Savvy Brown

Eco-Friendly Watches from Eco Wrist!

Savvy — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:36:29 +0000

Eco Wrist is a company that makes eco-friendly, sustainable wrist wear for men and women. I had the pleasure of meeting the owners (and husband and wife) David Gandy and MarQuerite Hamden at a street fair here in Brooklyn last month, where Sexy and I bought our new watches! (Check them out below.)

Here’s the scoop.

All of their watches are derived from all-natural sustainable materials. The material include bamboo, tagua nuts, acheera seeds, coconut, wood, cow’s leather and reed. Other woods used are teak, brittlebush, granadilla tree wood and macana tree wood. The majority of the materials used to make the timepieces are from South American farms, and are harvested in a sustainable manner. The wristbands are made of leather local to the Amazon region. They even created a unique way of securing the watch to your wrist eliminating the need for metal clasps, using less materials as well.

Sexy's watch

My Watch

The company itself is sustainable as it uses all natural materials for the watches, the company also recycles and finds ways to minimize waste“to ensure as little effect on the environment as possible.”
On top of all that, they have some really NICE watches in very unique desgins! Prices start at $84. (On a budget? If you save up, one of these makes a great gift!)

Currently, EcoWrist sells their watches primarily wholesale and as vendors at various locations. They will be at festivals in and around NY for the rest of the summer. To contact them directly to inquire about purchasing a watch. Click here.

Find out more about Eco Wrist here.

Are you interested in Eco Wrist? check out their site and comment below on the watches you like if you’re interested in them sponsoring a giveaway on this site! (The more comments, the better chance I have of convincing them!)

Savvy Mailbag: Homemade Oatmeal Mask for Acne

Savvy — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:46:00 +0000

I received this lovely tip on Facebook, from my Aunt Sexy* and decided to share it with the rest of the class.

Homemade Oatmeal Mask for Acne

“I suffer from Adult acne – so I did some research and came up with this mask”.

- Boil about 1/4 cup of oatmeal (organic can be used) in water

- Add in about 2 tablespoon of lemon juice and 2 tablespoon of aloe vera gel.

- Let cool to room temp.

- Apply to clean skin let mask dry on face

- Next wash with lukewarm water.

Skin should be soft and smooth and pores noticeably smaller. Hope this can help someone.

*You guessed it, she’s Sexy’s Aunt.

I don’t have acne, but I’m gonna try this one! Here’s some handy info:

Lemon juice: lightens spots
Aloe vera: healing of inflamation
Oatmeal: Soothe soreness plus exfoliate dead cells

Thanks Auntie!

Do you make your own oatmeal mask? What do you use?

Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Savvy — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:58:09 +0000

I don’t know if you realize it, but there are a lot of chemicals in store bought microwave popcorn. The FDA has even reported that when micro popcorn bags are heated up a known carcinogen called perfluorooctanoic (PFOA) can leach into the popcorn. Inhaled fumes of Diacetyl (a chemical that is used in the artificial butter in microwave popcorn) has also been linked to lung disease, and in fact people with the disease are said to have “popcorn lung”.

When I found out how harmful the stuff was, I got my hands on an air popper, which works great, and makes very tasty popcorn in about the same amount it takes to microwave one of those toxic bags. But I was really excited when I came across an article by Snack Girl about how to make your own popcorn in the microwave. (Less clean up! )

freshly popped!

Ingredients:

1 brown paper lunch bag
tape
1/4 cup loose kernel corn
2 tbsps butter
salt

Directions:

Pour popcorn into bag and fold over edge once or twice and secure with tape. Microwave the bag tape side up on high for 3-4 minutes. Until popping slows to less than 1 pop per second. While you transfer the popcorn to a bowl, put the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds to melt it and then pour over popcorn and sprinkle with salt to taste. Done!

It’s easy, cheap, and I love seasoning it with all kinds of stuff. My favorite popcorn seasoning right now is butter, salt, oregano, mint, and a little cayenne pepper. (I sneak bags of this stuff into the movies all the time. Shhh, don’t tell!)

How do you make popcorn?

Sources:

http://www.snack-girl.com/snack/homemade-microwave-popcorn/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/248178/is_eating_microwave_popcorn_dangerous.html

http://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20070905/microwave-popcorn-linked-to-lung-harm

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3179470

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/dangers-of-microwave-popcorn.html

Vatika Coconut Hair Oil Review

Savvy — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:41:51 +0000

For those of you who are not interested in experimenting with making your own hair oil, or are having trouble getting a hold of the ingredients then this stuff is for you.

Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil 150ml $3.99

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Neem Oil, Brahmi Extract, Fruit extracts ofAmla, Bahera and Harar, Kapur kachri, Henna leaf extract, Rosemary oil, Lemon Oil, Fragrance

I used to only see this product in Indian shops in Brooklyn, but I’m now seeing this version on mainstream natural/health store shelves. I’ve used this as an oil rinse, (stay tuned for an upcoming post about this) and as a deep conditioner. For the deep condish, I combed the oil through my wet hair liberally, and then sat under a heat cap for an hour or so. The oil has the same consistency as baby oil and is thinner than I expected, but I didn’t need to use a lot. When I rinsed my hair out it was nice ans soft and stayed that way for DAYS. It has all of the oils I would use to make hair oil myself, and THEN some, and it’s starts at only $3.99!

I also used this on my body as a body oil and it felt great. I love multitasking products so this stuff is definitely worth it!

RATING*: 5 Savvy! - Great product, good ingredients, great price, multiple uses, will buy again!

As always. This product is available in the Savvy Shop.

*Savvy Ratings: 5=Savvy 4=Smart 3=Suitable 2=Satisfactory 1=Stupid

Check Out Ebay’s World of Good

Savvy — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:22:08 +0000

Ok. Those of you who know me know that I really DON’T need another reason to log onto ebay, but this is a really good idea. I was checking out Karen Moore’s Blog on EcoHome Resource and I saw a link about “World of Good”. It’s a store through ebay that sells “Ethically sourced, fair trade and eco-friendly gifts and goods”. In fact one of their taglines is “Style Savvy, Eco Friendly.”

They’re calling my NAME! (LOL)

It’s really great. there’s no bidding, and each item up for sale shows where it came from, how it was made, and even WHO made it! They even have simple shopping guides if you’re overwhelmed. (It’s like a Red Envelope for fair-trade folks). What’s great is that it has Price Range feature that allows you to search for things in whatever price range you can afford. They don’t just have womens’ items either, they really have a variety of products for men, children , home and accessories too. Here are a few of the items I was looking at.

Strip Tote Bag

Fair Trade African Handmade Keychains

Bike Tube Pendant

Sumatra Eco-Friendly Earrings

Check out the site yourself HERE.

Have you ever ordered anything from ebay’ s World of Good”? What was your experience? What did you get?

Green and Frugal Starter Kit

Savvy — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:25:51 +0000

I’ve received quite a few emails asking me for advice on how to get started going green, and where to begin. I decided to put together a list of items that you could consider your “Green and Frugal Starter Kit” to help make things easier. My first bit of advice when making green changes is DON’T THROW EVERYTHING AWAY! Once you’ve used up what you have then recycle the packaging and start fresh. You can find other uses for your shampoo as well as many other items that you have around the house. Below is a list of items that you will need for your own kit with links to where you can find them in the Savvy Shop and below that are links to DIY “recipes” for making up your own cleaning products quickly and easily. Plus a few extra green/frugal ideas. HTH!

Items items to get started:

Borax
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
Liquid Castille Soap
A Bar of Laundry Soap (i.e.- Octagon, Fels Naptha)
White Vinegar
Hydrogen Peroxide
Baking Soda
Peppermint Essential Oil
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Lemon Oil
Citric Acid (Or Lemon Packet Kool-Aid)*
Microfiber Cloths
Epsom Salts
Table Salt
Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Reusable shopping bags
Box Grater
Dryer Balls

Homemade Recipes

Use the above ingredients to make all of the following..

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Fabric Softener

*DIY Dishwashing Powder

How to Whiten Your Clothes Without Bleach

Homemade Granite and Marble Cleaner

Sterling Silver Cleaner

Fruit and Veggie Wash

Stainless Steel Sink Cleaner

Peppermint Foot Soak

How we Stopped Using Paper Towels and Napkins

Homemade Wood Furniture Spray

Let me know if there’s other things that you’ve made with the above ingredients!

10 Ways to Have a Green/Frugal BBQ

Savvy — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:10:29 +0000

I’ve had several requests as to how folks can green up their BBQ without breaking the bank. Well here’s a list of 10 ways you can do that pretty simply…

1. Use Poly or biodegradable plates, cups and flatware instead of coated paper or Styrofoam plates (The latter are usually coated in petroleum!) Polypropylene plates and cups like these can bee used, and their not as harmnful as regular plastic
2. Gas grill – lower carbon footprint and less electricity;
3. Don’t use lighter fluid – it emits harmful VOCs
4. Use Natural Charcoal- regular charcoal has not been soaked in lighter fluid, and burns less VOCs into the air. Try Cowboy Charcoals if you MUST use coal and check out Whole Foods, they have charcoal made from recycled scrap wood, or sustainable wood.
4. By local/seasonal produce and lean meat - cooks in less time
5. Potluck – if everyone brings something, not all of the costs will be on you.
6. Have a recycle bin- Make it easy for your guests to recycle bottles and cans
7. Grilling with the hood of the barbeque down – this helps maintain energy efficiency and also ensures the heat will be distributed more evenly throughout the grill.
8. Use cloth napkins – Paper towels and paper napkins are a no-no, just give everyone a cloth one. (You’ll be suprised how well they’ll hold onto them).
9. Mix rock salt with ice to keep drinks cold - put beverages into cooler, then fill halfway with ice, then fill the rest of the way with rock salt. the drinks will stay cooler, and the ice won’t melt as fast.
10. Make your own Bug Repellent- check out this simple recipe

You can find these items in the Savvy Shop!

Polypropylene plates and cups

Cowboy Charcoals

Sources:

http://www.greenlivingonline.com/blog/candice/green-your-bbq
http://www.diylife.com/2007/07/17/how-to-make-your-own-organic-mosquito-repellent/

Make Your Own Bug Repellent

Savvy — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 18:38:48 +0000

Many bug repellents that we spray on our skin have chemicals that can aggravate out skin and our health. Some of these products also contain DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) which doesn’t exactly repel insects, but instead it “erases” the scent of carbon dioxide that emanates from our skin so that they aren’t attracted to us. Although is very effective in repelling mosquitoes and other disease carrying insects, has also been shown to cause sever health problems when mixed with other medications. (Which ones? I cant find a straight answer on that). Infants should NEVER be exposed to DEET at all because it can cause potential brain damage, but the EPA has deemed it safe for use in adults and older children if used properly…..hmmm. Insect repellents that contain DEET have to be sprayed 6-8 inches away from the skin, should not be inhaled, and should also be washed off thoroughly with soap and water after a few hours.. Those products should not come in contact with acetate, rayon, spandex and other synthetics and don’t spray it on wounds, cuts or sun-burnt skin. Other products like Cutter and Avon’s Skin So Soft contain Picaridin which is a chemical that has been used in Europe for years, but it is relatively new in the U.S. It has less side effects than DEET, and is easier on the skin, but should also be used according to the manufacturers’ directions. I don’t know anyone who follows ALL of the above directions. And it also bothers me that the above mentioned products have parabens and other icky ingredients.

I was curious to see if I could effectively make a chemical-free insect repellent, and I’m pleased to say, the recipe I found below works pretty well. And (with the addition of a base oil), it won’t leave your skin feeling dry.

DIY Bug Repellent

Materials:

1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup witch hazel (or cheap vodka)
5 drops of citronella or eucalyptus essential oil
1 tbsps jojoba oil
Spray bottle
Funnel

Directions:

Use the funnel to pour all ingredients into spray bottle. Shake well. Spray directly onto skin and rub in. Shake well before each use.

I will admit that I didn’t try this in the deep forest, but instead I chose to wear it when gardening and and BBQs. And if you’re not sure if you’re allergic to the above oils

You can get the ingredients at a local Health Food Store, and as always, both the citronella oil and eucalyptus oil can be purchased at the Savvy Shop.

Do you have a Bug spray recipe that you use? Please comment to this post with your recipe.

Sources:

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/deetfacts.htm

http://www.diylife.com/2007/07/17/how-to-make-your-own-organic-mosquito-repellent/

http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/378

http://www.mercola.com/article/pesticides/deet.htm

Savvy Interview with Autumn of Curly Chronicles!

Savvy — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:37:23 +0000

Autumn

I’ve been a fan of Autumn of Curly Chronicles YouTube Channel for awhile now. She has great natural hair tips and is a fan of natural ingredients in products as well. Check out our interview, and check out her channel here.

How long have you been natural?

I’ve been natural since 2003.

You have beautiful hair. What are your favorite natural hair products?

Thank you! I use Coconut oil, Giovanni Direct Leave In Conditioner, Shea butter, Vegetable glycerin, Almond oil, and though this isn’t 100% au natural, Bio Infusion Professional Detangling Conditioner because it really does work wonderfully for my hair.

What are your favorite low-maintenance styles?

I’ll mainly wear two strand twists either hanging or in an up do. They’re simple but cute styles.

What’s your opinion of all of the so-called “green” and “natural” hair products out of the market?

Well, unfortunately, it’s up to us, the consumers, to read the labels and make a conscious decision. Since there aren’t really any tight restrictions on being able to use the term natural or green, we have to do our homework. It kinda sucks, but you get use to it and you tend to find the best products for your hair and stick with them.

What’s your advice for naturalista’s on a budget?

Definitely try to buy in bulk. After finding out that I can find my Giovanni Leave in Conditioner in a liter size, I was soo happy that it’d last me longer than that 8.5 oz. bottle…I mean, c’mon now…our hair is thick! We need a hefty stash and that’ll help with budgeting.

Thanks Autumn!

Here’s Autumn’s tutorial on how to do a Flat Twistout (she’s the Queen of this hairstyle!).. Enjoy!

Definitely check her out on:

Fotki: Fotki Pictures

Twitter: CurlyChronicles

YouTube: Curly Chronicles YouTube Chan.

All-Natural Sunscreen Alternatives

Savvy — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:25:54 +0000

There are some yukky ingredients in sunscreen, such as parabens, dimethicone, oxybenzone, PABA and retinyl palmitate, that not only are bad for us but also the environment. So I started researching all-natural alternatives to drugstore sunscreen. Believe it or not, sun care starts from the inside out, eating plenty of dark green, red, and yellow fruits and vegetables to keep your skin healthy and less prone to skin damage. Here’s something else I learned, you can still burn even if you use sunscreen. Only sunblock can keep you from burning. So be mindful of that when you’re on the beach this summer, and bring a cover up and an umbrella to make your own shade if necessary.

Many natural Oils also contain natural sun protection:

Avocado Oil SPF 6-8
Shea Butter SPF 6
Red Rasberry Seed Oil SPF 28-50 (Can also protect from UVB rays)

There are also many natural sunscreen alternatives out there on the market, but you have to look for them. Here’s a list of a few all for less than $12:

Tru- Kid Sunny Days SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen $10.99

Loving Naturals Organic Sunscreen w/ Zinc Oxide $5.15

All-Terrain TerraSport Sunscreen SPF 30 $8.40

The above items are also available in the Savvy Shop!

Do you use natural sun protection? What do you use?

Resources:

http://greenlivingideas.com/topics/personal-care-and-services/sunscreen/natural-sunscreen-not-always-from-a-bottle

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/natural-sunscreens-460608

http://tipsandhintsforyou.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-is-spf-of-avocado-oil.html

http://www.naturesgift.com/carrier_oils/raspberry-seed-oil.htm