Green Earth Bazaar | Green Earth Bazaar

DIY Shamballa Bracelet

Michelle — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:00:32 +0000

My New Favorite Accessory

I was flipping through my television channels the other day and stopped when I saw a number of very pretty shamballa-style bracelets being sold on HSN. I fell in love with the style and knew that with a little practice and a good tutorial I could recreate some for myself.

Source: hsn.com via Michelle on Pinterest

DIY Shamballa Style Adjustable Bracelet

I found a good tutorial on YouTube that helped me make the bracelet you see pictured above. It was a pretty good first try. For my bracelet I used the following items:

Seven 10mm faceted glass beads
Approximately 4 meters hemp string
Super glue (or clear nail polish in a pinch)

The following tutorial is very helpful for learning the square knot required to make shamballa-style bracelets.

This was such an easy project and a great way to practice making square knots. I’m looking forward to making more bracelets using other types of cord and different knotting techniques. I really love the chic, sophisticated look of the black onyx and diamond bracelet pictured above and will probably do my own interpretation of it in the future. Happy knotting!

Do you love Shamballa bracelets?

GMO Watch: #LabelGMOs Headlines Franken Foods and California’s War on GMOs

Michelle — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 03:37:58 +0000

Here are some recent GMO headlines. Read and pass along the info.

Remember you are what you eat. Peace

Twelve new GMO crops up for approval by the USDA - Make your voice heard on this one folks!
Kashi Go Lean Cereal is loaded with GMOs- The best way to control what goes into your body is to make your food from scratch. If you’re pressed for time and have to opt for boxed cereals, then look for brands that are Non GMO Certified.
Funding the GMO War in California

Join the fight to get genetically modified organisms labeled. For more information, check out the following:

On Twitter:

#Yeson37
#LabelGMOs

10 Easy DIY Bracelet Projects

Michelle — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 20:26:13 +0000

Wrist Watch: DIY Projects You’ll Love to Make

What’s my favorite jewelry accessory to wear? Bracelets. Bangles, beaded stretch, and chunky charm bracelets layered on my wrists make me happy – colorful, sparkly beads and meaningful charms always put a smile on my face.

Here are ten easy DIY bracelet projects for you to try and love. Happy crafting! Peace.

How to Make a T-Shirt Bracelet – This is such a cool way to re-purpose any old tees you may have lying around the house. I’m going to give this a try with my daughters, I think they’ll love it.
Summer Camp Bracelet – Love this bracelet. It’s a chic-er version of the friendship bracelets many of us probably made and wore as teens.
Frog Pond Single Wrap Bracelet – This project requires some knowledge about ladder stitching, but don’t worry if you aren’t familiar, there’s a link to a simple tutorial.
How to Make Beaded Crochet Hemp Bracelets – This project is a bit more advanced, so may not be for everyone’s skill level. Give it a look though, they’re very pretty.
Make Your Own Fabric Covered Bangles – This is one of my own projects. It’s very simple and would be a great project to do with tweens and teens too.
Easy DIY Fresh Water Pearl Bracelet – Another of my DIY beading projects. Very easy and quick to make, plus the end result is quite pretty too.
Scrap Fabric Braided Bracelets – Very cool bracelet to make, plus it’s a good way to use up your old fabric or clothing. It’s similar to the T-shirt bracelet project above.
Square Knot Bracelet Tutorial – A very chic and sophisticated handmade bracelet. Absolutely gorgeous when made with the right materials.
Garden-Themes Charm Bracelet – A cute nature-inspired bracelet project made with left over items from my jewelry making bead box.
Mens Beaded Bracelet Project – Here’s a little something for the guys. An easy bracelet project – maybe a his and hers…?

Have a fun bracelet project you’d like to share with us? Go ahead, don’t be shy!

Peace, Love, & Harmony.

Michelle — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 07:00:17 +0000

The Soul

Michelle — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 01:09:32 +0000

Organic Brands Against GMO Labeling? I’m SO OVER YOU! #LabelGMOs

Michelle — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 20:56:34 +0000

Buyer Beware

When you think of companies that sell organic products, you may be inclined to think good health and the well-being of the environment is a priority. So you would think organic companies and brands would support the push for GMO labeling, right? After all, what do companies that deal in organically produced products have to lose?

It’s not surprising that big name corporations are donating money to defeat Prop 37, but unfortunately some of the organic and natural food companies many of us purchase are in fact owned by parent corporations that are donating big money to see that GMO labeling fails. If you buy organic, or support GMO labeling legislation, then definitely read the article written by Katherine Paul for the Organic Consumers Association. The article lists the organic/natural brands, along with their parent corporations and the monetary contributions each has made toward defeating Prop 37.

Let Your Dollars do the Talking

I was saddened to see some of the brands I occasionally buy are on the list - I’ve made the decision to boycott these brands until they support GMO labeling. As you can see I’ve already made out my boycott list. We have the right to make informed decisions about the foods we eat and the products we use, and I will not knowingly give my support for companies that think otherwise. I hope you feel the same. Peace.

You Can Help #LabelGMOs

For more information, check out these facebook pages:

You can also follow these #hashtags on twitter:

#Yeson37
#LabelGMOs

Are you willing to boycott organic brands that do not support GMO labeling legislation?

DIY: How to Make Homemade Rice Milk

Michelle — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 01:17:17 +0000

Save Money – Make Your Own Homemade Rice Milk!

We use a lot of almond and coconut milk at our house, but it isn’t very cost effective for me to make it myself every time I need it (though I think homemade tastes better than store bought) – so I’ve learned to make my own rice milk. It’s so ridiculously easy to make, it practically makes itself. The best part is there’s no overnight soaking required unlike nut milks, so you can whip up a fresh batch of rice milk in a couple of hours. If you can make a pot of rice, you can definitely make rice milk!

Here’s what you need:

8 cups water
1/2 cup brown rice (I use organic long grain brown rice)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional) – I sometimes omit the cinnamon if I will be cooking or baking with the rice milk and do not want a strong cinnamon flavor coming through.
2 to 3 tablespoons maple syrup – if you’re familiar with making and sweetening nut milks already, you can certainly use another sweetener option like dates or honey, though I like the maple syrup flavor. You could also leave out the sweetener if you prefer.
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Large pot for cooking rice
Food processor or blender
Fine mesh strainer
Glass jars with lids or other containers for storing finished rice milk in refrigerator

Directions:

Combine water, rice, and salt in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a rapid boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until the rice becomes extremely tender. For me this takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes, but it may take up to three hours depending on your oven temperature and altitude. Contrary to typical rice making rules, you want to periodically take the lid off and check and stir your rice – once it’s very soft it’s ready for pureeing.
Remove rice mixture from heat and place it into your food processor or blender – depending on the size or your machine you may need to process your rice milk in two batches. (I add most of my rice milk mixture to my food processor, add in the sweetener and spices, pour that into a large measuring cup, then process the remainder. I add everything back into the rice pot and stir it well to evenly incorporate the syrup and cinnamon, then proceed to strain the mixture and pour it into jars for storage.)
Add the maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla extract into the food processor and process until mixture looks smooth. Set aside if you have more rice milk to process.
Once all rice milk has been processed, pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer and use the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Pour finished rice milk into clean glass jars with lids and refrigerate.

*** I suggest using the rice milk within two to three days, and keep refrigerated when not using. As always use good judgement – if it smells funky don’t use it!

Have a favorite recipe using rice milk? Share it with us!

Natural Beauty: DIY Homemade Rosewater Recipe

Michelle — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:43:43 +0000

Roses are red… and make a lovely blush pink rosewater!

Attention natural beauty fans! Did you know it’s ridiculously easy to create your own rosewater at home? If you grow your own organic roses or know a kind individual willing to let you take a few flowers, then you can easily turn them into a wonderfully fragrant, skin refreshing rosewater.

Rosewater is great for all skin types, especially skin that’s sensitive or dry {like mine}. Roses are mildly astringent making rosewater a good choice for facial toner and body splash, and for millennia their scent has been touted to be an aphrodisiac – no wonder roses are the top selling flower for Valentine’s Day!

Below you’ll find my method of making homemade rosewater. I use an old fashioned method, which is basically like making an infusion of roses instead of the traditional method of distillation. If you can make tea, you can make rosewater.

What You’ll Need:

Fresh organically grown rose petals – the amount depends on how much rosewater you want to make. I use approximately 10 roses (petals only) and make about 2 quarts rosewater.
Distilled water – enough to cover rose petals by about an inch.
Cooking pot
Coffee filters
Fine mesh strainer ( I use the same strainer that I use to rinse quinoa – its holes are tiny, yet it’s big enough to hold a coffee filter.)
Slotted spoon for transferring rose petals from pot to strainer
Large mixing bowl
Glass jars and/or spray bottles for your finished product

Directions:

Gather your fresh roses and remove the petals; compost the unused portions. Place petals in a collander and rinse well, making sure to remove any tiny bugs that you see. Spread petals out on a clean counter or sheet of parchment paper. This step is optional, but makes it easier to look for any remaining bugs.

Place petals in the bottom of your pot and cover completely with distilled water by about an inch. Gently heat water to steaming (do not boil), and leave rose petals in the pot until all their color has been lost and the water has been infused with it. This can take anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour, so keep an eye on things and give the pot a gentle stir now and then. {It’s amazing to watch the change that occurs to the rose petals, so this could be an interesting project for older children to help with.}

Once your rose petals are done infusing, use a slotted spoon to gently transfer them to a coffee filter lined strainer. Strain all contents of the cooking pot into a glass bowl, gently squeezing the petals to release all of the water and oil from them. Let cool completely.

When rosewater has cooled, strain again into another bowl using the same method as before. This step lets you get out any stray bits your eyes may have missed the first time around. Pour your finished rosewater into glass jars or spray bottles (empty glass spice jars make good containers for this). Keep refrigerated and use withing a week or two. I haven’t found an exact shelf life for homemade rosewater, so exercise good judgement when using – if it doesn’t smell right, toss it.

This recipe makes a great gift, and an excellent warm weather skin refresher! Use it as you would any toner or body splash. Enjoy!

{For other methods of making rosewater visit this page.}

What’s your favorite way to use up your organic roses? Share with us.

Green Celebrities are Bad for the Environment

Michelle — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:24:50 +0000

When being green becomes another trendy celebrity must-have.

I recently read a blog post highlighting a couple of well known Hollywood actresses for their environmental work – Jessica Alba and Natalie Portman. I know a famous celeb lending their name to a cause or brand can make a HUGE impact, but that’s exactly what bothers me. In my opinion many celebs have turned eco-friendly ideals and the organic movement into big money. And at what cost to the rest of us?

Living sustainably shouldn’t be trendy – it’s high time we began thinking for ourselves again!

Don’t get me wrong, I know many famous people do great charitable work and without their star power many organizations wouldn’t get as much funding. What I don’t like seeing, however, are people flocking to consume simply because their favorite celeb liked it, bought it, ate it, or “made it”. That’s a big problem in my book – too much over consumption of goods.

According to a World Watch Institute report, excessive consumption is now a global environmental threat, and yes that includes eco-friendly goods too. Just because a product is labeled organic or eco-friendly doesn’t mean it comes to you without some kind of cost to the environment. Do you think those cute vegan shoes made themselves? Or that stunning new eco-friendly maxi dress? And how much of anything do we really need anyway?

The bottom line is this – society needs to stop focusing on celebrities to dictate how we should care for and nurture our world. Living sustainably shouldn’t be trendy – it’s high time we began thinking for ourselves again!

What do YOU think? Are celebrities good or bad for the environmental movement?

Green Living: What’s on Your Eco Bucket List?

Michelle — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:27:12 +0000

Live more sustainably. Be more green.

There are many things I’d like to try at least once in my life. Skydiving? No. Bungee jumping? No. Raising free-range chickens? Yes.

I wanted to make a list {because I LOVE list-making} highlighting the practical things in life I would like to accomplish. A set of sustainable goals and dreams to work toward. I call it my “eco bucket list”. It may not be terribly long, but it’s meaningful.

My Eco Bucket List

Grow more food! I’d love to grow at least 95% of the food we consume. {We do eat beef and chicken on occasion and I don’t think I could raise cows and chickens to eat!}
Keep chickens for fresh organic eggs.
Keep a couple cows for fresh organic milk.
Have at least one bee hive in our back yard.
Plant more herbs and native plants {instead of so much lawn} around our property for bees and other beneficial critters.
Learn to can and preserve the foods we grow.
Churn my own butter. I did this once when I was seven. I loved it!
Learn to knit. – I’ve begun working on this one…slowly.
Take the time to learn to crochet – again. It’s true that if you don’t use something you lose it.
Get my sewing machine out and use it to make practical stuff like clothing, and fun stuff like pretty throw cushions.
Make my own soap at least once. I’m crazy about Dr. Bronner’s soaps and haven’t felt an urgent need to make soap yet.
Make my own eco-friendly candles.
Make handmade incense.
Make homemade vanilla extract.
Make a beautiful handmade quilt.

Life is full of wonderful new experiences and new things to try. I know my list will continue to grow with me as I journey through this beautiful gift we call life!

I would love to know what YOU would add to your own eco bucket list! Share your goals for a more sustainable life with us. Leave us a comment and connect with us on twitter using the hashtag #ecobucketlist.

Green Earth Bazaar | Green Earth Bazaar

DIY Shamballa Bracelet

Related Posts:

GMO Watch: #LabelGMOs Headlines Franken Foods and California’s War on GMOs

Related Posts:

10 Easy DIY Bracelet Projects

Related Posts:

Peace, Love, & Harmony.

Related Posts:

The Soul

Related Posts:

Organic Brands Against GMO Labeling? I’m SO OVER YOU! #LabelGMOs

Related Posts:

DIY: How to Make Homemade Rice Milk

Related Posts:

Natural Beauty: DIY Homemade Rosewater Recipe

Related Posts:

Green Celebrities are Bad for the Environment

Related Posts:

Green Living: What’s on Your Eco Bucket List?

Related Posts: