Video: How To Turn Black Friday Green

Black Friday is right around the corner. Some people prefer to call it "Buy Nothing Day". While I try not to consume too much, it is a good day to save money on holiday gifts. So why not look for deals on  eco-friendly presents (or items for yourself that you can't normally afford)? Here are some tips for greening the whole day, in video and bullet point form:

Mother (Earth)'s Day: how to be eco-friendly on May 9th

May 9th is Mother's Day, so why not do something that will benefit both your mom and Mother Earth? Here are some ways you can make this Sunday eco-friendly:

• Donate to a great cause or organization in her name. There are so many places, so do a web search for causes you or your mom care about. For example, donate to an animal rescue or shelter, or to help with the Gulf oil spill.
• "Adopt"/sponsor an animal from Farm Sanctuary or Animal Acres in her name.
• Make her a local, organic, healthy meal. Try to use ingredients with the least amount of packaging. Check out these cute ideas from VegNews
• Buy her a potted plant or seeds and plant together (check out Garden in a Bag). If she doesn't have a garden, start one! Check out this cool gadget - Easybloom helps determine which plants will grow best in your area .
• Go for a hike - get some exercise and fresh air.
• Set up a spa in her home with non-toxic products like No Miss and Elliott's Ethos  
• Make her a card out of recycled materials that you have around your home, or send an eCard to support Breast Cancer Research
• Clean her home with all natural cleaning products like Seventh Generation, Begley's Best, or simply baking soda & vinegar.
• If you're set on getting her flowers, check out Organic Bouquet - they're offering 10% off. Or, be creative and make these Recycled Newspaper Roses for Mother’s Day
• Does your mom love jewelry? If so, there are some eco-friendly options for that too. 
• If you'd like to buy something, check out my green gift guide from the holidays. Look for products with minimal packaging and make organic and local your top priority. 
• Empower your mom to be Hot, Rich and Green - get her the book and watch her take charge of her passion(s)...or nag you until you take charge of your own. ; )

Other ideas:

• Your Daily Thread: Mother’s Day: Coming Up Roses
• Planet Green: 7 Perfect Mother's Day Gifts That Help Other Moms Around the World
• Inhabitat: 14 Smart, Green ECOnomical Mother's Day Gifts
• Treehugger: Green Gift Guide for Mother's Day
• EcoSalon: 5 Eco Outside the Box Gifts That Moms Will Love for Mother’s Day
• Green Options: Mothers Day Green Gift Guide
• Gifts.com Mother's Day Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas

Got any more ideas? Leave them in the comment section below.


Let me know what you end up doing and how your mom(s) react! : )

"I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas"

While it is a little late in the game, there is still time to green your holidays. If you're looking for some inspiration and advice, check out "I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas" by Anna Getty. The book shows you how to make "gifts, decorations, and recipes that use less and mean more", and it is a joy to read. It has beautiful pictures and illustrations that remind you why the holidays are so special. It's a very well laid out book: each recipe and set of instructions are easy to follow, and I love that it has flaps on the cover to allow you to bookmark your place. Simple tips, green facts, and notes from Anna are mixed in throughout the book, giving readers more insight into why it's important to make eco-friendly choices.

"I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas" is mainly composed of instructions for how to make your own decorations and gifts. Some of my favorites are: the newspaper stocking, decorated matchboxes, recycled t-shirt pot holders, and silver leaf wire window ornaments. There are some fantastic tips covering topics like green gift wrapping, shipping, entertaining, and energy efficiency. The book also includes several vegetarian recipes, such as delicious looking soups and salads, and most of them can be modified to be vegan.

"I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas" has a beautiful message to share with the world and it will bring the joy of green to many families for years to come! Zem Joaquin said it best in the forward: "Amid a sea of consumption, we need Anna's thoughtful perspective on celebrating a green Christmas".

Holiday giveaway: a set of Go Max Go candy bars!

Winners: Steve Patsy & J Bretzman

As promised, here's your third (and last) chance to win a set of Go Max Go vegan candy bars!

TWO lucky winners will get 4 Go Max Go bars, one of each flavor. If you've never had these before they will blow your mind, even if you're not vegan. They are what vegans have been missing out on for years, because they taste just like popular non-vegan candy bars.

As with most of my giveways, you must give the bars as a gift. These would make a great stocking stuffer or even a random surprise gift. And maybe they'll share one with you... ; )

Holiday giveaway: a set of To-Go Ware!

Winner: Josiane

This giveaway is the perfect holiday gift: a set of bamboo utensils from To-Go Ware!

To-Go Ware is one of my top favorite eco accessories. I carry my utensils everywhere, even switching them out whenever I change bags (you've probably seen me using them in my restaurant reviews). They come in handy all the time, such as when I'm eating out or having lunch at work. I get so many compliments on them too - people think they're so cool!

Most importantly, using To-Go Ware keeps so many pieces of single-use plastic cutlery out of landfils and oceans. Even though there are alternatives made out of corn, it is better to have products that you can use over and over. To-Go Ware makes it easy by including a carrying case, that is compact and easy to toss in a bag, purse, briefcase, backpack, etc.

Here's a video I did a few months ago on waste I found on Venice Beach - an example of why companies like To-Go Ware are so important!



One lucky winner will receive a RePEaT utensil set, which includes a fork, knife, spoon, chopsticks and RPET wrap. But you must give this away as a gift.

Holiday giveaway: cupcakes from Luscious Organic Desserts

Winner: Polly

If you missed out on the Luscious Organic Desserts contest last year, here's your second chance!

One dozen vegan cupcakes from Luscious Organic Desserts! Click here to see all the flavors you can choose from. "We are a local baking company offering top quality, gourmet desserts using only the finest all natural and organic ingredients with no hydrogenation, no refined sugars, and no bleached flours. All of our delectable treats are made by hand in small batches."

But before you start salivating, remember my main rule for the giveaways. You must give these cupcakes to someone as a gift. They would be perfect for a holiday party as well. Perhaps pick someone who will share them with you!

In case you're not familiar with Luscious, here's an interview I did with one of the owners at World Fest 09 (sorry about the audio quality).

Conscious Holiday Gift Bazaar

If you still have shopping to do, or are simple looking for something to do this Sunday, check out the Conscious Holiday Gift Bazaar near LAX. The first 200 people to walk in get a free vegan buffet. There's live entertainment and a variety of vendors, the majority of which are eco-friendly.

Here's my video summary, featuring:

• Arbonne
• bgreen apparel
• The Bliss Bar (chocolate goji bliss balls are amazing!)
• The Farmer's Kitchen
• Innerwear Clothing yoga calendar
• Pure Bamboo
• SilverMoon chocolate (dark chocolate fudge is delicious!)
• Sita sustainable fashion
• Smart Glass
• VegKids.org
• Visionary Boutique
• Zen's Purple Garden

Holiday giveaway: $25 gift card to Pizza Fusion, Santa Monica

You probably already know how much I love Pizza Fusion in Santa Monica. I have reviewed them five times! They have delicious vegan pizza (with Daiya or Follow Your Heart), vegan brownies, vegan alcohol, a great atmosphere, and the staff is incredibly nice. Therefore, I am thrilled to announce this contest:

Two $25 gift card to Pizza Fusion in Santa Monica! (not valid at any other location)

Two lucky winners will be able to give one of these cards as a holiday gift (perhaps to someone who will bring them along)! Yes, that's right, you can't keep the card for yourself - you must give it away. The holidays are all about sharing and spreading the love...and pizza!

Holiday giveaway: The DivaCup

Winner: Kimberly

WARNING: This posting may be a sensitive subject for men!

The DivaCup is one of my favorite green...accessories. I've been using their products for years and they have made "that time of the month" so much easier and eco-friendly. Before I bought one I constantly had to buy tampons and pads (around $10 each month = $120 a year), and I practically had to plan my whole day around changing them. With the DivaCup, I buy it about once a year for around $30, and I only have to change it 2x a day (morning and night). I almost forget that I have my period when I'm using the DivaCup!

Not convinced? Check out this amazing video by my pal Rachel Sarnoff. I was going to make one myself, but she really says it all and says it well!

EcoStiletto's Rachel Breaks Down the Reusable Cup from EcoStiletto on Vimeo.

It may seem like a strange gift, but I gave The DivaCup to someone for Christmas and she was thrilled. Thus I thought this might be a great, unique, and green holiday gift. (I've tried to convince my friends to buy one and they're so skeptical, but if I gave them one I'm sure they'd try it and love it.) I prefer if you give this as a gift, but if you really want it for yourself I may make an exception.

Holiday giveaway: gift certificate to GlassDharma

Winner: Susan

To add to the list of exciting giveaways, I am thrilled to announce this one - a $25 gift certificate to GlassDharma!

I discovered GlassDharma while searching for eco-friendly straws. I expected to find some hard plastic reusable straws, but instead found their amazing and beautiful glass straws. I bought some for my office, my family, and myself - and we all love them! They make wonderful, unique gifts, so they are perfect for the holiday season. That being said, as with most of my holiday giveaways you must give the certificate as a gift.

Holiday giveaway: copy of The Conscious Cook

Winner: Kwikfile (Carl)

After reviewing The Conscious Cook I am thrilled to be giving away a copy of the book!

Green holiday shopping

Luckily this year there is a lot of information about where to buy green holiday gifts. In fact, it's a littler overwhelming - so I'm here to help!

• Check out my post on green gift ideas here.
• Although Green Friday has passed, I listed some great stores on that post. My favorite from that list is Nimli.
• Stay tuned for my giveaways this month - they make great gifts!

There are a lot of green holiday events happening in Los Angeles. Check out some below and stay up to date by viewing my calendar:

• 12/12 & 12/13: Conscious Holiday Gift Bazaar
• 12/12 & 12/13: Holiday Gift Fair at Euphoria Loves Rawvolution
• 12/19 & 12/20: Holiday Gift Fair at Euphoria Loves Rawvolution

The Conscious Cook: review

To be honest, when I saw The Conscious Cook my first thought was, "oh, another vegan cookbook", and I wasn't that interested in reading it. No offense to Tal Ronnen, but there are a lot of vegan cookbooks out there (several of which are in my kitchen). However, when I opened the book my mind instantly changed. I was drawn in by the the bright colors, fun layout, and beautiful photos. Suddenly I wanted to sit down and read this cookbook!

What sets The Conscious Cook apart from other cookbooks is the formatting - it looks like so much fun! Important text is in large font so it jumps off the page, allowing you to read key phrases with a brief scan. Recipes are broken down into columns and lists, so they don't overwhelm the eye. The photos are spectacular - each piece of food is perfectly lit against a white background, making it seem like it's floating off the page. There is just the right amount of information about veganism, broken down into brief interviews, guest chefs (featuring Dave from Madeleine Bistro!) and sections like "Why Vegan?" and "Busting the Top Five Vegan Myths". There's even a pictorial display of vegan proteins (does that come in wallet size too?).

Though I have yet to read most of the text and try out the recipes, I believe this could be the best vegan cookbook I've ever seen. Never has a book made me want to cook so badly! Put The Conscious Cook on your holiday gift list - to give or receive (and check out other gift ideas here).

Stay tuned for my videos on the recipes I make, but in the mean time check out Tal's videos on his site.

Holiday giveaway: set of Go Max Go candy bars (round 2)

Winner: Tracy

A set of Go Max Go vegan candy bars!

One lucky winner will get 4 Go Max Go bars, one of each flavor. If you've never had these before they will blow your mind, even if you're not vegan. They are what vegans have been missing out on for years, because they taste just like popular non-vegan candy bars.

As with most of my giveways, you must give the bars as a gift. These would make a great stocking stuffer or even a random surprise gift. And maybe they'll share one with you... ; )

There will be 2 more rounds of this contest before the holidays, so if you don't win this time stay tuned for next time!

Holiday giveaway: set of Go Max Go candy bars

Winner: Abigal!

I will be giving away 3 more sets in the future - stay tuned!

A set of Go Max Go vegan candy bars!

One lucky winner will get 4 Go Max Go bars, one of each flavor. If you've never had these before they will blow your mind, even if you're not vegan. They are what vegans have been missing out on for years, because they taste just like popular non-vegan candy bars.

As with most of my giveways, you must give the bars as a gift. These would make a great stocking stuffer, or treats at a Thanksgiving party, or even as a random surprise gift. And maybe they'll share one with you... ; )

Green holiday gift ideas

Why am I already writing about gifts for the holidays, you ask? Well, they're only about 2 months away, so you better start planning! Besides, I've got a few on my mind that you should consider, and this list is going to grow throughout the season.

• The Conscious Cook: cookbook by Tal Ronnen. Check out my rave review here. Love this book!
• Handkerchiefs from Hank & Cheef: I am in love with mine! They are a great eco alternative to tissues, and they have really cute and modern designs. These would make great little gifts or stocking stuffers.
• Tea from Indonique: They have delicious, loose leaf tea. Maybe pair this gift with a mug and tea strainer, or a tea pot. My favorite flavors? Ginger Peach Orange Flavored Green and Honey Bush Herbal.
• Bamboo Utensils from To-Go Ware: I am obsessed with mine and I use them on almost a daily basis. I get so many compliments on them because they're very handy, eco-friendly, and cool looking!
• Glass Straws from GlassDharma. I love these straws - great for all sorts of drinks (they even have some for boba tea!)
• Body Products from small companies like Strawberry Hedgehog. Local, handmade, and vegan.
• Body Products from LUSH. You probably already know about LUSH, but they have a ton of vegan products and they're very sustainable. Plus they're very colorful and fun.
• Neti pot: everyone should have one. Whether or not you have sinus issues or allergies, a neti pot is very soothing, and great when you have any sort of congestion.
• TOMS shoes: I got a pair of vegan wrap boots for Christmas last year and I'm wearing them today. I get endless compliments on them and they are very comfortable. Wouldn't mind another pair as a gift...
• Accessories from Elvis & Kresse: they sell products made out of old firehouses! Most of them are vegan, and can make them leather free upon request.
• Cooking classes: find a local chef and gift their classes. There are plenty in Los Angeles, but I recommend Christy Morgan, Seed Kitchen, and Spork Foods.

Here's a great green gift guide: Green with Glamour