Green clean your living room

I'm back after a break.
And here's the latest video focusing on how to all green and clean in your living room.

For more tips on making natural cleaners, head here and here.


In my next post, we'll be heading to the kitchen.
Till then, stay green y'all!

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

Did you all see how 2015 just snuck up on us?

It seems like that I just made my 2014 resolutions yesterday. But here I am taking stock of my life and chalking down my goals for the new year.

But before I list my resolutions, I'm going to start with figuring out my carbon footprint!
If you are scratching your head, wondering what that is or why I would take five minutes out of my life to do that, watch this to know more about Your Carbon Footprint and Mine.

And come back next week, for a few steps on making your bedroom more eco-friendly!

Stay green, y'all :) 

'Tis the Season of Sustainable Giving

The Holiday season is upon us and in my latest video - I'm giving you Five Green Gifting Ideas for gifts that are DIY, upcycled, zero waste or at the very least, clutter free.

As for receiving gifts, if you are amongst the fortunate few who can afford to have pretty much everything that keeps you alive and healthy, do consider donating or asking for a donation to these worthy charities in your name.

I've compiled this list on request from a few viewers who were looking for meaningful gifting options this holiday season and I'd like to thank everyone on Facebook and Twitter for sending me these names.

This is an open list. If you personally know of any reputed Charities/Non-Profit organizations that accept donations, please leave me a comment here and I will add it to the list.

Happy Giving and Receiving everyone.


This holiday season gift your time and money to :

1. Parimaarjan  - Schools for Street Children
2. Cuddles Foundation - Helping Children Fight Cancer
3. Save The Children -  Working for children's rights
4. Helpage India - Elderly Care and Support 
5. Prajnya - Working on issues related to peace, justice and security 
6. Project Why - Education Support and life skill enhancement of Slum Children 
7. Genesis Foundation - Critical Medical care for abandoned and lesser privileged children 
8. Tracks We Leave - Community Support for palliative care for cancer patients 
9. The Akanksha Foundation - Education of underprivileged children
10. Nayi Disha - Working on sustainable life and work solutions for a cleaner planet
11. V Care Foundation - Support and hope for those touched by Cancer
12. The Banyan - Support and rehabilitation for those with mental illness
13. Tulir - Prevention and Healing of child sexual abuse
14. The Akshaya Trust - Helping the homeless, destitute and mentally ill 
15. CRY - Children's Rights 
16. The Akshara Foundation - Equitable access to education to all children 

Remember, YOU can make a difference.
  

Steps to make your bathroom eco-friendly

For those of you, who missed it here's the second episode of 'My Experiments With Sustainability' -
'Steps to make your bathroom Eco-friendly'

As I'd mentioned in the video, here are few sites that will help you on in your online journey.

Sites to buy certified organic products from in India

Green Ok Please

Organic Shop

For a guide on where to buy sustainable products in Manila:

Sustainable Manila

Remember to head to my Youtube channel for the latest episode on 'Making Green Bathroom Cleaners'

Stay Green, Y'all! 

The 'Why' and 'What' Of it all

Why would you want to live sustainably and what is sustainable living in the first place?

Watch the first episode of, 'My Experiments With Sustainability' to find out.

Webisode 2 - 'Steps to make your bathroom eco-friendly' is now online on Youtube.
Click here to head to the 'My Experiments With Sustainability' Channel.

And so the journey begins!
Till next time, stay green y'all! 

My Experiments With Sustainability

And so it begins.
But why does it?
Well, for starters I feel this need to make sure that I am doing my bit.

I could wax on and on about always having wanted to work in development and my journalism career and my work with Greenpeace.
But the truth is that the decision to switch to sustainable living, one step at a time is largely a selfish one.
It is because of this face. 

This is my daughter, in her newborn glory almost three years ago.
As a mom, the phrase “For future generations”, actually resonates with me, now.
I can't close my eyes to the extreme selfishness of unsustainable living.
As every self-respecting parent, grandparent, uncle or aunt, we strive to make the best choices for the children in our, or our dear ones' lives.
And choosing to live a sustainable lifestyle is to me, one of the best choices I have made in a long time.
(Including the choice to eat that chocolate cupcake on Sunday!)

Now, on to why this blog.

Simple.
The blog is to keep me accountable. 

I am no expert, but just someone who chooses to advocate a sustainable way of living. Basically, I am just a writer and a mother who wants to use what she has, to clean up the planet a bit.
I know that it is not going to be easy and that there will be many stumbling blocks on the way.
But if my journey serves as inspiration for even one person to stand up and join me, I will consider it a success.

As Michelle Obama said on one of my favourite shows (Parks and Recreation), “Change happens one person at a time.”

I know, there is lot to be done. 

And once we start reading about how much there is to do, it can get overwhelming. 

This is when most people just want to shut their eyes, pretend that there is no giant climate change elephant in the room and step away. 

But even one step forward counts.

You know what they say about the fluttering of a butterfly's wings causing a chain reaction.

Be that flutter.

Stir things up.

We can do this, but only if we all pitch in.

Now, it's all well and good to get all rhetorical and wax poetic about this, but the question which most of you have is 'what can I do?' 

And this is where I and my humble blog will attempt to give you the answers.

I will post tips and techniques on how you can alter your lifestyle to make it planet friendly. I hope to review products that work without leaving harmful chemicals behind. And to give you ideas on homemade options for many a cosmetic/cleaning product.
I hope to share news of what some communities have done to make their lives greener and how as parents we can get kids to start with energy efficiency, early on.
We’ll see how it goes.

The tips can be as simple as turning the faucet off, when you brush. 

Not leaving the water running might be a no-brainer to many of you, but you would be surprised at how much water is wasted in precisely that manner.

Sometimes we all need reminders to do the right thing.

Sometimes we need other people to experiment with seemingly odd ideas before we try them out ourselves.

And sometimes we need resources and inspiration.

This is what, 'My experiments with sustainability is all about'.

Ambitious much?

Yes.

But worth it, if it rubs off.

For more inspiration read this interview of Environmental Journalist, Elizabeth Kolbert.

Until next time, keep it green, y'all.