DOGGONE CLEAN

See Spot run. See Spot run fast. See Spot run fast through a mud puddle. See Spot run fast through a mud puddle and splash you, your toddler, your baby and your Bob Duallie double stroller. Nice.

No worries for this Shaklee family, though. Nature Bright Laundry Booster & Stain Remover has Spot covered. Says Shaklee, “Some really nice things can cause some really nasty stains. Some really nice things can also get them out. Instead of chlorine, natural enzymes and active oxygen in Nature Bright re-brighten laundry, de-stain upholstery and way more. Nice.”

Nature Bright is...

Powerful Laundry Booster: Natural enzymes and active oxygen keep whites white and colors bright while removing stains.

-Excellent laundry pretreatment on organic stains like wine, blood, grass, and much more.

-Powerful chlorine-free, laundry booster – effective alternative to chlorine bleach.

-Color safe and can be used with any washable fabric.

Powerful Stain Remover: Removes stubborn stains on surfaces like carpet, upholstery, kitchen, and bath surfaces and effectively cleans outdoor patio furniture.

-Tackles the toughest organic stains and will effectively remove wine, grape juice, blood, perspiration, grass, grease, food stains, coffee, mold and mildew stains, and much more.

-Comes in a handy re-sealable pouch with measuring scoop.

Cost Effective: Nature Bright's price tag is $9.30 MN/$10.95 SRP for a 32 oz package which makes up to 4 gallons as a stain remover and does up to 64 medium loads as a laundry brightener.

-As a laundry stain remover, a 32 oz package makes up to 4 gallons with a cost per gallon of $2.29. To do a similar job, it would cost you $17.02 per gallon for Shout Triple Acting Stain Remover and $33.96 per gallon for BioKleen Stain Eliminator.

-As a chlorine-free laundry brightener, Nature Bright does 64 medium loads with a cost per load of 14.3 cents. A 77.4 oz box of Clorox Bleach for Colors does 27 medium loads and costs 29.6 cents per load. Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Beach does 21 medium loads and costs 26.1 cents per load.

-Add to that a 100% guarantee or your money back and you've got yourself a clean deal.

See Spot buy Nature Bright. See Spot Get Clean. Nice.

xx S+S

A note about the Shaklee difference: Shaklee Get Clean products are not only economical, but WISE! Cost comparisons alone do not take into consideration the fact that Get Clean cleaners are nontoxic and do not pollute, leave no harmful residues, are biodegradable, and they WORK - or your money back!

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IN DOG WE TRUST

You recycle (and now hopefully upcycle). You buy organic eggs. You switched to natural cleaning products. But have you ever considered your dog's effect on the environment? And have you thought about what the environment's doing to your dog?

The answer: quite a lot. A 2008 study by the Environmental Working Group found that dogs are carrying around 48 different industrial chemicals in their bodies - many of them at much higher levels than what's found in people.

Key chemicals: flame retardants from beds, furniture, and polluted food; stain and grease-proofing chemicals from carpets, dog beds, and dog food packaging; and plastic softeners known as phthalates, which are found in products ranging from shampoos to toys.

The good news is you can reduce your dog’s carbon paw print dramatically, without overhauling your life. For grooming, accessories, toys and beds, go green with these recommendations.

Green grooming. TrueBlue has a line of gentle, high quality grooming products that are hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and free of detergents, sulfates, parabens and artificial colors. We've also been known to use Shaklee's multi-purpose, multi-fabulous Basic H - a well-to-do favorite, obvi - although it is not on the suggested uses list by Shaklee.

Be a green pooper-scooper. The ideal is to flush your dog's poop, so it will get the same treatment as, ahem, human waste. You can even buy flushable, biodegradable poop bags. The runner-up option is tossing a biodegradable poop bag in the trash. Switch from plastic grocery bags to biodegradable Poop Bags. Whatever you do, always clean up after your dog!

Accessorize with hemp. Fetch Dog and Olive Green Dog carry a wide-range of hemp and certified organic cotton corduroy harnesses, collars and leashes.

Eat earth-friendly. Fresh Licks' biodegradable, disposable sugarcane bowls are 100% sustainable and 100% tree-free. Perfect for travel, park, dog sitters, dog walkers, boarding and vet offices. Durable enough to reuse yet inexpensive enough to dispose.

Play safe. Made in the U.S.A., Purrfectplay’s organic plush bone is made with certified organic fibers and stuffed with organic cotton. Their wool balls are hand formed from sustainably produced dye-free wool. Each toy is processed using only gentle non-toxic soaps.

Snooze soundly. Big Shrimpy recycles clean polyester fiber waste to make their durable and fluffy pet beds. Eco Naps (pictured above) are washable mats made from recycled soda bottles. And for you Mainers, our friend Jess' business, Ramona and Beatrice, repurposes old suitcases into dog beds. Check out her Facebook page or her Etsy shop (she is currently working on new designs).

Think before you toss. Medications, flea treatments, and shampoos can all can wind up polluting soil and water if you simply toss them in the trash. To decide how to get rid of them safely, contact your local solid waste agency (call 1-800-CLEAN-UP to get the number or look in your phone book).

These are our suggestions, now you tell us yours. Let's get tails a-wagging!

xx S+S

Images courtesy of TrueBlue, Poop Bags, Olive, Dog Milk, Purrfectplay and West Paw.

This post was dedicated to the well-to-do team family dogs: Jasmine, Bailey, Riley & Eddy.

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FROM FINLAND WITH LOVE

What do doilies and mens shirts have in common? At first glance, probably not much—unless you’re Tuija Loomi, a Finland native who rescues vintage materials and upcycles them into new, stylish, one-of-a-kind custom pieces... made to last a lifetime, or more.

Tuija’s Etsy shop, Tuuni-the Finnish word for a girl and means something peaceful and calm-is the epitome of tranquility. Dreamy pillows, stylish fabric containers, and fashionable card and note envelopes are perfect for your keepsake love letters or cards. Tuija, once a featured seller on Etsy, comes by her craft naturally as her aunts are accomplished artisans and she earned a cultural arts degree from the University of Helsinki.

Here are some of our favorites pictured below.

Linen and lace fabric bin $28

Winter garden pillow cover no. 4 $48

Advent calendar $75

Love letters mail organizer, pink $29

Custom lap top cover made for Sarah

For “treasures from the past, upcycled to you with love,” be sure to find your treasure at Tuuni.

xx S&S

Images courtesy of Tuuni

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IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT

Say hello to the new and improved Shaklee Dream Plan. Much like Monday's post, Shaklee took something good and made it better. Way better. Trips, money and cars (hybrid, of course) are not the only benefits Shaklee offers. The Shaklee opportunity is about living life on your own terms, on your own schedule, with the people you choose.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

Just three clear steps to earning the rewards of a great living:

1) Use Shaklee products to make yourself healthier. Easy enough.

2) Share the products with others. You'll want to.

3) Mentor others to do what you're doing. Paying it forward pays you back.

LET SHAKLEE PAY FOR YOUR CAR!

When you achieve the highest rank in Shaklee, you'll find yourself behind the wheel of a new luxury car, courtesy of Shaklee. But you don't have to wait that long before you qualify for a car payment. Really! You could be earning your own car payment in months-not years.

HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING?

In August Shaklee celebrated $5 billion paid in commissions at the annual conference. Instead of a fixed salary in a career that builds someone else's income dream, a Shaklee business is your own and has no income limit. What you put in is what you get out.

Here are some average "salaries" for a few ranks*:

Director - $10,629/yr

Senior Director - $14,045 (plus $225/mo toward hybrid car payment)

Senior Coordinator - $39,019 ($325/mo for car)

Key Coordinator - $102,121 ($450/mo for car)

Master Coordinator - $218,026 ($500/mo for car)

Presidential Master Coordinator - $598,037 (luxury hybrid vehicle courtesy of Shaklee)

LIVE THE DREAM. SHARE THE DREAM.

Email us today if you're interested in test driving a Shaklee business!

welltodoyou@gmail.com

xx S+S

*The average annual income for each rank is calculated monthly based on information reported on Form 1099-MISC by all US Business Leaders who achieved the rank that month. The sum of all these monthly averages are the numbers reported above.

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REUSE. REIMAGINE. REINVENT.

Allow us to introduce you to upcycling, the act of creating useful products from waste materials. Yes, there’s an earth-friendly activity even better than recycling. Think reuse. Think Etsy. Not only does it save energy, it calls for creativity. And by upcycling things you don't need (say, baby food and spaghetti jars) into things that you do (breakfast!) you end up buying less.

We rounded up 10 of our most favorite ways to upcycle glass jars-big and small:

PAINT: You painted your living room an awesome shade of... Tobacco Road. Almost fill a baby food jar with the paint. Store it with a label that says "living room" and when, inevitably, someone dings a spot, or doggie dearest decides to chew the wall, viola! You have a touch up to match.

DOG TREATS: Woof woof.

BREAKFAST TO GO: Add oatmeal and dried fruit to a jar, and toss in your purse or pack. Once you're at work, add some hot water, mix and enjoy. Yogurt and granola are delish, too.

LEFTOVERS: Instant BPA-free container for food. Great for soups-yum!

DRY GOODS: Store sugar, flour, grains, rice, beans, etc.

ORGANIZATION: Give screws, nuts, and bolts a safe, organized place in your garage, work shop or closet.

GIFTS: Think outside the cookie box and gift S'mores in a Jar.

RIBBON OR TWINE STORAGE: Cut a hole in in the top for a twine dispenser or slit for ribbon dispenser.

SEWING KIT: Buttons, pins and needles-oh my! See Craft Pudding for a step-by-step guide.

PHOTO FRAMES: Choose a photo shape and orientation that will work well with your jar size. For more detailed instructions, visit Photojojo.

We've told you our top faves. Now you tell us yours. Comment below and you'll be entered to win a Get Clean Fresh Laundry concentrate!

xx S+S

Images courtesy of TidyMom, Apartment Therapy, Chez Larsson, Squawkfox, Craft Pudding and Photojojo.

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TREND LIGHTLY

Nothing says reinventing a look like accessorizing. Fall 2010 jewelry trends include brushed metals, animal motifs and colorful baubles. Size is still the name of the game: big chunky cuffs, layered bangles and large statement necklaces are hot hot haute!

Leave it to Etsy and their Fall Jewelry and Accessories Showcase to keep us up-to-date on seller's top picks. Refreshed daily, the Etsy team shows off accessible (and handmade) style.

We may be learning to make the most of our wardrobe, but there's no reason to skimp on the accessories.

Mix it up, be bold, and trend lightly!

xx S+S

Photo: Desiree necklace from featured Etsy shop, fullyhooked: green apple, peridot & vintage inspired. $27.50.

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SO FRESH. SO CLEAN.

We all want to look our best, and put our best fashion foot forward. But how do we keep our wardrobe in tip-top shape without the harsh chemicals? Shaklee’s Get Clean Laundry, of course! Take it from us: your clothes will thank you.

Shaklee’s Fresh Laundry concentrate contains no chlorine or phosphates, is hypo-allergenic and biodegradable, which translates to a gentle, all natural cleaning power. Delicates to dungarees are fair game with this concentrate. No need to use a separate pre-spotter on tough stains either, simply pre-treat with the concentrate before tossing in the wash (or let sit for those extra stubborn stains). Independent laboratory tests have shown that Get Clean Fresh Laundry concentrate removes soil 34% better as a pre-wash stain remover than Shout® Advanced Action Gel, rivals Spray ‘n Wash® with Resolve Power on spot removal, and is 30% better at removing dirt and stains than All® Small and Mighty® Free Clear HE in high-efficiency washers.

Anyone who’s struggled with sudsy buildup in their high-efficiency, energy- and water-saving washer will love the fresh thinking found in the new Fresh Laundry Concentrate HE Compatible formula. Its suds-controlling formula is kind on your washer. Its triple-concentrated formula saves money, water, energy, and space in your laundry room / closet / space.

Want even more bang for your laundry buck? Check out the Get Clean Laundry Mini Kit (pictured below) specially designed to banish stains, keep whites their brightest, and prevent dyes in colored clothing from transferring from one garment to another during washing.

Oh, and did we mention that Get Clean Fresh Laundry is so super-concentrated that one small bottle cleans 32 medium loads, the same number as a 100 ounce bottle of conventional liquid laundry detergent?

Now that's what Shaklee calls a breath of fresh laundry. Us, too!

xx S+S

Photos: suz.myshaklee.com

SOME LIKE IT SLOW

We can all learn more about making the most of our wardrobe. So when a girl wore the same dress every day for a year for charity — styled with only reused, handmade, or donated accessories — we took note. You’ve probably heard about this dress —Sheena Matheiken wore it as part of The Uniform Project and grabbed headlines across the world.

The result was a year of stories about personal style, and a refreshing retreat from design as a reason and engine for spending. Sheena raised money through donations and sales of copies of her dress for the Akanksha Foundation, which provides education to Indian children living in slums.

Since then, Sheena’s reinvented the project as a series of Pilots. Each Pilot is handpicked, with the same notion Sheena began—a different girl, a different little black dress, reinvented daily and a different cause each month. And Eliza Starbuck, designer of Sheena's dress, is now selling her little black dress (LBD) for $185 on her site.

The Uniform Project's LBD is one example of what the industry calls “Slow Fashion,” an idea courtesy of the slow foods concept. Slow Fashion represents the old-fashioned value of wanting something beyond next week, and expecting it to last for the next generation to love and behold. Long-lasting, stylish designs that fit, flatter, refine a wardrobe and stock it with essential items that are wanted today and tomorrow.

Our friend Leah Chernikoff (pictured above), associate editor of Fashionista, knows Slow Fashion first-hand. This summer she participated in a style challenge put on by Eliza Starbuck and her renowned LBD. Leah and a handful of other earth-loving ladies were invited to try on the dress and accessorize it with accoutrements from a NY village shop. Writes Leah, "Pushing my nerves aside at the prospect of being judged Vena Cava and Chris Benz, I tried to embrace the challenge. Starbuck’s dress is the perfect canvas. Buttoned on one side, pleated on the other, it can be worn either way. Or unbuttoned and belted over a longer dress. Or wrapped. Or tucked under a skirt. You get the point–the possibilities are endless."

Sheena, Eliza and Leah show us that small tweaks and creativity to our wardrobe can produce infinite outfits and looks. Some might call that slow. We just call that smart.

xx S+S

Photo: Bright Young Things & Fashionista

Sources: The Uniform Project, Bright Young Things & Fashionista

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COVETING COCO ECO

Photo: Coco Eco online magazine

A life with only online magazines? Joining the likes of Standard and Pure Green Living, Coco Eco is a 134-page online only green fashion magazine in a quick loading viewer. Founded in September of 2008, Coco Eco magazine is a modern green style guide mainly about fashion, but it also includes some articles on home design and green travel. A great source for everything in fashion that's good for the planet and glam for you! This "good, green, glam" publication is one we'll definitely keep bookmarked for future inspiration.
Happy reading!
xx S+S