 24th, 2010.
Winner will be contacted via email and/or Twitter. You will have 48 hours to respond at which time another winner will be randomly chosen.

Jeanne Blaisdell

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness. She has also launched EcoAvenueLtd.com, an online shopping site featuring the latest deals and promotions from a collection of earth-friendly merchants. Jeanne lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Tom and two boys, Jack (10) and Ben (7). You can follow her @GreenSamaritan and @EcoAvenueltd.

Cleaning Up Your Dry Cleaning with The Green Garmento! is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.