{GIVEAWAY} Scour Off

As you prep for Thanksgiving, you see the dreaded "clean oven" on your to-do list. Before you get out your bio-hazard suit we suggest you try a well-to-do favorite: Shaklee’s all natural Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste.

Scour Off is a scouring cleanser that sets new standards of cleaning and sets the bar high. It’s a paste great for tough jobs: it cleans  burnt-on food in your oven in no time and stuck-on messes on the grill, too. 

Not only does our beloved paste have the muscle to get the job done, its natural mineral abrasives and cleaning agents (cherry pits, people!) are gentle on the planet. Scour Off contains no chlorine, bleach or dye, and is biodegradable and nontoxic. Did we mention it also has a yummy cherry scent? So delicious our friends frequently ask permission to taste it (but are not advised)!

Scour Off is not just for the oven. Take it around the house for many additional household uses. Some of our favorites include: ceramic cooktops, sinks, tile grout, and shower and tub soap scum. To use: simply apply with a wet sponge or soft cloth and plenty of water. Wipe or rinse off. On the grill a heavier brush can be used on the grates. 

So there you have it. A scouring cleanser with natural ingredients that can remove the toughest stuck-on messes without the harsh chemicals. Now your oven can be clean and green this Thanksgiving! Imagine that.

We're spreading the green, clean love and offering one lucky Well-to-Doer a Scour Off of his or her own. Simply leave a comment here on the blog for entry!

xx Well-to-Do

Disclaimer: I am an Independent Distributor for Shaklee and all opinions are my own.

Green Your Halloween

Halloween: Ranks right up there with Christmas for hating on Mother Earth. With a little creativity, though, you can still par-tay and also reduce your carbon footprint. Here are three tips to make this year's Halloween more EEK-O-FRIENDLY! {Sorry, couldn't resist}.

MAKE YOUR OWN COSTUME

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Since you probably already have your kids costumes picked out, let's talk about you. You and your closet. Believe it or not, you probably have a costume just waiting to be put together. Click here for Audrey McLelland's genius suggestions for DIY costumes!

OPT FOR REUSABLE BAG

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Cloth or canvas shopping bags, or even pillowcases, make perfect alternatives to paper or plastic bags, or to the molded plastic jack-o-lanterns. Reusable bags are also more durable!

DECORATE NATURALLY

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Instead of buying decorations made of synthetic materials, decorate with natural materials like pumpkins, hay, straw, flowers, and leaves.

See, it's easy being green!
xx Well-to-Do

Organic Halloween Treats

Since handing out raisins in my neighborhood totally wouldn't fly, I'll assume the same thing goes for you. But I have some good news: there are plenty of organic treats you can pass out this Halloween that won't get your house egged. Here are three of my favorites...

angell organic candy bars

Crispy Cat organic candy bars

Yummy Earth organic lollipops

Here's to a "healthier" Halloween!

xx Well-to-Do

{31 Days of Going Green} Day 25: Save A Tree

This week I'm sharing tips on how to green your home. Yesterday I covered Energy Stay appliances and today I want to talk about saving trees. 

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Did you know that you can buy "tree-free" 100% post-consumer recycled paper for everything from greeting cards to toilet paper? It’s true!

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And, did you know you can remove yourself from junk mail lists? You will receive approximately 560 pieces of junk mail this year, which adds up nationally to 4.5 million tons, according to the Native Forest Network. About 44% of all junk mail is thrown in the trash, unopened and unread, and ends up in a landfill. 


Certainly you know this first-hand? I’m guilty of it, sure. 


To limit the flow into your own home, contact the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service at P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512, or download the online form. Opt out of credit card or insurance offers at OptOutPrescreen.com or by calling 888-567-8688, a single automated phone line maintained by the major credit bureaus.

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Can't bare to to give up your catalog candy? Then consider these "9 Awesome for Junk Mail" from Care2.com.

Let's keep waste paper out of landfills, kids!

xx Well-toDo

Click HERE for more green goodness!

And don't miss out on free loot from our pal Creative Kristi HERE!

Day 24: Green Your Appliances

Being green starts at your doorstep. From recycling to using less chemicals when you clean, simple changes at home can add up to real benefits for Mother Earth, not to mention your own health.

Cut down on what you consume and recycle whenever you can. Every little bit helps; recycling just one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.

This week we’ll be featuring 5 more easy ways to green your home. First up: appliances.

GREEN YOUR APPLIANCES

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The EPA suggests replacing appliances that are 10 years+ old with energy-efficient models that bear their "Energy Star" logo. Energy Star-qualified appliances use 10%-50% less energy and water than standard models. According to the Energy Star site, if just one in 10 homes used energy-efficient appliances, it would be equivalent to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees.


So, are your appliances up-to-date in the energy department? Me: I need to go shopping for a new stove — stat.


xx Well-to-Do

Click HERE for more green goodness!

And don't miss out on free loot from our pal Creative Kristi HERE!

{31 Days of Going Green} Day 23: Clean Up & Clear Out

Sometimes it seems as though our playroom is a sea of toys and only those able to swim will survive. I am a good swimmer, excellent actually, and can barely stay afloat in there. 

My son's matchbox cards {true story}

After stepping on both a matchbox car and lego in the same day, I took a quick look around the room and all I could see were toys: baskets overflowing with cars, trucks, dolls, animals and action figures. I walked into the kitchen to fix the kids a snack and it took me 5 minutes to find my apple peeler. 

Frustrated and overwhelmed by the unruly nature of my house, I wanted to get rid of everything immediately! But I couldn't. So, I sat down and started writing a list {as inspired by Pinterest} — a manageable list — with daily tasks to help me declutter my home one area, one bag at a time. Here's my action plan below!

So get ready Goodwill, consignment shop and church, I'm headed your way! And I encourage you to make one, too. A perfect way to clean up and clear out before the holidays. Think of it as exercise for your house! Surely home sweet home could use a little workout.

xx Well-to-Do

DON'T WORRY, BUY HAPPY

Every green goddess needs to stay beautiful on the go which is why our Goddess from Greene suggests looking for organic, recycled or upcycled beauty bags. Do work or the kids have you too busy for google researching a pretty earth-friendly pouch? Don't worry, buy happy! Happy Solez Organics, that is: hand sewn and eco-friendly goods for babies, women and home. 

Katherine Accettura, graphic designer and seamstress extraordinaire, uses sustainable materials such as bamboo, organic cotton, 100% recycled plastic bottle felt and repurposed clothing items for her products which range from bags to baby booties. Find Happy Solez on Etsy and also online (for a wider selection).

In celebration of well-to-do's green beauty series, Happy Solez is giving away a linen and lace beauty pouch to one lucky well-to-doer. Perfect for makeup, toiletries or girlie supplies. A great way to stay beautiful and eco-conscious while on the go!

Leave a comment here or on Facebook about what skin care you currently use and you'll be entered into the random drawing. The contest closes on Sunday and the winner will be announced Monday.

Wondering what to put in your organic beauty pouch? Stay tuned 'til next Monday for a green cosmetics round-up!

xx S+S

Images courtesy of Happy Solez

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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LUSCIOUS & LOW-CARBON

Going green has spread to the kitchen!

Big Green Cookbook: Hundreds of Planet-pleasing Recipes and Tips for a Luscious, Low-Carbon Lifestyle is a climate-conscious cookbook, ideal for both skilled and still-learning-how-to-boil-a-pot-of-water cooks. Food and health expert Jackie Newgent R.N. reveals simple, practical, and cost-saving solutions for choosing and preparing food in planet-pleasing ways. Newgent's book offers everyday meals that maximize flavor while minimizing environmental impact. It's loaded with sustainable recipes that makes seasonal cooking effortless. Okay, well, easier at least. Inside Big Green Cookbook you'll find:

-A green kitchen checklist
-Over 200 delicious-sounding, seasonal recipes that feature fresh, all-natural foods
-Guidelines for going organic and tips for buying locally
-Nutritional information and and easy-on-the-earth cooking techniques
-Clever, new techniques for low-carbon cooking (for example: cutting food into smaller sizes so it cooks quicker)
-A shopping guide and seasonal produce guide
-Ways to "love your leftovers"

Big Green is divided into seasons and features everything from snacks to salsas, to soups, salads, vegetarian dishes, meat based dishes, drinks and dessert. Each recipe comes with nutritional information, along with “little green cooking” tips, and other eco-friendly tips about eating local or recycling. The book also has a section on party tips, tools every green kitchen needs.

While overall fabulous, we wish the book came with photos so we could see what the finished dishes looked like. But four-color pages would have added to the carbon footprint of this book, which is printed in just green and blue soy-based inks on 100-percent post-consumer paper. Instead we'll refer to the cookbook's website for pictures and reader submissions.

A luscious, low-carbon kitchen is something we can all strive for this year. Treat yourself to good for you-and-earth recipes and find Big Green Cookbook at a local bookstore near you or online. Prices range from $16.47 to $24.95.

xx S+S

SCOUR OFF: A GRILL'S BEST FRIEND

Monday's post shared some tips to greenify your grilling technique and now you're sizzling. But what to do about all that greasy, charred post-party mess? Before you get out your bio-hazard suit we suggest you try a well-to-do favorite: Shaklee’s all natural Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste.

Scour Off is a scouring cleanser that sets new standards of cleaning and sets the bar high. It’s a paste great for tough jobs: it cleans stuck-on messes on the grill in no time and burnt-on food in your oven, too.

Not only does our beloved paste have the muscle to get the job done, its natural mineral abrasives and cleaning agents (cherry pits, people!) are gentle on the planet. Scour Off contains no chlorine, bleach or dye, and is biodegradable and nontoxic. Did we mention it also has a yummy cherry scent? So delicious our friends frequently ask permission to taste it (but are not advised)!

Scour Off is not just for the grill. Take it inside and around the house for many additional household uses. Some of our favorites include: ceramic cooktops, sinks, tile grout, and shower and tub soap scum. To use: simply apply with a wet sponge or soft cloth and plenty of water. Wipe or rinse off. On the grill a heavier brush can be used on the grates.

So there you have it. A scouring cleanser with natural ingredients that can remove the toughest stuck-on messes without the harsh chemicals. Now your grill can be clean and green this summer! Imagine that.

xx S&S

Photo: suz.myshaklee.com
Sources: suz.myshaklee.com and many, many personal experiences with Scour Off

Well-to-do's search for "Green Goes with Everything" party hostesses continues - nationwide. We're also looking for people who are interested in joining our well-to-do team. Contact us if you'd like to learn more at welltodoyou@gmail.com.

BAR-B-GREEN

Barbecuing: a summer favorite. Bar-b-green: a sustainable favorite. A favorite of ours especially after learning all of those sizzling charcoal grills that ignited over 4th of July weekend released 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which could have powered 20,000 homes for a year. So before summer comes to an end, consider incorporating these five eco-friendly tips into your grilling routine. Good for you. Good for Planet Earth.

Grill Power: Opt for a cleaner-burning propane or electric grill over one powered by charcoal, which contributes more to poor air quality. A solar oven or stove avoids emissions altogether. If you do use charcoal, look for lump brands (briquettes may contain coal dust or other additives), and switch from lighter fluid, which releases smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to a chimney starter.

Lean and Green: Minimize health risks (from carcinogenic substances that can form when meats are grilled or broiled at high temperature) by choosing lean meats and trimming fat before cooking. When possible, grill organic, hormone-free meat and mix it up with fish, veggies, or fruit.

Go Local: BBQ season coincides with the time many locally grown fruits and vegetables are at their best. Local produce typically means fewer chemicals were used to grow and preserve the food, and since it doesn't have to travel long distances, less energy is consumed in transportation. Visit your local market to find out what's growing near you.

Set the Table: A biodegradable party kit makes any get-together more earth friendly. Better yet, bring out your own serveware, dinnerware, flatware and table linens... and employ your friends or family to help dry dishes!

Clean Up Your Act: Finish the job with natural cleaners like Shaklee's Basic H or Scour Off (more on that Wednesday).

The Mother Nature Network said it best, "You don't have to walk across hot coals to grill out sustainably." You, too, can become a green grill master before summer's end. Share this post with friends to help make this grilling season a greener one!

xx S + S

Photo: greenme.ie
Sources: mnn.com, sierraclub.org, planetgreen.com, thedailygreen.com, kitchendaily.com

Congrats to Kelly Kokoska and Jessica Bloch Whitehill - winners of the Enfuselle Lip Treatment giveaway!

BASIC H2®: A LOVE STORY

Let us count the ways we love BASIC H2®, the crown jewel of Shaklee's Get Clean line!

The one and only BASIC H2® is a multipurpose, highly concentrated cleaner with "a thousand uses." That's right. Stay with us...

Safe and powerful, BASIC H2® will save you money and save you space. When mixed as directed, BASIC H2® goes a long way: one quart makes up to 190 gallons of powerful cleaner.

Say so long to those expensive "specialty" products you're hoarding. BASIC H2® gently and effectively cleans hard surfaces, enameled woodwork, walls, floors, ceilings, glass, mirrors, appliances — even delicate fabrics.

Dare we suggest that it's a bottle with superpowers? Why yes, yes we do. BASIC H2® is capable of cleaning A-Z (errr, W):

Aluminum... Air conditioners... Aquariums... Boats... Blinds... Camping gear... Carpets... Cars... Ceramics... Cloth diapers... Clothes... Dusting... Dishwasher... Eye glasses... Fruits & veggies... Grills... Gum... Jewelry... Light fixtures... Outdoor furniture... Paint brushes... Radiators... Ranges... Shoes... Silver... Swimwear... Tile... and Wallpaper. To name a few!

So there you have it. A nontoxic, high performance and economical way to clean your house... and clean up your life. Clean and green. After all, the new green is about protecting you and your family not just the planet.

Go on. Get clean!
xx S + S

Sources: Shaklee.com and ShakleeGetClean.com

Note: Shaklee's Get Clean spray bottles (available in a 3-pack) best compliment BASIC H2®

Questions? Comments? Email us: welltodoyou@gmail.com