Yo Betty, lets go camping and pack the cocktails! A review and giveaway!

Where I live, Memorial Day weekend is the kick off for camping season! Except the cost of gas is $4.20 a gallon and its freezing cold. I haven’t seen too many campers headed into this normally booming tourist town. I could be wrong though. Personally, I’m not much of a camper but that doesn’t mean I haven’t slept ina tent with gross, camp fired scented clothing and toxic bug spray fumes and the sticky marshmallows on my fingers. I have. I just didn’t love it. I’d rather “hotel” it. I’m just not a fan of sleeping on rocks and rolling over next to a dewing wet tent and then having to pee like crazy and running to a gross bathroom that smells like crap or better yet, going in the woods. I always pee on my pants when I squat! So then I smell like urine, among the other great things. I know, I know…there’s lots of great things associated with camping and now that I’ve read the book Backcountry Betty, Roughing it in Style by, Jennifer Worick …I think I might consider giving the tent a whirl. I’m going to start in my backyard and work my way to the camp ground and then the woods with no bathroom. Baby steps.

I think my problem with camping is the dirty, stinky gross feeling. I like showers and being clean. That doesn’t mean I don’t get nitty gritty dirty but I’m a Betty, just not my Aunt Betty. Bless her heart but she’s so grumpy and never smiles. The very first chapter of the book addresses hygiene and how to stay fresh and feel fresh. This chapter made me love the whole book right from the start. The book, besides being witty and humorous (like this blog), has many practical pointer and tips. For example, if you have to go number 2 make sure you build a “cat hole” and locate it 200 feet from water and downwind. Now that’s practical! Oh, and do not go swimming in the ocean if your having your monthly Aunt Flow visit because sharks can sense this. Go figure?

Jennifer Worick does a great job in a very non-boring way, pointing out how camping can be fun and still have style and class if you pack and plan ahead. This doesn’t mean wear your stilettos (which I can’t wear anyhow) tromping through the woods! No, just your comfy vegan hiking boots from Zappos! I don’t know if they have these or not, but maybe they do? The point is to mesh practicality, organization and a little bit of pizzazz without wreaking or giving up all sense of feeling like a woman. Over and over it is pointed out to respect nature, not liter, carry your trash and used toilet paper with you (another reason I’m not a camping fan), do not disturb nature and again to respect nature. Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you can’t have fondue or cocktails and Backcountry Betty shows you how! Ahh and if camping with your hot sweaty man is your thing there are lots of green and clean tips on how to spice things up without disturbing nature. Backcountry Betty helps keep you warm without the sleeping bag!

Not every idea is “green” but not every person camping is either. If you’re looking for a fun read, have a friend who isn’t so keen on camping or maybe you’d like some fun tips on making your next camping trip a trip that screams, “I’m a hot Betty and I can rough it (wink, wink) in style!” then this is the book for you. I have plenty of suggestions on how Betty can be more eco-savvy and sassy, like suggesting earth friendly products, recycled toilet paper, and not being so Ziploc baggy loving (but then it is camping). Get your copy from Mountaineers Books for only $14.95.

Wanna win a copy? K. Just leave me a comment and tell me a funny camping story. I need a good laugh. I’ll send a copy of the book to whoever makes me chuckles the hardest and pee my pants. I’ll announce the winner on June 1, 2008 when the new site launches.

Betty use that Big Green Purse!

I’m one of those people who have a night stand full of books and they have sticky notes all over the pages, the pages are earmarked or something like a pencil or pen is saving a page. I do too much reading but for the most part, this is a good thing. I have two books I’m going back and forth with right now, Backcountry Betty and Big Green Purse. Both are fabulous and so far, fun reads. Your probably wondering what a Betty is, I did too. I’ll shed more light on this when I’m finished reading the book and post on it but Urban Dictionary defines a “Betty” as a hot chick that is stylish. So I guess they really mean Green & Clean Mom and should link to my site!

All Betty’s for sure having a stylish Big Green Purse! I have to tell you, Big Green Purse, is a fat book with a lot of pages and tons of resources and information. I’m learning a ton from Diane Mackachern, the author. The idea behind Big Green Purse is we all have one and we can all use our green mullah to change companies that are making environmentally dangerous products. One example is that, as consumers we spend $50 million dollars on cosmetics and if we just shifted our spending on one or two products to more environmentally friendly products and companies, the industry would get the point! We have power all you Green Betty’s out there. I cannot wait to finish these two books and tell you more about them. I just wanted to give you a heads up and let you know that I’ll also be giving these away! You’ll have a chance to win them when the new site launches on June 1st! Happiness!

Another great source for books that we all should be looking into is, EcoBrain.com! You can read books online and cut down on the waste of printing, paper, ink and they have a huge selection. Each month I will be reviewing one book from EcoBrain.com to share with you. Hopefully you’ll check out there selection and if you subscribe to this blog and make sure you come back for more juicy green details, you could win a $50 EcoBrain.com e-certificate. I told you lots of good stuff will happen when the new site launches!

Healthy Child Healthy World Book Review

I have finished reading the book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home by Christopher Gavigan and it was an honor to be asked to review this book. If you don’t know about this non-profit organization that has been around for nearly TWO decades, founded by parents, Jim and Nancy Chuda, after losing their daughter, Colette, from a rare non-hereditary cancer, do yourself a favor and visit the website and continue to visit the site. Okay so on to the book review, most book reviews are boring and they tell you how the book is written and that the format is easy to read, blah, blah, blah. I just want to tell you that this book has me shouting these words to you as I type them: GO BUY THIS BOOK! Seriously! I don’t have an official Green and Clean Mom book award but if I did this book would win it. This book is just what every Green and Clean Mom needs because it doesn’t make you feel like you have to be perfect or do everything but it lays it all out there. The facts scared the "you know what" out of me but when you read about there being boogy men lurking in the corner you get chills…shouldn’t it scare me that there are chemicals that can hurt my children in their food, shampoo, and toys (same thing really)?

Besides the fact that I have every other page folded down at the corner and there's a rainbow of highlighter marks throughout the book, what makes this book just what all Green and Clean Moms need? Christopher Gavigan is a new parent and he gets what we feel (so that makes him a Green and Clean Dad). He knows how overwhelming and scary it feels to be responsible for this little life but have all this bad stuff surrounding you, confusing data, information, labeling, advise, and the list goes on. Every chapter is important and chalked full of useful information and facts but it’s easy to decipher and when you’re a busy mom you need someone to tell it to you just like it is and cut to the chase.

Here are a few of my favorite parts of the books or quotes that made me realize this is the perfect Green and Clean Mom book and a must have for you to go buy and for me to recommend...

*The book states at the very beginning that it is offering easy and doable steps to take towards making a child’s world a healthier place. Doable and easy are good words for a busy mom trying to figure it all out! AMEN! Organic shopping pointers, cleaning tips, what is a must to avoid and the basics all spelled out so simply. Even with pages to cut out and stick in your purse or hang up for reminders. Love it!

*Walking me through the words: Cancer, Asthma, Allergies, Autism and ADHD and Mental Development and retardation without me having to read 5,000 pages of technical terms (remember I’ve done this for my masters degree in early childhood education) but cutting to the chase and keeping it simple, factual and relevant was terrific!

*The idea that “Green Cleaning” mean more help around the house because it’s safe for the kids to help had me jumping for joy! Can’t all of us moms use some more help with the cleaning???

Throughout the book there are celebrity contributions and here are the best quotes ever…

*Amy Brenneman the actress wrote, “But we’re not perfect. I tried my two-year old on gDiapers and he looked at me like no, way!” I loved this because I didn’t feel so bad about not using such a great diaper.

*Courtney Cox the actress wrote: “Among my friends I’m the ‘green’ novice.” And “I’m just learning this stuff…” Phew, it’s okay to just now be learning stuff but the fact that she’s doing something, I’m doing something and you’re doing something is all a good thing!

*Jenna Elfman the actress wrote: “Before I had a child, I’d hear people talking about green this or that, but most of it didn’t seem to apply to me.” Raise your hand if you can relate to that! And then she writes, “I start with the things I can face easily.” What good advice.

Let me leave you with this last quote (there are so many good ones throughout the book) from Robyn O’Brien, founder of Allergy Kids…

“Sometimes it just takes a passionate mom. We all have her in us.”

Yes we do!! I do and that is why I blog and try to reach other moms like myself. I know you have her in you too! Start by reading this book and educating yourself with practical ideas for just how you can use your own two hands to make a difference.

Wake Up and Smell the Planet--A Green & Clean Mom Book Review

As promised, I have a must read book to tell you about. On my flight to and from Viva Las Vegas, I had some time to spare (not something I’m used to) and usually I would read some trashy gossip magazine or fall asleep with drool coming out of my mouth. The book, Wake Up and Smell the Planet, saved me from reading about Brittney’s latest meltdown or embarrassing myself by falling asleep. This book is written by, Grist.org, a online magazine publication out of Seattle. A site with a reader base over 750,000 people for normal people like you and who are trying to do something for the environment but enjoy some humor and wit!

Wake Up and Smell the Planet, is a humorous, witty, non-text book way to look at how a person can go green from the coffee they drink in the morning to the steak (or tofu burger) they grill for dinner and the shower they take with recycled rain water at night! It wasn’t just a book full of jokes and it wasn’t poking fun of serious environmental issues like one might think. Oh, no it just gives options and ways that a person can live green and not lose sight of their sanity. Going green is becoming so popular that if you drink an organic coffee in a paper cup, should you drink that coffee or will the mom at the park snub you because it isn’t in a stainless coffee mug? It doesn’t have to feel overwhelming and be impossible.

Wake Up and Smell the Planet , helps make it not seem so overwhelming or impossible but instead logical and fun! Logical information that made me have several, “duh” moments and elbow my husband to share with him what I was reading. Actually, I think everyone around me heard these logical facts because my ears were plugged! Did you know that if you shop online you’re doing the environment good? My hubby got a elbow in the side for that one! Yeah, the U.P.S. guy has to come but it uses “40% less fuel than the average roundtrip drive to the mall.” Another “duh” moment I had that also made me laugh my numb (long flight) butt off was dog poop being used for renewable energy. It makes sense really; people use cow doo for all sorts of stuff but what about the little pooches in the park? You’ll have to read the book to learn about what San Francisco is thinking of doing with their pet waste. It’s a riot but makes sense. Makes you want to go get the book doesn’t it?

I really think that you should give this book a chance. Manyof the going green books I've read are dry, lots of facts and hard to read from front to back. Not this book! The facts are fun, there are witty quizzes that make you chuckle, and bubbled facts that make you scratch your head and think or elbow your hubby! A great gift for anyone trying to go green, wanting to go green, thinking about going green or just anyone who cares about the environment and guess what.... it's cheap. Head on over to mountaineerbooks.org and get your copy for only $14.95. You'll laugh and learn and what's better than that?