Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

2 More Days For Under the Canopy Sweepstakes

Hurry! Make haste. Only two days left to enter the Eco-Chick and Under the Canopy Organic Cotton Bedding Giveaway Sweepstakes.

In case you haven’t heard, Eco-Chick and fan-favorite organic bath, bedding and fashion co., Under the Canopy, have teamed up to give one lucky reader a gorgeous organic cotton bedspread—for free! The organic bedspread is brand new from Under the Canopy’s eco-luxury Top of Bed Collection; and did we mention it’s made from 100 percent certified organic cotton and eco-friendly dyes?

Best of all, sweepstakes entrants can choose one spread from a selection of 4 designs–all inspired by nature! Options include Breezy Leaf in vanilla, soft pink and rye; Earth Grove in stem (green) and white; Shimmering Vine in vanilla with gold accent; and Garden Shadow in white eyelet.

Earth Grove in stem (green) and white.

Garden Shadow in white eyelet.

Shimmering Vine in vanilla with gold accent.

Breezy Leaf in vanilla, soft pink and rye.

Time is running out. Be sure to visit the Eco-Chick and Under the Canopy Sweepstakes Post to enter your name before May 31st for a chance to win one of the above bedspreads. Good luck!

Organic Soy Nail Polish Remover

Have you ever wondered what exactly goes into that bottle of nail polish remover? Have you asked–while chocking on the sharp stench of noxious aroma–“is this stuff safe?” If so, then you’re not alone. Priti Organic Spa owner, Kim D’amato, wondered the same and thus created Priti Soy Based Polish Remover, a acetone free and completely organic non-toxic nail polish remover.

Acetone (also known as 2-propanone), is the main ingredient found in most nail polish removers. A highly flammable and potentially poisonous liquid, acetone is the leading ingredient in commercial solvents and paint thinners. If you prefer to avoid, but want to keep up with those mani/pedis then Priti’s Soy Based Polish Remover is perfect for you (as well as expectant mothers, nursing mothers and young children).

In addition to being toxin free, Priti’s Soy Based Polish Remover is:

*100% biodegradable
*100% soy and corn based
*non-carcinogenic
*free of any petroleum ingredients
*derived from farm crops (supporting American farming)
*packaged in 100% recyclable glass bottles

Find your toxic-free polish at Priti Organic Spa in New York City or purchase online at beautyhabit.com.

Green Schools 101

Green schools are inarguably the right decision for our children and the environment. Though up-front costs are higher, green buildings save enough in operation and maintenance expenses to pay for their original construction in a matter of months. The money saved on energy bills (the annual energy savings from a single green school is generally in the 6-digit range) can be reallocated to pay for important school initiatives, additional teachers, better computers, or thousands of textbooks. Green schools also prevent the unnecessary production of millions of tons of CO2. Overall, buildings are the largest contributors to US CO2 production. Renovations and new school construction represent the largest construction sector in the U.S.—$80 billion in 2006-2008, about 27% of the US construction market (source: McGraw-Hill).

Given the enormous financial and environmental benefits, green schools seem an obvious choice, but red tape, laws and up-front costs often prevent their construction. The highly localized nature of school budgets creates a bureaucratic disconnect between capital funds (used for construction) and operating funds (used for utility bills). The difference in funding sources makes it difficult for schools to realize the potential operating-cost savings of a green building investment.

To help school boards realize the financial and environmental benefits of green building, The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has launched the “Green Schools Advocate” Program. The program will select and train national volunteers to advocate green schools to local school boards and state boards of education.

About 75 advocates will be chosen and will be invited to attend a two-day training camp at the USGBC’s headquarters in Washington, DC. Training camp will cover the benefits of green schools, LEED for Schools certification, and tactics to propel the decision-making process of building, renovating, and maintaining green schools. Advocates will learn to present the case for green schools to district governments, the local media, and other stakeholders including PTA groups.

The “Green Schools Advocate” program is a rare opportunity to make an impact in a range of causes. Green schools provide healthier learning environments for our children and reallocate money squandered on energy bills for better educational initiatives. To boot, green schools act as community exemplars, teaching tools and levers for mainstreaming green building practices into homes and offices around the US. Most of all, green schools would save millions of unnecessary tons of CO2.

If you want to get involved or think you might make a stellar “Green Schools Advocate” email The United States Green Building Council at buildgreenschools@usgbc.org. Or visit the USGBC’s Green Schools Website buildgreenschools.org for more information.

Under The Canopy Organic Bedding Giveaway

Check it out! Under the Canopy, our favorite ecofashion and organic cotton bath ‘n bedding co. is offering one lucky Eco Chick reader a gorgeous organic cotton bedspread—for free!

Earth Grove in stem (green) and white.

Garden Shadow in white eyelet.

Shimmering Vine in vanilla with gold accent.

Breezy Leaf in vanilla, soft pink and rye.

Brand new from Under the Canopy’s eco-luxury Top of Bed Collection, your duvet is made from 100 percent certified organic cotton and eco-friendly dyes.

The designs and colors are inspired by nature, including Breezy Leaf in vanilla, soft pink and rye; Earth Grove in stem (green) and white; Shimmering Vine in vanilla with gold accent; and Garden Shadow in white eyelet.

How To Win: Write your favorite style in the comments section below (be sure to fill in your email address when you leave your comment!**) and you’ll be automatically entered into Eco-Chick’s Under the Canopy Free Bedspread Sweepstakes. Winner will receive one of Under the Canopy’s Top of Bed duvets, retailing for $325.00.

**Eco-Chick and Under the Canopy promise not to sell, distribute, or otherwise make your address public. It will be used only for communications from Eco Chick and Under the Canopy. Sweepstakes ends May 31st.

Enter your comment below . . . and good luck!

Fashion Fixture: Theory Ellissa Trench

Spruce tailoring meets functional yet form-flattering fit. The trench coat, or trenchcoat, is a true statement in sophisticated style. An enduring symbol of modern elegance, it has wrapped the famous frames of fashion icons from Audrey Hepburn to Gwyneth Paltrow to uber-it-girl Sienna Miller.

Now us eco-chicks can get in on the trench-trend with the Ellissa coat from Theory’s Green Capsule Collection. Available only at Barneys and Theory retail stores nationwide, this double-breasted spring/summer item is expensive, $515 to be exact. But, if you value fashion and beautifully crafted organic sateen, then this might be splurge worth splurging for. Ruched belted waist, seam pockets, button-tab detail at cuffs and center vent—or just look at the picture below. To purchase your Ellissa trench visit Theory or Barneys.