I was quoted in this great article – 6 Tips to Green Your Nursery – for the mega website SheKnows.com, on how to create a greener nursery.

Check it out!

That’s why it is so encouraging to find out about TRUE Natural Sunscreens. Only 100% natural products are used to effectively block the sun without adding chemical exposures to your list of things that you do every day.

TRUE says that their sunscreens are “Biobased,” which means that all of the ingredients are made from renewable biological material. More impressive, though, is the fact that TRUE products have been named to the EWG’s Skin Deep Sunscreens List 2011 as some of the best products available. And if you follow the EWG, then you will be suitably impressed.

There’s no nano-particles in TRUE’s sunscreens, either. And while the topic is too long to be discussed here, the widespread use of nanoparticles in sunscreens to drive the product deep into your skin’s surface is raising eyebrows and raising questions about safety standards and health risks.

So, is this all natural sunscreen weird or gloppy or hard to use?!? NO! It goes on just like anything else, doesn’t really have too much of a scent, dries clear, and all of the other properties that you want from a sunscreen, without anything that you don’t.

Among the products available from TRUE are:

SPF 40 Sunscreen

SPF 20 Daily Moisturizer

Self Tanner

Sunscreen is important, but so is what you put onto your skin, your body’s largest organ. A sunscreen that uses all natural ingredients takes away the questions of whether your sunscreen has nasty ingredients, yet allows you to enjoy your fun in the sun without worries every day.

I have been writing non-stop for a month to meet my deadline, which is almost here, but I can do it!  With such a quick turn around, you can expect to see the book in bookstores early next year.

I look forward to sharing more about the upcoming book and all of the many ways that you can create a healthier, greener home and workplace, so stay tuned for more information!  It’s a great time to sign up for the monthly newsletter where I’ll be sharing the majority of the news and events.

Thanks so much for your support – and for wanting to create a healthier home!,

Kim

National Library of Medicine’s Tox Town, http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/teachers.php

EPA’s Superfund for Students and Teachers, http://www.epa.gov/superfund/students/index.htm

EPA’s Teaching Resources, http://epa.gov/teachers/teachresources.htm

National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Education page, http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/scied/

Washington’s Department of Ecology Hazards on the Homefront Teachers’s Guides, http://www.ecy.wa.gov/hazardsonthehomefront/index.html

National Library of Medicine’s additional Teacher Resources Listing, http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/home/forTeachers.jsp#School_Tools_and_Lesson_Plans

Think about it – you sleep on your bedding for eight to nine hours a night. You inhale what’s is coming off of the bedding at extremely close range, especially you side- and stomach- sleepers. Your skin is in direct contact with the sheets for hours on end. These are the things that don’t exactly have me roaming the bedding aisle on a frequent basis. I’m content with my sheets that are well-worn and chemical free. Until now.

I discovered these amazingly affordable organic sheet sets from Magnolia Organics. The colors are the first thing that grabbed my attention.  I mean, how can the bright, tropical colors of The Basics collection not make you smile?? Can’t afford a tropical vacation this year? Buy a sheet set in the color of Hawaiian Ocean. It’s much cheaper.

Perhaps you’ve got a more subdued color palette in the bedroom. Not to worry. The Dream, Essentials and Estate collections have colors for anyone – from dark browns and muted blues to classic creams and tans.

It’s easy to use organic cotton for anything.  It’s a great step in the right direction, but if the entire process isn’t eco-friendly, it’s eco-value is diminished. So I was very inquisitive about how Magnolia Organics was able to achieve colors beyond the drab “natural” of most eco-sheet sets and allow consumers to showcase their style through color. The good news is that they understand the entire system, too. The colors are made in an eco-friendly (and healthy) way without formaldehyde or heavy metals. And they believe in Fair Labor practices.  Pretty good stuff.

But along with all of the eco-goodness, the one thing that makes me even happier is the price point. Sure, organic cotton sheets are easy to come by nowadays.  But the value of Magnolia Organics’ sheets are hard to beat. I mean, an organic twin sheet set collection for only $34.99!!!  That’s unheard of. And reason enough to visit www.MagnoliaOrganics.com for your next bedding purchase.

Baby bedding is available, too – a necessity for little ones who should be protected from all of the nasty stuff that can be found in conventional bedding.

And it gets even better. You can also find duvet sets and barrier cloth mattress and pillow case covers.  The latter is especially a great find for me. I talk about the importance of barrier covers for your bedding to reduce your exposure to allergy-causing dust mites that are always found in the bed. However, most covers are made of a plastic material – neither good for you or your sleep. These are made of all cotton – and much more affordable than others that I’ve priced.

GREAT NEWS!!!! As a Get Green, Be Well reader, you can score a FREE baby swadle blanket (as pictured below) with any purchase on www.MagnoliaOrganics.com. Just enter the code Get Green Be Well.