My Bon Ami {Review}

The literal translation for Bon Ami is "Good Friend" and that's no lie! I was deep in a full home cleaning, as Kevin's Mama was in town for Juliette's birthday party and I knew people would be in and out of my place. I wanted it to look as good as it could, given I have a crawling, exploring messy eating almost 1 year old! Enter Bon Ami, "America's Original Natural Home Cleaner."

Armed with All Purpose Cleaner, Dish Soap, Liquid Cleanser and Powder Cleanser I began to tackle the apartment, top to bottom. I usually use a few other natural cleaners which I love, but it's always great to try something new, give another brand a try. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease at which I forgot about my old products. Bon Ami has won me over.

Originally developed in 1886 as an alternative to the grittier quartz based options that were stocking shelves in the 1880's. There's something about a company that has been around this long that has me in awe, not only because they stayed true to their customers, but also to the planet. Their ingredient lists reads like so: limestone, baking soda, epsom salts, soda ash, corn alcohol and natural essential oils. Products come packaged in 100% post consumer recycled plastic and recycled paper labels (with the sweetest little chick mascot!). Their entire line is hypo allergenic, non-toxic, biodegradable and sustainable.

The price points are amazing as well, each product is mere dollars! What ailes me is that I've never heard of this line, where have I been, and where has it been!? Now that I've found it, I'm going to be telling everyone to pick themselves up a set of all products to try. My counters are sparking, my bathtub gleaming and dishes are, well, ready to eat off of!

Bon Ami indeed!

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Eco-Mama: Harvest Time

As summer winds its lazy warm way through these pleasant August days...it's suddenly harvest time on the family farm. Its a time of year where you try to squeeze in as many outdoor cook-outs and long evenings under the stars...a time to swim, a time to enjoy...and a time to frantically handle everything you planted coming on at once! There's nothing like peach trees snapping their branches they're so laden with fruit, corn that's passing into overripe by the half day and tomatoes plunking off the vines...so, we all set about to pick, cut and freeze many many bags of each, make peach cobbler, pie, jam, and tomato sauce to be frozen. Plans for this upcoming weekend include a lobster steam with cornbread, peach pie and tomato salad in celebration of my sister's birthday. What better way to end the last weekend of august??!!

Pictured above is about 1/16th of what is ripe for the picking, and quickly passing. I made pickled corn relish, tomato sauce and a peach cobbler instantly, and have to make and freeze even more peaches, and simmer some jam. Its all so delicious and makes me really feel like a hunter gatherer. Ahhh summer, organic gardening, and dirt in my toes.

For all the urban dwellers out there who don't have a garden or access to a share, shopping the farmer's markets for all your produce needs is just as important. It's the best way to eat fresh, local and seasonal. with the ever stronger push to re-kindle those instincts in us, the farmer's are also just as happy to provide. Make fresh tomato sauce, dry a few of your favorite herbs, [because those prices on one bunch of herbs in the dead of winter in NYC will make you wish you had spent $2.50 on some now]. Enjoy homemade pizza, cornbread and corn chowder...its easy and so delicious! Invite a friend or 2 over and call it an event with a tablecloth, bottle of wine, your "fanciest" tableware and don't forget to take some photos!

as always, take care and do something you call greening-it!
your Portland Eco-Mama,
~mariah

My reading this week is:
Living in The Family Room on the Martha Stewart blog.
In particular: The September issue of Living with a feature on MS Living decorating Editor Rebecca Robertson's NYC loft home, the amazing handmade chalkboard and color coordinated storage art wall and swing for her son. Amazing and such good blues!

Just Picked Up: Alba Cream Shave

I'm a product junkie, no question, I love trying new bath/shower/bodycare products but I am loyal to some. Alba Botanica Shave Cream is a mainstay in my lineup. I switch back and forth in scent, but I always come back to this jojoba, vitamin E enriched soap-free formula. My favorite scents are coconut lime & mango vanilla. Priced under $6 bucks you can't go wrong.

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Checking out for summer with Eco-Mama in Maine

Hello and happy august! I hope all of you are at it and doing eco better than before...in the high high heat of summer.
I have been in the midst of some major transitions, but all in the best ways possible. I moved to Portland Maine in January, and went though some changes which was a true test. It unfolded as a scramble from near desperation to the discovery that I was and am fully capable of handling everything that comes my way and enjoying some of it too!! Life is beautiful, what can I say, but love each moment. I am proudly working at an organic grocer over-seeing the coffee and candy/chocolate departments. Couldn't be happier to participate in "good organic practices" and classes that teach me where our food and body products come from. (more on that knowledge at a future date).
I am here to post some images of summer...that's all, just to share some of the homegrown goodness that's come from my work and need for organic produce and outdoor time. I've gained my summer's worth of vit. D and toned my body while working, weeding and tending to...also from running and playing on the beach. I've found some breath and balance too.

Until next time, I hope everyone feels good about their eco choices, and eat local, seasonal and fresh!!
ciao,
mariah

Oh, check out Lonny Magazine (love it!) and look for this article on page 41: Slowing It Down featuring Dominique Browning

A Vegan Palette {Review}

It was my birthday last week, and the day started off with the delivery of the latest offering from Urban Decay on my doorstep to review for Urban Branches. Lovely!

Urban Decay: Vegan Palette (Limited Edition)

When you care about things like the planet, your health and those around you I find you often have a growing list of complaints, or as I like to refer to them, "issues" that you must sift through when making daily choices. One of those issues is the use of animal products in my makeup. It's just a little icky to me. You?

They say that ignorance is bliss, well I say ignorance is not an excuse. We all know nowadays that our products both for inside and outside of our body are made sometimes from some not so nice ingredients. It's our jobs as consumers of these products to do our research, know what we are buying and vote with our hard earned dollars.

It's easy to choose the organic milk carton at the market, but when it comes to things like makeup it's not always as easy. Unless the product is directly marketed as eco, organic and animal friendly we're just not so sure. Until the day when all products are forced to state their ingredient origins we need to throw our dollars towards the companies that do state. Case in point, Urban Decay. I remember begging my parents for their uber cute nail polish when I was younger, it came with a rubber ring that I just had to have! Nowadays my desires are a little different, but by no means do I want to compromise cute and chic when making beauty choices. I don't wear too much makeup, I'm a mom now and the last thing I want is my daughter ending up with chemical laden, animal tested/products on her precious pure skin. I stick to a few brands, a few products and that's that. But it's been very exciting for this new mom to have a new product in her repertoire. The Limited Edition Vegan Palette by Urban Decay is chock full of fantastic. They've included 6 stunning eye shadow shades, ranging from teal to silvery green and of course lovely neutrals, a 24/7 eye pencil and a adorable travel sized Eyeshadow Primer Potion. To top it all off the packaging is recycled and they've used soy-based inks in the animal friendly designs. The Palette retails for $34 dollars and is available at Sephora.com, pick one up this instant!

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USDA Finally Admits Link Between Antibiotic Use in Farm Animals and Human Health

I would like to file this one under 'Duh' to be honest. We stuff our farmed animals with tons upon tons of antibiotics so that they can live in the horrific conditions we force upon them and we expect there to be no link in our growing resistance to antibiotics? It's amazing to me that this article is recent news, but here's the article anyway...

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J'adore Flickr!

1. carrots_5278.jpg, 2. 1006_3403 Mule Deer, 3. baby room, 4. Cool Balloons Underwater, 5. still life #25, 6. still life #15, 7. Untitled, 8. Closer! {Explored!}, 9. just dust, 10. Homemade Oreos, 11. The G1/ Nokton combo goes RAW!, 12. Strawberries cake, 13. Untitled, 14. Sun Kisses... view large!, 15. ~ Umbrellas ~, 16. EVENING LAVENDER

Garden Envy

My beautiful Mama (proof by the picture to the left!)sent me a bunch of photos showing off their sprouting flower, herb and vegetable garden. *drool

I wish I had a small plot of land to grow delicious fresh and purely organic foods that I could whip up for miss Juliette! If I could I'd grow asparagus, carrots, parsnips, strawberries, lemons, avocados (nevermind that I have no knowledge as to what can and can't grow in what climate). For now I'll enjoy the photos and the visits to their house where I can live that dream for a little while.

*All images courtesy of my Mama!

Team Meyer-Harley Loves Farm Sanctuary: DONATE!!!

Farm Sanctuary is an organization near and dear to my heart. I've read and loved Gene Baur's book, visited the upstate NY Farm Sanctuary with my husband and supported the organization for years. I couldn't be happier to join in the Walk For Farm Sanctuary this Fall in Central Park. Juliette and Kevin will be joining us for this event (her first work for charity!) and I can't wait! We're working to raise $400 for them so I am reaching out to my lovely and loyal readers to pitch in anything you can, even a dollar makes a difference. Check out some of my posts about Farm Sanctuary for more information.

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Here's the link to donate: http://www.firstgiving.com/lindsaymeyerharley

(Image:Juliette!)

The Little Seed Launches at Target! Yay!

The Little Seed launches at Target! If you don't already know about Soleil Moon Frye's The Little Seed website & store you just must get your butt over to it. Full of eco-friendly and purely lovely items for all the eco-chic babies out there.

This recent collaboration with Target is proof to me that organics are here to stay, this isn't a fad people! Parents are speaking up and shouting, we want to keep our babies safe and we want their planet to be safe as well. It's time to pull our your wallets and support the cause, buy organic, for your kiddos, your friends, your neighbors or yours to be someday! Go to the Target website and check it out for yourself, or get to your local store today and stock up. Full of uber-soft onsies, blankets and more you can't go wrong with this bright and colorful basics, all SUPER affordable too. On sale from now until October 16th.

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Daily Eco

Have a rummage night (or week in our case). Kevin and I have been having rummage night for years now, where we eat "whatever" in an effort to reduce food waste and save money. This week we are extending that to rummage week! So far we've roasted up a ton of veggies we had in the fridge, yummy frozen veggie presses from Trader Joe's, nachos and black bean quesadillas (which Juliette loved too I might add) and tonight we're serving up some tortellini, yum! I know it's going to get less exciting by week's end but we were on a mission to lesson our weekly grocery spending and do a real clean out. If that means we'll be having scrambled eggs and popsicles by Friday, so be it.

So get to it! Come up with lots of random, rummaged meals, you're walled and the earth will thank you. Plus then you can restock full of fresh and delicious goodies when you're finished cleaning house!

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Have a Sweet Weekend

Could this picture be any sweeter! Love using books (and baby!) as decor. Tres Chic!

Photo Credit

Just Picked Up: Eco-Tools Pouf

I'm starting a new posting theme called "Just Picked Up" where I let you all know my latest eco-purchase. I'll give a mini review too! Obviously being eco-friendly is consuming less, blah blah blah. Sorry, while I totally believe in that concept, I do know that my husband, my daughter and I need things, lots of things! In our house we've really scaled back our purchases and done a great job of ridding ourselves of most of the excess (donating, selling and giving away), but we still have shopping lists and grocery lists and want lists. So yes, stay away from the mega buying desires to lead an eco-friendly life, but enjoy your purchase power. You have the power to really show the world what you want and how you want to spend your money. I love showing a store's buyer with my purchase that I want organic, natural, local and recyclable items! Makes me feel empowered.

Out for a walk with Juliette in the already 95+ degree heat (global warming anyone?!) this morning had us ducking into shop after shop to soak up the free air conditioner. I did pick up a new shower sponge from EcoTools who make great eco-friendly beauty products such as makeup brushes (I've got 2 myself and love them). What makes this bath sponge earth friendly? They are made with 100% recycled plastic, love this! Less than $2 bucks I couldn't be happier! Pick up one for yourself at your local drug store.

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Juliette Loves The Park & The Beach

My little family has been spending the hot summery weekends outdoors as much as possible, from park picnics to beach days. We do our best to keep the air conditioner off and the things unplugged when not in use. Here's some fun I've been having putting together vintage looking photo booth photo strips of our adventures!

Eco-Mama: Sustainable Futures

It's been ages since Mariah, our Eco-Mama has posted, I'm happy to have her back on Urban Branches, enjoy...

"If hearing the words ‘reduce your carbon footprint’ makes your eyes glaze over, then the Sustainable Futures exhibition is for you. Not only will you come across products and ideas that are good for the planet and people (recycled clothing made from discarded parachutes, wooden radios made by hand in a remote village in Indonesia), but there’s also a range of prototypes and concepts that will set your mind pulsing about the myriad possibilities and excitement of sustainability in design."
Read More about it on StyleWillSaveUs. Exhibit at the London Design Museum, 'Sustainable Futures' runs until 5 September 2010.


(community oriented, sustainably designed Auburn 7)

I greatly, immensely admire sustainable design that is forward thinking, modern and fresh. As in a fresh spin on the way design is implemented. Sustainable design, in my opinion, should not look kitchsy and ragged; it is best to hold a high seat amongst timeless modernity. If we fully utilize our resources, re-use and re-purpose wood, harvest sustainable fibers/woods, concrete, steel and glass, I believe we have the power to create urban modern landscapes, city-scapes, buildings, furniture and accesories. There are so so so many out there already!

The Auburn 7 project in Silverlake, LA by MASS Architecture and Design, is a very inspiring piece of sustainability. Complete with Priuses, community gardens and solar power, this new plot of land became a hybrid for sustanable design. "New residents were also drawn to the stunning site at the peak of the hill and an ingenious design that rendered the homes sustainable in a way that went beyond the requisite energy-saving features— by maximizing density and sense of community. "
Read more here.

I subscribe to Dwell mag. I love reading every inch of each issue. The online site has a plethora of products, homes, people, places and ideas. For a beautiful home, I adore the article/photo above, (of the Lucky 7 project) and the simple piece below, a bamboo Parsons Platform Bed.

(styled clean and simply fully embellishes the beauty of this bamboo bed)

Egg Baby: Nuture Your Baby In Style (and win $200 worth of clothes!)

If you've seen Juliette's dresser, you know I have had a bit of fun shopping for my little doll. She looks good in everything what can I say!

There are so many clothing lines that I adore, but one that always has the most beautiful pieces is Egg Baby by Susan Lazar. I mean, hello the bikini (above)! The brand is know for it's simple but extremely beautiful designs. They use lots of organic cottons too! One of my most special items was J's Winter hat from Egg Baby, she wore it for months and it is one of my favorite keepsakes now that she's outgrown it.

Since I was pregnant I've been stocking her shelves with Egg Baby, and now that Juliette is almost 10 months old (gasp!) I'm thinking of the future of clothing that will last longer than a few weeks only!

I stock up on inexpensive basics and really relish in picking out special items at shops like Egg Baby. We've got a few choice items tucked away for Fall from Egg that I can't wait for Juliette to fit into. Currently she rocks their diaper covers a few days a week too!

I couldn't be more excited to promote their "Bundle of Love" contest! They know how much money us parents spend on our wee little ones and want to help with a $200 gift certificate to go shop on their site, which stocks clothing in sizes newborn to 6 yr.

Here are the rules:
The rules are simple – to enter, your readers can become our
Facebook fans, twitter followers or email subscribers. Each social network
counts as a submission so readers have multiple opportunities to win. Three
winners will be selected ($200 each) and will be notified via the applicable
social network. All they have to
do is visit this link: http://www.egg-baby.com/bundle-of-love-contest.html

Sign up, and they’re entered. It’s that easy! The contest runs from June 25th to July 18th, with the winners
announced on July 19th.

(All images from the Egg Baby website)