To preserve the taste of summer year-round, head to your local farmer’s market. Plums and tomatoes are bountiful during this season and perfect for canning and preserving. With a basic canning set and a block of weekend time, you can whip up tasty jams or comforting pasta sauces to enjoy during the chilly winter months.

Greenista Girl Sasha purchased a canning set from Ball for under $100 – complete with a cooling rack, jars, and lids – and a Pretty Pantry Gifts labeling set to decorate her Christmas gifts. To save money at the farmer’s market, she uses insider lingo and asks for “seconds,” which are slightly bruised product that aren’t put out on display but come with a cheaper price tag, so you can fill up on pounds of fresh goodies for your homemade concoctions. For recipes, check out Ready Made and the latest issue of Whole Living. So get in the kitchen and start mixing!

Written by Greenista Girl Sasha

Photo by SweetPreservation.com

Who doesn’t love a good nap? Especially a mama-to-be. Serenity Star Maternity Pillow helps you count those sheep with ease – minus any chemical sleep aids. Serenity Star Maternity Pillow supports your little green dreamer from prenatal to preschool and comes in not one, but three parts. Use it for pregnant snoozing, then as a helper to breast feed, then on your toddler’s bed as a bolster. Plus, Greenista Girl Shivani loves that it alleviates back, neck, and leg pain – no more popping pain relievers. It helps baby to attain side sleep position recommended by gynecologists for baby’s health while keeping mama bear comfy and cozy as she snoozes away. Sounds dreamy!
Written by Greenista Girl Shivani
Photos by Amazon

Feeling pulled toward colorful duds. Skip the bland whites, creams, and taupes most organic clothes come in and go for bold hues with Vicarious by Nature. This sustainably organic clothing line gives eco-friendly clothing a contemporary edge us fashionistas can appreciate. With bold colors and unique designs VBN gives everyday eco-wear a little nudge in the trend direction. Their new fall collection includes bold pullovers and chic tops. VBN always strives to use organic production methods besides using 100% organic cotton and other recycled fabrics. The eco-friendly clothing line not only cares about the environment but VBN gives back to its community through partnerships with non-profit organizations like Eco Nation and Ocean Conservation Society.

Written by Greenista Girl Neha

Photos by Vicarious By Nature

Stuck on using non-stick cookware but worried about its safety? Problem solved – the Scanpan line of non-stick cookware is safe, durable, and eco-friendly.  It is the first PFOA-free and PTFE-free nonstick cookware (which means no Teflon), and is made of recycled aluminum with a ceramic titanium finish that’s 10 times harder than steel. So you can use metal utensils and stick it in the dishwasher without damaging it. What’s even better is that the thick bases are designed to cook with less energy as you braise, sear, deglaze, or cook in the oven (up to 500 °F).  So no need to walk … er, cook on eggshells anymore … fry up and enjoy that egg in the morning on a Scanpan non-stick pan with no worries!

Written by Greenista Girl Shubhra

Photos by Crate and Barrel

We are all concerned with living well at the least expense to the environment, but how do we make sure we are not only eco-conscious but healthy-lifestyle conscious as well? I’m Latham Thomas and I’m the founder of Tender Shoots Wellness, a boutique holistic lifestyle practice that serves women offering green culinary services, nutritional counseling, and yoga. I’m a single mother of a 7-year-old-boy and we live in the heart of the Green Apple, New York City. I’m a new addition to the Greenista team and I’m going to share some savvy tips on how to live your very best!

Holistic living means to live in balance with all components of our life … relationships, career, diet, fitness, passions, and the ambient environment. Here is one way to live an eco existence:

Exercise during the mornings whenever possible. When you work out at the start of your day it decreases your appetite and stimulates the thyroid to burn calories all day long. Try power walking, jogging, swimming, or spinning in the mornings to start off your day, add some resistance training at the end of the workout to further stimulate the fat burning process. This might include push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, and squats. Since it’s warmer outside, our bodies naturally desire more sunlight and activity. Carve out some time in your busy schedule to do some of the things you love to do outdoors, which might include: rollerblading, bike-riding, recreational sports, dancing, walking more, etc. It saves on gym membership, averts emissions expelled by workout machines, and is green!

Written by Greenista Guest Latham Thomas

Photo by Google Images

As August slowly slips through the cracks, September brings a yummier month. It kicks off National Organic Harvest month. The Organic Trade Association started Organic Harvest month to celebrate all the plentiful fruits and veggies that fall brings. Experiment with fresh fruit recipes and feel free to veg out the all-natural way. If you don’t eat organic already, this month can be your fresh start – take this as your cue to experiment away. Check out this yummy list of bountiful fruits and veggies that are ripe in September.

• String beans
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Corn
• Collard greens
• Eggplant
• Herbs
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Leeks
• Lima beans
• Onions
• Peas
• Peppers
• Potatoes
• Pumpkins
• Radishes
• Scallions
• Spinach
• Squash
• Swiss chard
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• Apples
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Grapes
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Prunes
• Raspberry
• Watermelon

Written by Greenista Girl Brianne

Photos by Kiwi

Decorating your home with eco finds doesn’t have to be expensive … just look in your backyard or even better, at the beach! Not just for coastal living anymore, beach-inspired looks give your home the laid-back scenery that’s just right for summer and for remembering those warmer vacation days. Go green and unique at the same time by collecting seashells … you’ll have a blast searching for certain colors and shapes. So what exactly can you do with these shells? You can place shells around a frame or mirror, put some shells in a shadow box, keep them in a decorative bowl in the bathroom, attach them to lamp or a back splash, use them as decorative drawer pulls, and you can even use larger ones as a paper weight or to hold items like soap, paper clips, or jewelry. The possibilities are endless. Using shells to decorate allows you to create your own custom look while keeping your home eco-friendly.

Written by Greenista Girl Brianne

Photos by Country Living

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As a professional shopper and lover of vintage clothing, I have come to realize how many of today’s fashions are borrowed from the past. It’s recycling in its most fashionable form … designers today are greatly influenced by ideas and eras from long ago (hello, Mad Men). Luckily for you, vintage clothing can be affordable, stylish, and one-of-a-kind. Being second-hand pieces, no new resources were wasted to create these items. Plus, vintage pieces can add to your wardrobe in a way that reflects your style without breaking the bank.

Vintage clothing is typically defined as either used or new clothing originating from a previous era (typically more than 25 years ago). This type of clothing can be found anywhere from thrift stores to high-end consignment stores to eBay. The popularity of vintage clothing has grown tremendously as style-savvy fashionistas search for unique pieces that represent their style and stand out.

Make sure when looking for these distinctive items that they really speak to your style sense, fit well, and can be easily combined with existing pieces in your wardrobe. Done right, you will be that stylish fashionista you always wanted to be … with a green conscience, of course.

Written by Bridget Boggess of Dress Marie

Photo by Catwalk Queen

Wanna get robbed of that post-pregnancy swollen tummy? Turn to the the Belly Bandit. The name says it all, the Belly Bandit is a 9-inch seamless elastic belly band that aids in losing inches off your post-baby belly, minimizes stretch marks, speeds up the healing process for C-sections, improves posture, and provides that much needed support for breastfeeding. It also increases blood circulation around the abdomen, facilitates reverse tissue expansion, and diminishes uterine swelling without restricting breathing or muscle re-development … phew! Best of all, the new version is made from bamboo which is one of the most natural and renewable fibers around and is three times more durable than cotton … not to mention softer. The Belly Bandit provides all of the support and comfort your belly needs all while speeding up the healing process for a tight tummy in no time flat!

Greenista Giveaway: Get free ground shipping on your Belly Bandit order! Enter GRREV810 at check out. The offer only lasts 48 so buy now!

Written by Greenista Girl Shivani

Photos by Belly Bandit

Want something impressive on your toots? Slide on a pair of ToeSox, the socks that give your piggies their own little compartment. They may look silly but your feet deserve the very best in comfort. ToeSox are made from 90% organic cotton with a bit of spandex for that extra stretch. Use them as your everyday lounge-around-the-house socks or put them to even better use and throw them on for your daily Pilates or yoga – each pair has no-slip grips on the bottom. Strategically positioned horizontal stripes indicate proper foot alignment with reformer, Cadillac, and mat workouts and the five-toe design promotes toe strength, balance, circulation, and flexibility. Think of ToeSox as comfy, versatile protective gloves for your feet. They even come in half-toe versions which let your piggies peep out. Ultra-comfortable and multipurpose, you can even slip them on with a pair of flip-flops for when you’re on your way to the yoga studio.

Written by Greenista Girl Neha

Photos by ToeSox