"I take 10 minute showers! I'm killing the planet!"

For the past few months I’ve been talking your ear off about why the earth is in trouble and how you can go green to save our environment.  And while it’s great to do whatever you can to protect the planet, there is such a thing as caring a little too much. According to the New York Times, there has been an increasing amount of people that report anxiety and stress because they feel like they are never as green as they would like to be.  And, believe it or not, such anxious thoughts about the environment can have negative impacts on your emotional state, your health, and your relationships.

How do you know if you’re just a concerned citizen or full-blown green stress case?  Read on for the answer and for ways to manage if you’re glowing green just a little too brightly.

Are you green stressed? There’s a huge difference between being concerned and being down right obsessed.  Before you go any further, ask yourself a few questions:  Are you happy with your efforts to help the environment?  Do you feel like you’re doing enough to go green?  Are you willing to give up your green efforts to preserve some of your favorite activities?  If you answered yes to all of these questions, then congrats!  You are helping in a way that is both healthy for the environment and healthy for your well-being.

Didn’t pass the test? Then you may have some anxiety issues related to going green. With all of the information out there, it’s hard to feel like you’re ever doing enough to counteract the rest of the world’s indifference.  Before you start ripping your hair out, realize that this is more of a psychological issue than an environmental issue.  An obsession with going green is just the same as an obsession with losing weight or making money – you never feel like you’re doing enough. Read More »

Winter is one of my favorite seasons.  Even though I live in snowless California, I still love cozying up at home during the cold winter months.  The only downside to the winter wonderland lifestyle is the negative eco-side effects that are often associated with high thermostat levels and twinkle lights.  Here are a few ways to cut your carbon footprint while still enjoying your favorite wintertime traditions.

Ditch the wood-burning fireplace: Everybody loves to cozy up next to their beau in front of a cozy fire.  Unfortunately, burning all of that wood can end up leaving quite the carbon footprint.  But don’t worry, you don’t have to give up your fantasy of the perfect winter fire; just be sure that you’re using a natural gas fireplace.  According to the Sierra Club, burning natural gas instead of wood will reduce your carbon footprint and pollution contribution.

Cozy up in Patagonia: Patagonia is one of the best names out there when it comes to winter wear.  Not only do they make high quality stuff, but they make it with environmentally responsible materials such as recycled soda bottles and organic cotton.  Right now I am loving the Women’s R1Pullover.  It makes me wish I was freezing my a** off just so that I could curl up in one. Read More »

So you’ve been at school for a few weeks, and you’ve noticed your laundry bag is overflowing. And you are out of undies. And, yes, bathing suit bottoms. (We get it; and we’ve been there.)

What do you do now that mommy isn’t there to wash your clothes for you? Don’t worry, with these tips and how to’s, people will think you own a dry cleaning service!

First of all, SEPARATE your clothes! Darks, lights, whites, and sheets/towels. Also pull out your delicate items like bras, nice underwear, or other lacey thangs (you little vixen). Some bras can be washed, but check the tag first! These should be washed on their own, either by hand or on the washing machine’s delicate setting.

Obviously, make sure you don’t have reds mixed in with your whites, because that evil color bleeds; yes, pink is in, but not in enough to warrant an entire pink wardrobe. While you’re separating, close zippers and buttons, knot strings and ties, and make sure totake things out of your pockets.

Temperatures: Darks/colors are washed in cold water, whites/lights are washed in warm water, and sheets/towels should be washed in hot water to kill bacteria. Be careful with warm and hot water, though, it may shrink some clothes depending on the material.

As you’re loading your clothes into the washer, take note of how full it’s getting. If you overstuff the washer, your clothes won’t get as clean as they should, and then you’ve just wasted a bunch of water because you didn’t feel like doing another load of laundry.

The scoop on detergent: There are so many different detergents and fabric softeners, so what should you use? Personally, because I have very sensitive skin, I have to use plain old Arm n’ Hammer detergent in that orange box, and I use those little dryer sheets that make my clothes smell nice. It’s really a personal preference and depends on your skin type or what you want your clothes to smell like. Just go to the store and shop (and sniff) around; you’ll find a detergent you like.

Drying your clothes is a different story than washing. Please, please, please check the tags on your clothes! I’ve seen many friends shrink their favorite clothing items because they put them in the dryer instead of laying them out to dry. Items that you should take out are: bras, delicates, 100% cotton items (unless they’re pre-shrunk), and swimsuits. Lay clothes out as flat as possible to avoid wrinkles. Now, when the drying cycle is done, take your warm clothes out and FOLD immediately! If you wait until later to fold your clothes, they will wrinkle and then you’ll have to spend time ironing (a whole nother article), or just walk around looking like a wrinkled mess.

The deets on bleach: They have bleach for whites and colors now, so if bleach is necessary for you to use, wait until the washer is totally full with water before pouring it in. You shouldn’t use bleach all the time, and you should use it sparingly. Color bleach will brighten up your colors, and chlorine bleach will obviously get rid of stains and brighten your whites.

Laundry Don’ts:

No overloading

Don’t wash thin shirts with heavier articles of clothing

Don’t put too much denim in one load

Don’t mix detergents

Don’t mix colors with whites

Don’t skip reading the tags!

Stains: To avoid stains, carry a Tide-to-Go in your purse or backpack. This little pen does wonders so I never have to work at getting a stain out. But, in the unfortunate event that you do get a stain, don’t worry, you can get rid of it. For drink stains (which happen a lot when you mix Vodka Cranberry with a bunch of sloppy drunk girls), run stain under cold water and wash item in hot water. Blood, milk, & other protein stains are a little tough and may take several tries to get rid of, but rinse stain and wash item in cold water. You can also use baking soda on stains to get them out by either soaking the item or rubbing baking soda on the stain.

Post your own laundry tips in the comments!