Website Spotlight: Social Good Network

At Social Good Network, they believe doing good should be easy. They've created an outlet where your spending turns into positive social impact with simplicity and ease. This holiday season, let Social Good Network be your place to shop, share, and make a difference. Whether you're purchasing the lastest fashions from Bloomingdales.com or finally going through with that flat screen tv you've had your eye on from Bestbuy.com - Social Good Network has created a user experience that is intuitive, simple and convenient. Shop your favorite online retailers and donate to the nonprofit you hold close to your heart - doing good has never been so easy. Happy shopping!

About Social Good Network:

Social Good Network turns online purchases into donations you can direct to any of the 1.6 million nonprofits on its site (including YMCA, Make-A-Wish, and Red Cross), without any added cost. Social Good Network's innovative online fundraising solutions and community connect nonprofits, individuals, and brands through social media, shopping, and everyday acts of goodness. Join for free at socialgoodnetwork.com. 

 

Website Spotlight: GiGRUSH

The non-profit GiGRUSH Foundation invites talented and motivated individuals to literally rebuild the world. Skilled contributors are offered the unique opportunity to collaborate with peers and organizations on ‘GiGS’ (GiG = Getting Ideas Going) aimed at building an improved world. 

A GiG can best be described as a highly-focused project team. The GiGS can cover many aspects of life: economy, science, art and society at large. The GiGS all share the same ambitious goal of improving the world as we know it. Some big GiGS may include: new alternative banking systems, world hunger solutions, free unlimited energy, proactive political or social movements, etc. Some smaller GiGS may include: new social media, innovative apps, healthy food restaurant concepts, high-tech clothing lines, etc. This is just a glimpse of the potential projects. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination of the members.

Contributors will:

1. Have free access to a global platform to initiate positive change projects by activating the power of worldwide collaboration (wikinomics).

2. Solicit skills, expertise and knowledge from other members within the GiGRUSH community.

3. Join a positive, global community of like-minded people, sharing the same higher life values.

4. Share in possible rewards of the entire GiGRUSH ecosystem.

5. Learn by doing, by participating in real life situations.

The Platform offers to ‘fill in the blanks’ for those individuals who do have a brilliant idea but who lack certain knowledge, skills or other resources, to turn their idea into reality. In the process of collaborating with others, participants will go through a steep learning curve. This will result in valuable experience of actually 'making things happen’.

To make this World-changing project a reality, GiGRUSH.org has set up two main programs:

Every individual who is serious about wanting to create an innovative GiG Project or to contribute in any way is invited to sign-up via GiGRUSH.org. GiGRUSH also wants to work with GiGRUSH Campus Leaders in every University/College around the world. These GiGRUSH Campus Leaders will facilitate new GiGS created by fellow students at their campus. GiGRUSH targets Universities and Colleges because that is THE place where the youth of the world is still unclouded by current limited thinking patterns and corporate 'rat race' restrictions...where the ability to ‘dream big’ has not yet been shattered. Everybody knows the highly succesfull companies that were started by a few young, bright people. These companies were not created by big multi-nationals with lots of resources. That is not a coincidence.

GiGRUSH.org is also calling for the help of creators and innovators, doers and thinkers. These people will organise and facilitate the global activities of the GiGRUSH Movement from the GiG Creation Centre, starting in Malaga, Spain.

GiGRUSH.org invites every positive person on the planet to help spread this message of real change. Every media outlet, TV and radio station, celebrity and social media account owner in the world is invited to broadcast this global initiative. People wanting to distribute the message can visit www.gigrush.org/viral

GiGRUSH.org is raising funding and has set up crowdfunding campaigns to achieve this goal. Visit www.gigrush.org/change

Eating Green: Fantastic Organic

Whole Foods and PBS are teaming up to bring you Fantastic Organic, a website with a wealth of information about organic food, and fun kids' activities to learn about healthy eating, including videos, grocery store bingo, and more!

Buying Green: Vine.com

The national non-profit Healthy Child Healthy World is proud to announce an ongoing partnership with Vine.com, a new online shopping destination fornatural, organic and sustainably-made products from Quidsi, Inc., the owner and operator of Diapers.com, Soap.com, BeautyBar.com, Wag.com, YoYo.com and Casa.com.

Right now, shoppers on Vine.com will get $10 off their order and free shipping with an exclusive code when they spend $49 or more.Vine.com will also give $10 to Healthy Child Healthy World on the customer’s behalf, which aims to empower parents to protect children from toxic chemicals through simple changes and steps all parents can make.

Featuring everything from paraben-free skincare and gluten-free snacks to reclaimed wood furnishings and solar-powered electronics, Vine.com makes life easier for consumers whowant to access green products and shop for them in one place.

Before Vine.com carries a product, Vine.com reviews product descriptions (including descriptions of ingredients and materials) that are provided by a vendor. Those products descriptions are then compared to Vine.com’s standards.

To be available on Vine.com, a product (based on its description) must fall into at least one of the following categories:

• Designed to Remove Toxins
• Energy Efficient
• Natural
• Organic
• Powered by Renewable Energy
• Reusable
• Made of Sustainable Materials
• Water Efficient

As part of its product selection process, Vine.com developed a Banned Ingredients List; and Vine.com vendors must confirm that their products do not contain substances on the list.

About Healthy Child Healthy World

Healthy Child Healthy World is a California non-profit public benefit corporation with a mission to empower parents to take action and protect their children from harmful chemicals. By working with manufacturers and supporting policyinitiatives, Healthy Child Healthy World has transformed the marketplace into a safer environment for children. By providing access to critical informationthat encourages smarter lifestyle choices that reduce toxic chemical exposure in homes and communities, Healthy Child Healthy World has solidified itself as a trusted resource for parents for over 20 years. Healthy Child Healthy World's vision is a world where every child has the opportunity to grow-up in a healthy and safe environment.

About Quidsi

Quidsi owns and operates Diapers.com (baby care), Soap.com (everyday essentials), BeautyBar.com (prestige beauty), Wag.com (pet supplies), YoYo.com (toys), Casa.com (home goods) and Vine.com (green living). The company’s mission is to make life easier for consumers by creating a new type of e-commerce experience, delivering in 1 to 2 days and providing incredible customer service. Quidsi is redefining e-commerce by combining the focus and one-on-one connection of a specialty store with the scale, efficiency, choice, value and reliability of a national retailer.

Website Spotlight: Real Food moms

I want to highlight a website that will be helpful for anyone trying to shift the way their family eats away from overprocessed foods to natural foods. The website Real Food Moms is a website that focuses on nutrition, wellness, and relaxation techniques. Since it was created especially for busy moms and their families, the tips and ideas are realistic and practical - doable by just about any household.

The website incorporates yoga, nutrition, and stress reduction, so it's a balanced approach to a healthy mind and body. The site's creator, Tracee Yablon-Brenner, is a registered dietician and board-certified holistic health counselor, so her advice comes from experience and training. She's also the author of two National Parenting Publication Awards for her books on family and toddler nutrition.

I found the site very helpful. It's suitable for anyone looking to live a more natural, healthy lifestyle, whether you're just starting to make changes or have already been living that way for some time. An example is her guide to what's in your food closet. The Pantry Makeover is an easy-to-read guide that discusses what shouldn't be in your pantry, and what should, along with tips and recipes to help you use the suggested ingredents.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary e-book, The Pantry Makeover, to facilitate this post.

Living Green: Cleanhouse Challenge Facebook App

Seventh Generation and Real Simple just launched Cleanhouse Challenge, an interactive experience designed to educate consumers about keeping a green, healthy house, while incentivizing them with coupons and prizes.

 

By virtually visiting each room in the house, users discover cleaning tips and environmental and cost-saving ideas that have been created by Real Simple and Seventh Generation’s experts. Each room in the virtual house displays easy, actionable suggestions like how to disinfect toys, care for the finest wood surfaces naturally, remove stains from shower curtains and improve indoor air quality. To watch one of the interactive tips videos featured in the virtual house, click here.

 

After touring each room, users are rewarded with coupons for discounts on Seventh Generation products and Facebook badges to show their expertise in keeping a green home. If users complete every room of the house, Seventh Generation will donate 10 dollars (up to $15,000) to 350.org, an environmental organization focused on solving the climate crisis.

 

The Cleanhouse Challenge will be hosted at RealSimple.com, Seventhgeneration.com and Seventh Generation Facebook page from until October 31. To take the Cleanhouse Challenge, click here.

 

About Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal-care products for your living home. Seventh Generation also offers baby products that are safe for your children and the planet. The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy that states, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, and making the world a better place for this and the next seven generations. To read more about Seventh Generation's corporate responsibility, visit the 2010 Corporate Consciousness Report.

 

 

About Real Simple

Real Simple launched in March 2000 to provide inspiring ideas and practical solutions to help today’s busy woman navigate her everyday life. The brand creates a community in which consumers can share their ideas and learn about women like themselves. With a monthly print magazine, robust website, tablet editions, mobile apps, licensed products, books, special issues, and a strong social media presence, Real Simple enjoys a total monthly audience of 15 million. Real Simple is published by the Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, a division of Time Inc., the largest magazine media company in the U.S.

Website Spotlight: The Chopra Well

Deepak Chopra and his children just launched a new YouTube Channel designed to change lives. Deepak, bestselling author, world-renowned pioneer in mind-body medicine, speaker and physician;  Mallika, founder of Intent.com; and Gotham Chopra, journalist and entrepreneur, have joined forces to “transform the world from the inside out” through their dynamic new lifestyle channel on YouTube: The Chopra Well.
 
The Chopra Well is a family affair, and draws on Deepak, Mallika and Gotham’s collective experiences, inter-generational wisdom and life journeys to help fulfill their mission to inspire 100 million people to change the world, one personal transformation at a time.  Acting as the catalyst for internal growth, the channel will motivate subscribers to achieve personal, social, global and spiritual awareness. 

“I believe that if 100 million people underwent personal transformation in the direction of peace, harmony, laughter, love, kindness, joy and equanimity the world would be fundamentally transformed,” said Dr. Chopra, author of 65 books and co-founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing.


 The Chopra Well includes captivating programming like:
"Spiritual Solutions"– Stories, tools and tips to help you find creative solutions to life’s challenges.
"Chopra Centered” –Tips and knowledge from experts at the Chopra Center. Shot on location in Carlsbad, Calif.
"Who Are You?” -- Interview show with host Deepak Chopra, featuring discussions with scientists, artists, experts, thought-leaders and social influencers (Perez Hilton and Vinnie G. are surprise guests).
“Holy Facts” -- An irreverent and light-hearted look at strange, phenomenal and unbelievable stories in the world of religion and spirituality; think "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" with a spiritual twist. Hosted by Gotham Chopra.  
"30 Days Of Intent"-- Mallika extends her online venture Intent.com to an entertaining show featuring YouTube sensation Alphacat and star athlete Natalie Spilger.  From healing with horses to a death & dying dinner, this spiritual makeover show will captivate audiences.
“Ask Deepak”-- A fresh, daily collection of Deepak’s thoughts on the most current topics from a wellness perspective.
“The Meditator” -- A new daily meditation show launching in July 2012. Ever wonder how to meditate? Need some help getting into the habit of meditation? Want to have some fun while you practice? You never know where we'll be meditating next, so meditate along with us everyday!
 
The Chopra Well Channel is produced in partnership with GENERATE STUDIOS, Alloy Digital’s in-house production division. The channel will be promoted through Alloy Digital-owned YouTube channels, which rank No. 1 in total YouTube subscribers, and through targeted websites across the Alloy Digital Network.
 
About The Chopra Well
The Chopra Well is a new YouTube channel featuring Deepak Chopra, family and friends. Subscribe to The Chopra Well, follow @TheChopraWell and like The Chopra Well on Facebook to embark on a journey of personal, social, global and spiritual transformation.

Mindful Parenting: Breast Milk Counts Website

It goes without saying that breastfeeding is by far the most eco-friendly way to feed your baby - as well as the healthiest. While I completely respect the choice of mothers who use formula for all or part of their feeding, I also like to strongly encourage nursing and support sites that do as well.

Breast Milk Counts is a great site for all nursing mothers, whether part-time or full-time. Just because nursing your baby is natural doesn't mean it's easy - especially for working mothers or those who have difficulties the first few days or weeks - and this site has a lot of great tips to help make it easier. It tells moms their rights (for example, most nursing and working mothers have a right to a private place to pump, besides a bathroom), gives tips for the transition to working, shows videos with common issues, and offers a newsletter to subscribe. The site is geared towards Texas mothers, but nearly all the information will apply to mothers everywhere.

Buying Green: The Honest Company

I recently checked out The Honest Company, which was founding by Jessica Alba when she had trouble finding natural products to use on her children. I loved my experience with them. The customer service is incredibly helpful. When I had to call to cancel (because we just don't go through things fast enough to need a shipment every month) they were very pleasant and didn't try to pressure me back in, they just let me know that they'd be opening up their own online store and to keep that in mind. I have also been very pleased with the products I've tried from them - and they have a full range, including diapers and wipes, soaps, laundry detergents, sunscreen, and much more. If you're trying to find natural products to use in your house hold, check them out!

Website Spotlight: I Will Know My Food

I Will Know My Food is a site set up by Stonyfield to help educate consumers about organic food. It has a lot of great features: a section where you can learn about Stonyfield, enter to win the Know Your Food Adventure Sweepstakes, and find some great tips about environmentally-friendly food.

Buying Green: Abe's Market Samples

Have you heard of Abe's Market? It's a new online shopping site dedicated to natural and organic foods. They have a great new Discover Natural program where you choose 3 samples and pay shipping ($2, or $1.80 if you share the deal) to try out products. Right now there's a limited selection to choose from, but it's a great way to try out products if you aren't sure you'll like them.

Disclosure: I received a code for free samples to facilitate this post.

Website Spotlight: Be Happy! Eating Seafood

Eight North American ocean conservation organizations have teamed up to launch Be Happy, an online community for seafood-loving families to put their best fish faces forward, while learning more about sustainable seafood. When fish are caught or farmed in ways that protect the ocean, that’s something everyone can “Be Happy” about.

Be Happy applications allow Facebook users to pledge support for ocean-friendly seafood and have some fun by uploading pictures of friends and family making funny fish faces, competing for “Fish Face of the Week” honors. Subscribers can also get easy and delicious ideas for preparing seafood at home, ask questions of sustainable seafood experts, dive into fishy trivia, or simply show off their support with a smile for a cause that keeps families and the oceans happy.

Be Happy is a collaboration of eight North American ocean conservation organizations:
Blue Ocean Institute (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)
David Suzuki Foundation (Vancouver, BFishWise (Santa Cruz, Calif.)
Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch (Monterey, Calif.)
New England Aquarium (Boston)
Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise (Canada)
SeaChoice (Canada)
Shedd Aquarium (Chicago)

To learn more about Be Happy, please visit facebook.com/BeHappyFish. And, of course, Be Happy!

Green Sweeps: TurfMutt and Discovery Education

Do you want your kids and their classmates to be exposed to science lessons that help kids explore the benefits of recycling and landscaping? TurfMutt and Discovery Education have teamed up to provide a free elementary curriculum for K-5.

The TurfMutt science program helps gets kids outside to explore their natural world. TurfMutt online lessons and resources help students understand the importance of the green spaces that surround us daily such as lawns, flowers, bushes and trees. TurfMutt motivates and inspires kids to get outdoors to explore their ecosystem. Plus, the program is offering a $5,000 sweepstakes to one lucky school to spruce up its green spaces.

One school will win a $5,000 grant to give their school's play area an eco-friendly makeover. Two runners up will receive "Green Packs," complete with eco-friendly, TurfMutt-branded school supplies for the whole classroom. Educators may enter once a day, every day to increase their chances of winning. Sweepstakes ends March 1, 2012.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) revolutionized television with Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education. Powered by the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement. Already, more than half of all U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services.

About OPEI’s Education and Research Efforts

OPEI’s Education and Research efforts focus on developing educational materials, supporting research and furthering programs to foster environmental stewardship and an appreciation of our parks, forests, lawns and landscapes. Priorities revolve around environmental best practices and stewardship in the care and enjoyment of our green spaces and safety education that ensures safe and proper use of outdoor power equipment.

Website Spotlight: Rudd 'Roots Parents

When I was in school, school lunches were predominantly handmade at my small country school. We even had someone's grandma come in and bake us wonderful donuts once a month for dessert! Nowadays, many school lunches are heat and serve frozen or canned foods, that often aren't very nutritious or terribly appealing, foods that are often laden with HFCS and likely many GMOs as well. The Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity has set up a site just for parents, Rudd 'Roots Parents, to help understand the school food system, and provide tools for advocating for healthier lunches. If you're disappointed by the quality of your children's school lunches, check the website out and see what ways you can make a difference. There are dozens of schools around the country I've read about that have been able to drastically improve the health and quality of their school lunches - including using all-natural foods or community gardens - at minimal additional cost. If you're intrigued and want to learn more, see what power you as a parent can have at the Rudd parents' site!

Website Spotlight: Abe's Market

If you're looking for new sites for organic goods, you could check out Abe's Market. They have a huge variety of products: grocery, body care, toys, home & fashion. There are many well-recognized names, such as Kashi and Cascadian farm, but there are also a lot of small-scale sellers, so they have lots of unique products. If you check it out, you can use code ENB-7nf22a to save $10 off a $30 purchase.

Website Spotlight: MomsRising

There are a lot of potential toxins out there, but the website MomsRising tries to help parents avoid them. Every Tuesday on the MomsRising blog, parents and those concerned about chemicals and toxins can find new information on how to eliminate the most common ones found in every day products. Topics have ranged from choosing sunscreen and beauty products, to making a green baby or wedding registry, to detoxifying dorm rooms and non-toxic one ingredient swaps to make cleaning products from pantry staples.

“It seems we hear every day about a new chemical lurking in our homes or the products we buy. For parents trying to raise their children in a safe environment, it can seem pretty overwhelming,” said Claire Moshenberg, MomsRising campaign associate. “Our weekly guides break down the information moms need into easy-to-understand, realistic tips for daily life. We can’t avoid all chemicals, but a few simple changes at home or in your routine at the store can make a big difference.”

MomsRising, a grassroots organization of more than one million members, has been working to update the nation’s chemicals policies to reduce exposure to toxins that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, asthma and other serious illnesses and conditions. In addition to chemicals policies, MomsRising is working for paid family leave, flexible work options, affordable child care, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes so many mothers. MomsRising also advocates for health care for all, toxic-free environments, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. Established in 2006 and now celebrating its fifth anniversary, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families. In 2011, for the second year in a row, Forbes.com named MomsRising's web site as one of the Top 100 Websites For Women.

You can also find out more information at MomsRising Facebook page or @MomsRising.