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

Eco Chick Giveaway: Target Earth Day Giftbag

In honor of Earth Month, THREE lucky Eco-Chick readers will win and Eco-Starter Kit from Target. Making small changes, even during typical daily routines such as brushing your teeth and washing your hair can have a positive impact on the Earth.

The Target Eco-Starter Kit includes the following items (for more ideas visit the new eco-boutique):

Target Eco-Starter Kit:

* Home Organic Towels
* Dr. Bronner’s Organic Fair Trade Shikakai Soap
* Burt’s Bees Shampoo and Conditioner Value Pack
* Conair ECO Ionic 1400-watt Dryer
* Radius Source Toothbrush 3-pk
* H2O Eco Bottle (stainless steel)
* Reusable Tote Bag GiftCard
* Standard Reusable Shopping Bag
* Organic Archer Farms Fruit Bars

To win, leave a comment below telling us which product you’d most love to try and why. When you fill in the comment field, it will ask for you email address. This is the address I will use to contact the winner, so use a real email. There are three winners for this one!

Deets and Promises: Eco Chick does not sell, lease or lend any email addresses we collect. Giveaway ends Friday, April 23rd 2010. Good luck!

“Per FTC guidelines I am disclosing that Target is providing the product which will be given to the three readers.”

Under the Canopy Sale

We spend one third (that’s 33.3333 . . . percent) of our entire life “in bed” (disregard promiscuous college students). Yet, the importance of healthy bedding is often overlooked, considered excessive and far too expensive. Yes, some bedding items (i.e. the throw pillow) are unnecessary, but soft, cozy, non-toxic bedding is a must.

Luckily, there has never been a better time to indulge in organic bedding and bath too! Under the Canopy, the leading organic fiber company is offering a massive bed and bath sale.

If you’re in the market for some organic bedding or bath towels you won’t want to miss these prices. Discounted by—at least—a third, these organic and luxurious linens are a dream come true.

Under the Canopy pillowcases are down to $29.99 from $40.00.

Organic cotton towels down to $5.49.

Under the Canopy Organic Cotton duvets, sheets and blankets all on super sale too.

Baby Bunch

Baby Bunch makes these too-cute new-parent’s gifts. They look like a bunch of flowers, but they are really organic cotton baby onesies, booties, hats and towels. Because they’re disguised as a bouquet, they can be given as is, rather than wrapped, saving resources at the same time!

Portovert Debuts

Back in the beginning of December, I mentioned that a new online-only wedding magazine would be debuting in January. Well, Portovert is up and running, and it looks like they have some great content going on in their premiere issue!

If you are getting married, or know someone who is, check it out as there are some great features, like “5 Ways to Be Greener” during your nuptuals, and “Perfectly Zen” with tips for stress reducers prior to the Big Day. And don’t forget to check out their resources page, which they’ll be adding to as time goes on.

I attended the magazine’s launch party last week and there was all sorts of mainstream media there covering it (and eating awesome organic munchies, along with organic wine and vodka- Yum!). The wedding industry is so insanely waste-producing in so many ways that it’s great to see a publication dedicated to going green. Just think, if your average to-be-married couple just did half their wedding in an eco-concious way I’m sure they would save money (I say spend it on the Honeymoon!) and use fewer resources.

My Top 5 Wedding Planet- and Pocket- Savers

1. Request stuff you actually need and will use for wedding presents (duh!). If you are requesting linens, go organic (there are soooo many companies that offer organic sheets and towels now, in gorgeous colors and prints that rival anything you’d find in a department store or Pottery Barn). If you do need cookware, go for the good stuff that will last you a lifetime (I’m still using pots my grandmother got at her second wedding in the 60′s). If you are already pretty set with stuff, ask friends to give to your favorite charity/animal advocacy group/women’s shelter/environmental organization.

2. If you travel for your Honeymoon, buy carbon offsets for your plane trip (Mental note: that would be a great gift!) and stay at one of the many eco-lodges around the world. A honeymoon is a great excuse to go somewhere exotic….just don’t get so blissed out with your honey that your forget the gorgeous planet that you’re enjoying!

3. Consider only serving organic food or organic alcohol at your reception. If you can afford it, do both. If you have a summer or fall wedding, you should be able to find the bulk of the food at the farmer’s market. Going local will be delicious, cheaper, healthier and better for the planet. Using locally-grown flowers to decorate is also cheaper and Earth-friendly.

4. Skip the goody bags filled with junk-nobody needs. it. Or try giving away seed packets or soap– something that won’t end up in a landfill.

5. If you are going to get a diamond ring and gold or platinum band, look for certified non-conflict gems (ask the jeweler to see the paperwork, they’re obliged to show them to you) and recycled metals, or better yet, go vintage! (For Eco Chick’s coverage of diamonds, click here and here.)

Our Green House

Being pregnant with twins made me want to seek out the healthiest, enviro-friendly baby products. I came accross a business that is right here in my home state – Our Green House in Newtown, CT. Started by Pam and Michael Davis, the business came from the desire to find healthy, ecologically viable products to use at home. Pam and Michael originally had a business providing home environmental testing in New England – looking for asbestos, radon, lead paint, and mold. Now they bring these services, along with a bevy of green products and ideas, to their “Our Green House” shop started three years ago.
Their website is easy to navigate and Pam is very responsive to any questions you might have. This is a great resource for anyone investigating anything from organic bedding and towels to composting and organic fertilizers for the garden.