06 January 2009
By Victoria Everman
In Contests, Green Living, Reviews
Recent studies have shown the our sense of smell is intimately tied to memories and emotions. This didn’t come as much of a surprise to me - my noise often revives events and feelings I’d hardly remember otherwise.
One of the “strongest” smells for me is warm cinnamon, which evokes happy memories of not only food but special times shared with family and friends.
After meeting Jenny Pao though other San Francisco friends, I was delighted to hear about the Nectar Essences line she had recently started. Based on both the spirituality and science of flower essences, Nectar Essences delivers “sweet remedies for the soul”, made from organic and biodynamic essential oils.
Call them homeopathic, call them new age, call them hippie remedies - no matter your opinion, many medical professional are starting the see the benefits of smell therapy. Both animal- and eco-friendly, Nectar Essences‘ sprays can calm you down, perk you up, and let you drift off into dreamland.
Maybe it’s mind over matter or personal memories of pleasant smells, but it is likely a mix of both concepts that make aromatic sprays so effective. For 2 weeks, I tested 3 Nectar Essences sprays (Awake, De Stress, and Sleep) at least once a day. The longer I used the sprays, the more effective they became, leading my body and mind to become nearly “programmed” to react to the unique smells in individual ways.
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01 January 2009
By Victoria Everman
In Green Home, Reviews
Two things are guaranteed in life: cleaning and taxes. OK, I’m sure there are many more things … but those are two that most folks don’t enjoy in the least.
While making your own all-natural cleaning products is easy and affordable, many of us just don’t have the time to be mixing baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice. So, instead, we buy pre-made stuff that says it is “all-natural”, but are they really?
I recently tried the Sierra Club-supported Clorox Green Works Natural Dishwashing Liquid. Yes, it is affordable and widely available, which are two of the main reasons Sierra Club says they approve of the brand. What raises my eyebrows is that, as part of the product’s “coconut-based cleansing agents”, is sodium lauryl sulfate - which is known to causes serious breathing issues and skin irritation.
Having tested a new line of green cleaning products, called Simply Neutral, I can safely say there are truly all-natural products out there! Using just three different formulas - both individually and mixed together - I was able to clean my entire apartment without feeling dizzy, short-of-breath, nauseous or overwhelmed by synthetic scents.
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30 December 2008
By Victoria Everman
In Exclusive Interviews, Green Beauty
As many of your know, while planning on moving back to the East Coast in January 2009, I almost decided to settle in Philadelphia. While I chose to go back to Connecticut instead, I came across a whole host of sustainable Philly businesses during my research. One of the most distinctive locations I stumbled upon was Juju Salon & Spa, which “provides all-natural, non-toxic and organic professional body products and services.”
Knowing that sustainable hair and spa services can be few and far between, I jumped at the chance to interview Juju’s founder, Juliene Ebner. Started in 2005, with the spa added in 2007, Juju has been a pioneer in the ongoing eco-transformation of Philly. With numberous online and local awards, and an online retail eco-shop coming in 2009, Juju Salon & Spa is a great example of a green business making a true name of themselves.
Whether you live in the Philadelphia area or not, I am sure you will enjoy my interview with Juju’s founder, Juliene. We had the chance to chat about beauty brands, the benefits of eco-salons, unique events, and more!
Victoria Everman: What first inspired you to open a salon, let alone an “organic” one?
Juliene Ebner: Simply put, it was a no-brainer. Using organic, non-toxic products, in a friendly, non-intimidating environment, was the only way to go!
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23 December 2008
By Victoria Everman
In Books, Green Living, Reviews
Magazines of all shapes, sizes, and topics have been raving about the benefits of using herbs for cooking. They add flavor and dimension to any and all recipes with zero calories, zero fat, zero sugar … they are little miracle plants!
Most folks know about the usual herbs - parsley, basil, pepper, rosemary - from buying the dried versions at their grocery store. If you want to truly experience food at its finest (without a huge cost), grow your own herbs. Even apartment dwellers have enough space to cultivate anywhere from 3 to 10 herbs at a time. But what do you grow? and how? When do you use them? and in what?
Finally, there is a guide for all those questions - The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs. The idea of having a one-stop-shop for information on growing, cooking, and baking with herbs caught my attention immediately. In addition to all that, The Herb Society of America’s guide offers a unique glimpse at the history of herbal plants and trees, along with some of their past uses.
Most people think of herbs as something you just add in towards the end of a recipe - you know, an accent. Not so! No matter what you are cooking or baking, herbs are a vital element to bringing out the true flavors of all foods. By growing them in your own kitchen (or bedroom or living room), you not only get the ability to use fresh herbs, but you also foster that priceless connection between man and nature. A little dirt is good for you. 
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