When doing laundry impacts the ocean...

Since today is World Oceans Day, I've found myself thinking about how all of the things I do during my daily life impact the ocean.  It got me wondering: What does laundry have to do with the ocean?  Kind of a lot, actually!  Did you know that every time you wash your clothes, teeny tiny microfibers are released into your washing machine?  These little fibers end up draining out of your machine and into the public water supply, and as they say in "Finding Nemo," all drains lead to the sea.  That means that all of those tiny little particles end up in the sea where they may be eaten by fish, and by proxy, end up being eaten by humans! 

Luckily, the geniuses at Cora Ball are, well... geniuses and invented the Cora Ball!  It doesn't just look super fun (both the dog and the baby seriously want to play with ours when they see that it is out of the washing machine)!   It is a micro-fiber-catching ball made of 100% recycled stretchy plastic with lots of little arms.  Just toss the Cora Ball into any washing machine (top loader with or without a center spindle, front loaders, etc.), add laundry, and let it go to work.  

The little grabby arms all over the Cora Ball are great at catching hairs, stray threads, and of course: those pesky microfibers!  Depending on how you usually wash your laundry and what you are washing, you may start to see a build up of fibers in your first wash, or it may take several loads, but once you start to see bits of lint or fuzz built up, just pull it out and put it in the trash (or compost... depending on what you get).  This keeps these fibers out of our waterways, which helps to keep the ocean happy.  In an independent study by the University of Toronto and published by Forbes, the Cora Ball was proven to be an affordable way to  significantly reduce the amount of microfibers leaving washing machines and entering public water systems. 

It was also designed using a material that can withstand dryer heat if you aren't a line dryer, it is totally recyclable (contact them and they will help you with this), and is meant to last for years and years!  Also, once you start to see what kind of fuzz collects in your Cora Ball, you may be able to see what sorts of fabrics you own that aren't the most environmentally friendly and work to eliminate future purchases of these same fibers.

What do you think?  Would you give Cora Ball a try? You can also get a free set of wooden Bubbe Clips with any Cora Ball order from June 8-14, 2020 with code: OCEANWEEK!

Ocean-protecting Cora Ball c/o CoraBall

#SustainableSunday with Tulia's Artisan Gallery...

Perhaps now, more than ever, considering diversity and embracing it is at the forefront of our collective minds.  Our world is definitely wobbling on the edge of what could be some amazing positive changes in the way that we connect and in the way that we make decisions.  Since we are examining the way we treat one another in person, perhaps now would also be a prime time to also examine the things that we are wearing.

I've got to say that after a 3-month maternity leave and then another 2 months of sheltering in place and wearing PJs/workout clothes, putting together fun outfits has become more fun than usual and I've been having a lot of fun making outfits around statement pieces like these earrings from Tulia's Artisan Gallery.

First of all, they are my favorite color, so when they popped up on my Instagram feed, I knew that I needed to investigate them more.  What I discovered was a whole store full of beautiful handmade statement jewelry! Founder Karen, is a Chicago native (like me), but also has Colombian heritage, and wanting to help Colombian's preserve traditional art forms and break the country's stereotypes about violence and drugs, she created her shop.  It is named "Tulia's" after her grandmother, who instilled in her children and grandchildren the characteristics of generosity, kindness, and service to others.

With these attributes as inspiration, Karen has connected to indigenous peoples and traditional artisans in Colombia who hand-make all of the jewelry, home goods, and cards in her shop.  They create these goods in a fair trade setting, so every artisan is paid fairly and has a new outlet to share their art with the world.  Also, by creating goods for Tulia's, these artisans are able to help preserve their ancestral lands by contributing to and empowering their local communities.

These Carmen earrings are beautifully hand-woven from palm leaf threads and are then embellished with 24k gold-plated brass.  Tulia's donates 5% of each pair purchased to the Wounaan community to aid them with health and cultural preservation projects since these peoples are continually displaced due to conflict in Colombia.

What's sustainable about this outfit? 

: the earrings are fair trade and handmade

: the tank is fair trade and made of organic cotton

: the kimono is handmade from organic cotton and is plant dyed

: the bracelet is fair trade and handmade from bullet casings

Carmen earrings c/o Tulia's Artisan Gallery

Reba tank c/o Synergy Organic

Kimono c/o Jessica Redditt Designs

Doka Stack Bracelet c/o Ethos Kolekto

#FreebieFriday with Conscious Step...

The world is a complicated place these days and if you've been a reader here for a while, you'll know how important I think it is to use your purchasing power for good.  I get a real peace of mind from knowing that the products that I put on my body, share with my family, and consume haven't negatively impacted someone on the other side of the world. 

Last weekend, I shared Conscious Step with you.  They partner with non-profits to support human and environmental causes through the sale of socks!  Yep!  Their socks are made of organic cotton (which comes from small farms) in a fair trade factory in India and then they donate a portion of sales from each pair of socks straight back to the non-profit they're working with. 

Today just so happens to be World Environment Day, so we thought that we'd team up for a giveaway!  This gift set of ankle socks help to give water.  They help to support worldwide efforts through water.org (this one set of 3 pairs of socks provides one person access to safe drinking water for a year)!  They are also super soft, made of organic cotton, and are great for summer! 

To get in step: 

: like the giveaway post on Instagram

: follow @consciousstep

: follow @greenchiclife

: tag at friends in separate comments 

(You get an entry per tag, so feel free to tag lots and lots of pals!)

This giveaway is open to US entrants and will end at 23:59 PST on 12-June-2020.  The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted via direct message on Instagram.  This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.  By entering this contest, you are confirming that you're at least 18 years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram's terms of use. 

Finding the light...

I've been hesitant to post because as accounts have gone dark and have muted themselves, I have wanted to show solidarity and I've busy learning. While I have used some of this muted time to do quite a bit of reading, I in no way consider myself to be an expert on human rights or on how to fix all of the problems that the world is currently facing, though I have come to truly value the things that bring happiness. 

I do feel that it isn't possible to be happy all the time because if happiness was all that we experienced, we wouldn't value it as much, but I do know that in times of upset, anger, fear, and sadless, looking for the light is essential. 

I don't want to be silent and I don't want to create more anger, so I will borrow some words from a favorite book (yes, it's from Harry Potter), and say that "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light."- Albus Dumbledore

What's sustainable about this outfit? 

: the headband was handmade

: the earrings are fair trade and handmade

: the bracelet is fair trade and handmade

: the jeans were up-cycled

Earrings c/o Courtyard Camel

Beaded cuff c/o Ethos Kolekto

Putting it all together...

How do y'all put your outfits together?  

I've always loved getting dressed, and while some of my outfits totally miss the mark (hello, trying too hard to fit a mold or particular style), I think it's super fun to piece together outfits.  

... but I don't always start in the same place. 

Sometimes, I see something on Pinterest or in Instagram that I totally love and want to adapt from my closet.  Sometimes, I have a piece of jewelry or a scarf that I really want to wear, so the outfit springs up around those specific pieces.  Sometimes, I just want to wear a certain texture or be covered in a specific print or color.  

This particular outfit was about the jewelry and about playing with earth tones.  Since the necklace and bracelet are metallic, yet still earthy, I wanted to play around with neutral colors.  I don't usually think to mix grey with brown, but I think this worked.  Oh, and just about every piece of this outfit is fair trade, so that's kind of cool... 

In what ways to you create your outfits?  Leave me some comments to let me know! 

What's sustainable about this outfit? 

: the earrings are fair trade and handmade from recycled metal

: the tank is fair trade and handmade from organic cotton

: the necklace is fair trade and handmade from up-cycled bullet casings

: the bracelet is fair trade and handmade from up-cycled bullet casings

Earrings c/o GlobeIn

Ethiopia tassel necklace c/o Ethos Kolekto

Austin tank c/o Synergy Organic

Doka stack bracelet c/o Ethos Kolekto

Sonoma clutch c/o Ethos Kolekto

#SustainableSunday with Conscious Step...

Have you ever thought about taking a walk in someone else's socks?  I don't mean literally.  I guess I'm trying to make the connection to that phrase about taking a talk in someone else's shoes... you know... to develop empathy?

Well, with Conscious Step, you can experience something along the lines of empathy with your socks!  How?

Great question!  

All of the socks at Conscious Step are designed with a cause in mind.  They have tons of partnerships with non-profit organizations and each sock style is designed to reflect the causes that these non-profits represent.  If you love plants, they've got socks that protect tropical rainforests and socks that plant trees.  If you're an animal lover, don't worry!  They've got you covered with socks that save cats and dogs and socks that protect endangered animals.  More of a human interest sort of person?  Their collections for socks that educate children, end poverty, fight hunger, and stop violence might be just what you're looking for... and those aren't their only causes!

You can look through their list of causes, find one that you'd like to support, and then choose your socks.  Every pair of socks sold generates a donation for the non-profit partner for that cause!
They are currently working with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Conservation International, Action Against Hunger, The Trevor Project, Oxfam, and Trees for the Future, to name a few.

Conscious Step is also committed to sustainability.  The cotton for Conscious Step socks is grown in India, which helps to support small farms.  This cotton is also organic, so it is grown without the use of any pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides.  Once the cotton is grown and picked, these fair trade certified socks are created in safe factories, where workers are paid fairly, receive overtime compensation, and have freedom of association.  It seems that these benefits, along with the time and care spent on growing the cotton definitely pays off!  These socks are crazy comfortable!

What are you waiting for?  Pop over to Conscious Step and see all of their great causes and patterns!  Comment back here with your favorites!

Socks that protect rainforests c/o Conscious Step

Socks that protect sharks c/o Conscious Step

Socks that protect zebras c/o Conscious Step

#FreebieFriday with Aid Through Trade...

You saw these last in our most recent #SustainableSunday post and now I am so happy to let you know that these gorgeous handmade bracelets are up for a giveaway!  Yes, pals, my partners at Aid Through Trade have offered up a set of their new Havana bracelets for one lucky : Green Chic Life : reader!  

All of the bracelets in their shop are handmade in one of three village sites around Nepal.  There are 200 artisans who lovingly hand make each of these beaded roll-on bracelets.  The artisans also sign each tag so you can feel more connected by knowing that a real person created the gems you're wearing.  You can also hop over to their website to see short bios and photos of the artisan who crafted your jewelry.  The set that will be given away was made by Sunita B., who earns a fair living wage, benefits, and has a safe work environment!  

To connect to some amazing women in Nepal and enter to win: 

: like the giveaway post on Instagram

: follow @aid_through_trade

: follow @greenchiclife

: tag at friends in separate comments 

(You get an entry per tag, so feel free to tag lots and lots of pals!)

This giveaway is open to US entrants and will end at 23:59 PST on 5-June-2020.  The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted via direct message on Instagram.  This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.  By entering this contest, you are confirming that you're at least 18 years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram's terms of use.