inhabitliving.com – On SALE

Contrary to popular belief, us consumers have a lot to say in terms of what companies manufacture and don’t manufacture. If we all stopped buying the poisonous cleaners that are churned out year after year, and start buying more earth friendly cleaners and products, those guys in their fancy chairs and lofty offices are going to have no choice but to get with the program.

Obviously there are some things we need that are not the most eco-friendly, but more and more green options are available and it’s our job to snap them up to send a message to the money grubbers that we care about the world and we want it to live and continue to support life a little longer.

But how can we tell which “green” products aren’t toxic to the planet?

If you live in Canada I wrote a similar piece about their Environmental Choice Eco-Logo and how that makes healthy household cleaners, detergents and the like. The list below takes things one step further.

It’s going to help you make the purchases that are better for the environment. Any product that has 2 or less checks on the list are a good choice, those that have more checks, not so much:

ONE- Is the item made using recycled materials?

TWO- Does it have recyclable packaging or is it made from it?

THREE- Is it made within 150 kilometres of where you live?

FOUR- On the packaging or bottle do you see a logo from a major environmental program, such as the Environmental Choice or Energy Star logo, or that of the Forest Stewardship Council or the Marine Stewardship Council?

FIVE- Is the product durable and able to be reused?

SIX- If there is anything left after use is it compostable or recyclable?

SEVEN- Does it do the work of several products? (eg. all purpose cleaners cuts the need to have so many bottles of cleaners around the house. Less use less waste)

EIGHT- Are replacement parts available so you can maintain the product without having to buy a new one?

NINE- Was the product manufactured using a renewable energy source? (eg. solar, wind or sustainable hydro)

TEN- Are the materials those that can be sustainably grown and harvested? (eg. bamboo is better than wood)

ELEVEN- Is the product free of toxic and/or harmful materials? (eg. volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, heavy metals, antibacterial chemicals or phosphates –lots of soap has phosphates)

Print out this handy check list and keep it in your purse or wallet and use it the next time you go shopping. It’s a fast and easy way for you to determine with household (and beyond) products are eco-friendly and actually not harmful to the planet.

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Save 10% off $75, 15% off $100 and 20% off $125 on any of Gaiam’s Eco Friendly, Sustainable Living products

I literally stumbled onto a couple of amazing finds online–the Exclusively Green Market and Gaiam– some time ago and since I’m going to be featuring so many of their products over the coming months I figured I might as well as introduce you to these environmentally conscious sites to you now.

What I love about the Gaiam is that all of their offerings are helpful and practical while remaining safe for the environment. They make you feel good while inspiring a piece of nature in your everyday life. And the designs are all so original and fabulous you’re going to be like me and want to own them all. They’ve even managed to bring items like exercise machines to you without damaging the earth. Pretty great right?

Get your Earth Friendly Clothes and Accessories at www.ExclusivelyGeenMarket.com

The Exclusively Green Market sells it all too, minus the jewelry you can get at Gaiam. You have eco friendly gifts environmentally conscious apparel as well as eye opening books and DVDs. But I have to say that some of my all time favorite pieces are their distinctive fair trade home decor items and their all natural personal care products.

To put it simply both of these earth friendly sites are all about making you feel good on both the spiritual and and physical levels. You can literally bring nature right into your home when you shop for eco concious products at this fabulously decadent store.

I invite you to take a good look at the lovely nature inspired and environmentally friendly products on these websites, Gaiam especially is a gorgeous shop that you are going to want to spend hours online in their shop, that I can guarantee.

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From Magiccabin.com

Magic Cabin has some of the best hand made Halloween toys and Hallowe’en decorations. These are unique, earth friendly and fun to play with. You can find all kinds of scary (and adorable) Hallowe’en toys and supplies that will keep your home spooky and exciting all season. Kids love the variety of Halloween themed characters and costumes.

Halloween is one of the best times of year to be a kid. It is a holiday that is all about having fun and eating candy, what is better than that? I can’t think of a thing. Heck, I’m all grown up now and I still love this time of year.

From Magiccabin.com

Halloween fun and earth friendly items is perfect for more reasons than their selection of themed items. It is also nice to know that you are shopping with an earth friendly toy store that is dedicated to showing kids that there is fun to be had with wooden toys, handcrafted toys and even educational games. Not everything that is good for you is boring and that’s what Magic Cabin wants to show both kids and parents.

While visiting the their environmentally conscious website for your Halloween toys be sure to check out their Animal Costumes, Royal Cloaks, Fairy Dresses and of course their Little Witch Costumes.

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Dress Up From Magic Cabin

What would Halloween be without animal costumes? These kids Halloween costumes are fun and earth friendly. They are all natural and will not irritate sensitive skin and best of all they are comfortable and adorable. Your child will be able to become some of his or her favorite animals in seconds.

The cotton velour of these Animal Costumes is easy to wash and earth friendly. So many of the materials we buy each day are not. They have toxic dyes all over them, the fabrics don’t break down well and often they’ve been treated with other chemicals that can seep into our skin and affect organs like our liver or kidneys.

That is not the kind of thing you have to worry about when you shop at Magic Cabin for Halloween costumes for kids, this toy store is all about bringing people back to basics.

Magic Cabin is the premier online toy store for earth friendly and educational toys and games for kids. There are puzzles, handcrafted wooden toys, games and everything in between. They even have a wonderful line of handcrafted dolls that your children will never want to let go of. These are the types of earth friendly toys that get passed down from generation to generation.

Their kids animal Halloween costumes are fun and any child can find just the animal they want to be.

These childrens Halloween costumes fit most children ages 3 to 12. Here are the hooded animal costumes you will have to choose from:

* Lion with a “wired” fully posable tail, fringed mane, and mitts with faux-fierce claws
* Puppy has adorable long floppy ears, a posable wired tail and doggy “paws”
* Dinosaur offers faux scales, a tie-on tail and big claw gloves
* Unicorn has an enchanting silk horn and mohair mane and tail

With Halloween so close it’s time to start thinking about the kids costumes you want to buy for your child. Why not start browsing the internet with your son or daughter and show them these adorable yet fierce animal costumes From Magic Cabin

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50% off Organic Cotton Stuffed Animals. Was: $14 Sale: $6.99

Organic cotton stuffed animals are on sale at Gaiam for 50% off which is fantastic! All kids deserve a nice stuffed toy to hug and cuddle and being able to get them ones that haven’t been treated with chemicals that can be hard on their soft baby skin rocks.

These organic cotton stuffed animals are soft, safe and absolutely adorable. You might even want to get one or two for yourself!

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