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Clean, Green Eating while Traveling share

A friend recently asked me for some tips for staying healthy while traveling, and I thought that perhaps our savvy readers here at Green Upgrader would be interested too! Admittedly, it's been years since I've traveled internationally. But since I live in Hawaii, island-hopping is a very good, affordable substitute, and I am not complaining!

Whether you are traveling on short island trips or international adventures, even a few days away from home can disrupt our dietary patterns and mess up our digestion and nutrition. Here are few tips that have gotten me through international travel to Southeast Asia, mainland United States, and Europe. If you are staying closer to home this summer, here is another post about healthy backpacking foods. Hopefully you will find all of them useful!

Drink your Veggies

Green drinks are an easy, simple way to ensure that you get some daily greens into your diet. My favorite brand is AmazingGrass, which is a dry powder that includes barley grass, wheat grass, spirulina, veggies, flaxseeds and probiotics. Simply mix the powder into some water and drink! This oddly colored beverage gives you a nutritional boost when you are not eating your best. You can buy single-serve packs or larger containers in various flavors. There are many brands on the market– ask your health food store for some samples, they should always share! But be careful, some are sweetened with fructose (PowerPak) and others have dairy (Spiruteen), so I recommend avoiding those.

Get your Vitamins

When we're at home, most of us probably eat a pretty balanced diet and get adequate amounts micro- and macro-nutrients. But when traveling, we might be missing out on some important stuff (in Germany, I subsisted on beer, pretzels and Kaesespaetzle, the German version of macaroni and cheese!). In addition to greens powders, you might want to bring along some simple protein or meal replacement powders. The really good ones are Vega, Garden of Life and Sunwarrior– these all feature a variety of plant-based proteins, vitamins, minerals and more. These can often just be mixed or shaken with water for a quick boost to make up for all that beer! Check out the Lunchbox Bunch and Choosing Raw for some reviews of protein powders.

Make Quick Superfood Snacks

Granola bars, Larabars and other snacky foods are helpful both for long travel times (air, train, car, what-have-you), but they can also come in handy when there is just not enough food around. If you have time before your trip, make up some healthy superfood snacks like Homemade Larabars or these Mango Sunshine Cashew Bites. If you don't have time to prepare your own, stock up on Larabars, WaiLana bars or similar. Always be sure to bring along nuts, seeds, kale chips and dried fruits too, for some snacky fun. And be sure to restock anytime you can along the way– sample the local versions of trail mix, granola and get fresh fruits whenever you are able. These foods will get you by in a pinch, and keep your sweet tooth happy! And if you have even more time before your trip, prepare some wholesome, homemade airplane meals– an important start for any trip. Start your holiday off healthfully with pre-made salads, trail mixes, and wraps. My New Roots and 101 Cookbooks both have some great suggestions. As long as there is not liquid, most foods can be taken on the airplane without a problem.

Keep your Belly Healthy

During my time in Indonesia, I often found myself with 'Bali Belly'– an unhappy tummy from unclean food. To avoid all that awfulness, take probiotic supplements before, during and after your trip to keep your intestinal flora happy and balanced, which can decrease the likelihood that you might become ill. Additionally, acupuncturists and naturopathic doctors recommend liquid collodial silver and grapefruit seed extract to keep our tummies happy on international trips. These supplements kill off the bad stuff that makes us sick. Check with a practitioner to find which method is best for you.

Hopefully these tips will help keep you well on all your holidays! Happy trails!

Posted: | Categories: Food+Drink, Living

Jun

July 4th Crafts to Reduce the Holiday Waste share

Independence Day is coming up next week here in the U.S. For a lot of us, that means backyard parties and all of the potential waste that comes with them.

From plastic utensils to single-use decorations, a July 4th shindig isn't always the best for the planet. You can cut back on a lot of waste just by changing how you set the table, like choosing proper dishes and utensils instead of single-use plastic and paper, but when it comes to decorations you might just want some themed decor.

That's where your crafty skills come in! We've rounded up some DIY projects that you can do this weekend to get your house Independence Day ready with none of the waste.

Lighting

Instead of Christmas lights or other electric lights, rustle up an empty blue glass bottle or two and create an upcycled gas lantern. For a little extra ambiance, make some votives for the table out of old candles from around the house.

Table Decor

If you're planning a 4th of July party, chances are you've picked up a six pack or two. Pull those bottles out and upcycle the cardboard caddy into a cute, thematic condiment holder. But you don't have to stop there! Instead of a crappy, disposable table cloth, whip up a simple table runner instead, using fabric from your stash. Just choose a few prints in patriotic colors, and you're ready to rock.

Hanging Decorations

Nothing says festive like some bunting! It's so much prettier than paper streamers, and you can use it year after year instead of tossing it at the end of the evening. Check out this upcycled bunting that you can make in 10 minutes!

Do you have any DIY plans for the 4th? I'd love to hear about what crafty things you guys have in the works!

Posted: | Categories: DIY, DIY party decorations, holiday decorations, holidays, Home+Decor, Independence Day, July 4th, July 4th crafts, Living, red white and blue, upcycled crafts, upcycling

Jun

Spotted: Upcycled Ottoman from a Wood Pallet share

We love a good pallet project around here, and this tufted, upcycled ottoman is rocking our socks!

Allyson at Domestic Superhero made this ottoman from a reclaimed wood pallet. It's kind of a beast of a project, but the results are so stunning, it's totally worth it.

There's a bit of debate about whether wood pallets are safe for crafting. The short version of the debate is that pallets are sometimes made from treated wood, and some tests have found bacteria like e. coli on wooden pallets. The treated wood is really more of an issue if you're using the pallet wood for something like growing food or building a tabletop that you'll be directly in contact with.

As for the bacteria issue, that almost seems to come down to comfort level. We come into contact with bacteria every day, and you have to decide if you're cool bringing a pallet into your home that may or may not be harboring bacteria. People craft with pallets all the time, and I'm yet to run across a story about someone getting sick from doing so.

If you want to make your own tufted pallet ottoman, here's your supply list:

reclaimed wood pallet
circular saw (if you need to cut yours down like she did)
sand paper
plywood cut to the dimensions of your pallet
hammer and nails
pressboard cut to the size of your pallet
foam batting that's the size of your pallet's top plus enough foam to cover the 4 smaller sides
enough fabric to wrap the pallet completely (don't forget to account for the heights of both your pallet and the batting when you're measuring!)
tufting buttons, upholstery needle, and thin cord
spray adhesive
drill
enough batting to wrap the pallet completely (don't forget to account for the heights of both your pallet and the batting when you're measuring!)
staple gun
wooden legs, mounting brackets, and paint or stain
piece of muslin and hot glue to cover the bottom of the pallet (optional)

Whew! That's a doozy of a list, but this is a dramatic transformation! Once you've got your supplies together, click here for the full tutorial!

Posted: | Categories: Craft Recycled, crafting with wooden pallets, DIY, DIY ottoman, Furniture, Home+Decor, Living, pallet craft, pallet ottoman, upcycled ottoman

Jun

Eco-Friendly Vegan Shoes from Kandals share

I love a good slip-on shoe, especially in the summertime, so when the folks at Kandals contacted me about reviewing a pair of their vegan shoes I said, "Yes, please!"

Kandals are made in Spain, and I was pretty impressed with the materials list they sent me. According to my contact at the company, the shoes are made from:

Upper Material: 100% Organic Cotton
Outsole: Natural Rubber
Insole: Polyurethane Cotton

Not too shabby!

I've been wearing these suckers all over town, and they're cute and comfortable. I love the quilted look on the upper, and the insoles are supportive with plenty of give. The company also plants a tree for every pair sold, which is a nice way to offset some of the impact from producing and shipping them.

Scented Soles?

There was one thing about these shoes that struck me as a little odd, though: the scented soles. I can see the merits to this idea. Wearing slip-ons without socks can be a stinky situation. Some essential oils might be a nice way to control odor. I asked the company several times for clarity on what they use to make the scent, and they were a little bit dicey about answering me.

The first time I asked, they said:

The soles of each pair of KANDALS are dyed with a strawberry scent so that every time you put them on, you get a fresh newness to your shoes. The scent is not perfumed on the fabric but dyed with the rubber sole prior to being assembled, making the scent subtle and long-lasting.

OK, so the scent is mixed in with the sole material, which is helpful but doesn't really answer what they use to formulate the scent. I asked again, and here's what they had to say:

The strawberry dye is internally mixed with the rubber sole prior to being assembled. A natural liquid strawberry gets combined with a liquefied rubber which afterwards gets molded to an outsole. She can also check our "About Us" section of our website which give a detailed explanation of how KANDALS are constructed.

The About section, as of this writing, doesn't explain what the dye is. Is it a chemical fragrance? An essential oil? Why won't they tell me? I asked one last time, and at this point I think my contact was getting a little bit annoyed at my fixation with knowing what this scent was:

The strawberry is not a fragrance applied on the outsole, but internally mixed in. The liquid strawberry is an extract from natural strawberry fruit with a small amount mixed in with the rubber!

An extract! OK. I'm still not totally clear on what that means, but I think I've probably gotten all I'm going to get out of them about this mystery scent.

So the shoes arrived, and I have to tell you guys, they smell terrible. The thing is, they are also freaking adorable! Luckily, since they go on your feet, they're far away from your nose, unless you're planning to do yoga or gymnastics in them.

The shoes they sent me retail for $34 on the Kandals site, and despite the weird smell I would probably get these again.

Posted: | Categories: Clothes+Accessories, eco-friendly shoes, Kandals, Living, scented soles, vegan shoes, vegan slip-ons

Jun

Spot the irony on this direct mailing! share

I am not going to tell you who sent me this envelope, but I will tell you that it's an environmental group dedicating to protecting forests.

I shared this on my personal Facebook, and it started a pretty interesting conversation! Obviously, sending out stacks of paper to tell us to save trees is pretty ironic, but below the surface, there is this question, which one of my friends put incredibly eloquently:

I'd like to point out that around 20% of all American households are not wired for the Internet. I'd also like to point out that it is entirely debatable as to whether or not the paper produced for this mailing is better or worse for the environment as compared to the electricity/heavy mining/chemicals needed to support the infrastructure of an all digital campaign. It's not entirely clear to me which is better, on balance.

What a great point! Just as recycled paper isn't always the best environmental choice, email blasts might seem greener but come with their own carbon footprint. It's hard to weigh the two and say which is worse.

My instinct is that printing thousands of packets and envelopes and sending them all over the country in mail trucks has a bigger impact than the data center lode from sending thousands of emails. My friend Jo Borras wrote a great piece a couple of years ago on direct mail (and the U.S. Postal Service in general) over at Gas2 that's worth a read. And on the other side, the energy it takes to send an email (or do anything online) is nothing to sneeze at, especially when you're talking thousands of communications. There's a helpful piece at Earth and Industry that looks at data centers and their impact.

And while this doesn't really contribute to the debate, my friend Joe wins quote of the day: "Under no circumstances should you burn that envelope to stay warm."

What do you guys think about direct mailings like this from environmental groups? Do they go against these groups's missions, or are they a necessary fundraising and awareness-raising evil?

Posted: | Categories: direct mail, ironic envelope, irony, Living, paper waste, waste

Jun

25 DIY Father’s Day Gifts share

There's just one weekend left for crafting between now and Father's Day, so if you're planning a handmade gift it's time to get going.

Sure, you can pick up a store-bought Father's Day gift, but doesn't something handmade have a lot more heart? Plus, when you make a Father's Day gift yourself, you're able to choose eco-friendly materials! Here are some awesome DIY Father's Day gift ideas that you can make this weekend:

Mini Photo Album - Fill a handmade mini album with sentimental photos for dad.
Upcycled Pinhole Camera - Is your dad a shutterbug? Get him back to photography's roots!
Mini Herb Garden - If your pops loves to cook, use some reclaimed plastic bottles to make him a self-watering kitchen herb garden.
Chalkboard Paint Door Calendar - Does dad need a little help in the organization department? This chalkboard calendar could be just the thing!
Chalkboard Glass Jars - Dad can use these to store everything from tools to knick knacks to cutlery.
Infused Booze - Does he love a good cocktail? Make it extra special with homemade infused vodka.
Wine Cork Micro-Planters - Give him a little green to remind him of you while he's at the office!
Infused Vinegar - Booze not his thing? How about some infused vinegars for the dad who cooks?
Soda Can Lanterns - If he loves hanging out in the back yard or on the porch, give him these to add a little color and light!
Wine Box Planters - Another take on the kitchen herb garden. This one requires a little more space but is just beautiful!
Mason Jar Planters - Give the gift of green. You can plant anything from small plants and flowers to herbs in this hanging planter.
Chalkboard Shelf with Hanging Hooks - This gift guarantees that dad will have a place for everything.
Hanging Necktie Tool or Scissor Holder - Is he always looking for that pair of scissors or a screwdriver? Make him a vintage necktie hanger so he'll never lose his favorite tool again!
Repurposed Magazine Box - You can use this box to hold whatever gift you make, and dad can use it for storage!
Coffee Sleeve - Turn an old bike inner tube into a cute coffee sleeve for the java-loving dad.
Homemade Cologne - Store-bought cologne is full of nasty chemicals. Make a custom scent for dad instead!
Homemade Soda - Whip up a few yummy flavors, and package them up in a reclaimed six pack covered in pretty paper or contact paper.
Individual Cobblers - If your dad has a sweet tooth, he'll love a little batch of mini cobblers!
Upcycled Wine Bottle Gas Lamp - The perfect gift for a dad who loves to garden, this lamp is a great garden accessory!
Cardboard Camera Stand - This recycled cardboard project turns dad's camera into a scanner or photocopier, no electronics required.
Energy-Saving Phone Charging Dock - Help your pop cut the vampire power and stay organized with a permanent charging station for his phone.
Cardboard Laptop Stand - Perfect if your dad has any kind of home office situation.
Homemade Sugar Scrub - Even dads need a little pampering. Whip him up a DIY sugar scrub with some earthy essential oils.
DIY Planner - Make this planner special for dad by writing in important dates, like birthdays and anniversaries.
Recycled Magazine Plant Stand - Give him this stand and a sweet potted plant to add a little green to your dad's day.

Have you made any cool, DIY Father's Day gifts? Let's share more ideas in the comments!

Posted: | Categories: DIY, DIY Father's Day gifts, Father's Day, Father's Day gifts, gift ideas, holiday, Living

Jun

Spotted: DIY Bling from Old Magazines! share

Can you believe that this beautiful costume jewelry is made from upcycled magazine pages?

Crafty superstar Mark Montano shared a super awesome video tutorial on how to make your very own 80s-inspired upcycled jewelry from old magazine or catalog pages. You need a few simple jewelry supplies to make your own, so check the materials list below before you get started!

This tutorial makes a whole set of DIY jewelery. To make the complete set, you'll need:

an old magazine or catalog and scissors to cut it up
needle nose pliers
spray paint - spray paint can be nasty stuff, but you can choose Krylon H2o, which is a little bit better. I couldn't find the H2O in gold, but I think that white would look really nice, and still keep that 80s feel.
flat-backed beads - Dont' want to buy new? Salvage these from thrift store jewelry!
E-6000 - this glue is far from green, but it is durable, which means your finished product will last.
earring backings, ring findings, and a blank metal cuff - you can salvage these from thrifted jewelry, too!
white glue

Ready to get crafting? Here's the video tutorial!

Posted: | Categories: Clothes+Accessories, Craft Recycled, DIY, DIY jewelry, Living, magazine page crafts, paper crafts, reuse, upcycled jewelry, upcycling

May

Choose Handmade: Eco-Friendly Baby Clothes share

On the hunt for baby clothes that are as cute as they are eco-friendly? We've got you covered!

There is something so fun about dressing up your baby in cute clothes, isn't there? I love getting my son, Darrol Henry, dressed for the day. Dressing him up in the cutest onesie or a sweet pair of shorts can just make my day, especially after a tough night with lots of wake-ups!

The trouble with baby clothes is the same problem that you run into with clothing for grown-ups, though. So much of it is made in sweatshops using less-than-sustainable materials. With baby clothes, though, the problem gets amplified, because those little ones grow out of things so fast! Of course, choosing second hand clothes for your kiddo is the greenest option, but if you're going to splurge on something new for your babe, why not choose organic, handmade clothing, right?

Here are a few of my favorite organic pieces in my babe's wardrobe right now!

Organic Hemp Baby Shorts

Erin at IOGoods sent me a pair of her hemp shorts for babies to try out, and I love them! They're well made, durable, and the elastic waist means that they fit him now, but they'll also most likely still fit in six or maybe even nine months. Hurrah for handmade baby clothes that grow with your wee one!

Lettuce Turnip the Beet Onesie

I actually first saw this design on a t-shirt at Moog Fest last year, and when I discovered that the Coup design comes on an organic onesie, I knew that our little babe needed it! I love that it reminds me of the great time my husband and I had at Moog Fest, and of course I love that it is absolutely pun-tastic!

Hand Stenciled Onesie

Gerber makes plain white Onesies in organic cotton, and I got a few of those to decorate for Darrol. When my friends over at Handmade Charlotte sent me their new stencils to try out, I knew I had to stencil some onesies for my little man! You can check out some stenciling tips right here.

Do you have any favorite DIY or handmade baby clothes? I'd love to hear how you're dressing up your little one sustainably!

Posted: | Categories: baby clothes, buy handmade, Clothes+Accessories, DIY, DIY baby clothes, eco baby clothes, eco friendly baby clothes, Etsy, handmade baby clothes, Living

May

Buy Handmade: Hemp Baby Shorts share

Back in November, I was on the hunt for eco-friendly, handmade maternity clothes and found a bunch of cute options, including a bamboo tunic from a little company called IOGoods. Since then, Darrol Henry has arrived, and of course now I'm constantly looking for eco baby gear.

When Erin at IOGoods offered me a pair of her hemp shorts for babies to try out, of course, I couldn't say no! She sent me a pair of her toddler shorts, and you can see Darrol Henry modeling them right here:

She sent us a pair of shorts that are size 12 months, but as any cloth diapering momma knows, a cloth diap gives babies a big enough booty that they can usually wear some too-big clothes. I tried these shorts on DH when they arrived, and they were cute as can be! As you can tell, they're a little longer than intended, but the elastic fits his waist when he's wearing a cloth diaper. Plus, I kind of like that the legs are hilariously roomy on our little 10-week-old! The best part? The elastic waist means they'll grow with our little guy for months to come.

The shorts are made from organic hemp and feature side pockets and some sweet stitched detailing. The wide legs gave Darrol plenty of room to kick it out, and the elastic made it easy to get these on and off for diaper changes.

Erin's got a wide range of eco-friendly clothes for moms, dads, and babies in her shop. Click here to check out IOGoods!

Posted: | Categories: baby clothes, Clothes+Accessories, eco baby clothes, hemp, hemp baby clothes, hemp baby shorts, Living

May

5 Ways to Replace Single Use Plastic share

Single use plastic is a scourge on our environment, yet we continue to produce and use plastic products that are designed to head straight to the landfill after we use them just one time. Products like plastic straws and baggies are so ingrained in our culture, many of us can't imagine not using them in our day-to-day.

The problem is, all of that convenience is destroying fragile ecosystems and harming our health at the same time.

Many plastic products, like Ziplock bags are not recyclable, because the plastic is of too low a quality. Instead, they're landfill-bound, but often they don't make it that far. Whether they fall off of a trash truck or someone carelessly tosses them on the ground, those plastics make their way into waterways and eventually to the ocean where they become part of one of the huge plastic gyres. These gyres are massive areas of the ocean that are too polluted to support life.

Plastic is no good for our bodies, either. Plasticizers like BPA leach into food and water that they come into contact with. These chemicals are often untested, so we don't full know how they'll impact our health. Others are endocrine disruptors or even carcinogens. No, thank you!

Any time you replace a disposable option with a reusable one, you're making a huge impact on your health and the health of this planet. Here are a few simple ways that you can replace single use plastic with reusable alternatives.

1. Reusable Snack Bag

Just say no to wasteful plastic baggies! There are lots of companies making reusable snack bags, or you can make your own reusable snack bag!

2. Cloth Diapers

You might not think of disposable diapers as a plastic product, but those Huggies use a layer of plastic on the outside to prevent leaks. Cloth diapers have a hefty price tag initially, but you buy them once, and you're set! Compare that to the cost of buying disposables over and over, and you're not only reducing your plastic waste but saving between $900 and $1900 during your child's diaper-wearing years!

3. Glass Straws

Of course, you can skip the straw all together when you're grabbing a drink on the go, but if you don't want to give up your sipping habit, choose a reusable glass straw instead! Most glass straws are dishwasher safe, so they're easy to care for. They're also way cuter than clear disposable straws!

4. Picnic Ware

Next time you're heading to the park for a picnic, pack yourself some proper utensils instead of disposable plastic ones. If you're traveling and don't want to carry dirty dishes with you, opt for more sustainable disposables made from wood or bamboo instead of plastic.

5. To-Go Cups

When you head out to the coffee shop for that next latte, bring your own cup! The cup they put your coffee in may be made from paper, but those paper cups usually have a plastic coating to prevent leaks, and they come with a single use plastic lid. Boo!

What other ways can we replace disposable plastic products with reusable alternatives? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments!

photos by Becky Striepe

Posted: | Categories: 5 gyres, Food+Drink, instead of plastic, Living, pacific gyre, plastic, replacing plastic, reusables, Shopping+Services, single use plastic

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