Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life

Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life
by Sophie Uliano

Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life
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Book Summary Information

Author: Sophie Uliano
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-04-01
ISBN: 0061575569
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Collins Living

Book Reviews of Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life

Book Review: Gorgeously Green (Physical Geography)
Summary: 5 Stars

I LOVED THIS BOOK! The book is broken down into seven steps, and the eighth being the final plunge into an all around natural, organic, wholistic lifestyle. . Going green will help reduce global warming, climate change, carbon emitions, deforestation, pollution, and so on. Humanity is meant to positively impact the Earth, and the chemicals found in the simplest household items impact our environment in a large way. The sections of the book begins with personal care such as skin-care, lotions, and basic household products that woman use every day, to the final chapter involving "going out" from transportation alternatives to entertainment. Who knew that so many processed chemicals could be in products that woman use every day and disregard without taking into consideration the impact some of these harmful chemicals have on our own bodies. The book is a very simple read for those who have no scientific background, but also there are facts to support all the information at hand. When carousing the isles of a department store shopping for the newest face care line, admiring all of the colorful plastic containers advertising "dry" or "sensitive" skin products, you might stop and contemplate the most popular product on the market, maybe what famous people endorse such products, but you don't bother to check the ingredients that make the product, the toxic chemicals that could do more harm than help. There are different levels of harm in certain products, so it is always important to check because a common threat in face moisturizers is hydroquinone, which is a neurotoxin and is also highly allergenic, to something as simple as mineral oils that coat the skin preventing it from breathing, hence skin irritation from certain products. Not only does the author provide valid information on the chemicals that are present in everyday personal hygiene products, she also gives alternatives that she has tried, and constantly provides websites for the readers to checkout and validates before purchasing new products. Once again, the author doesn't force this information upon the reader, she is very subtle and informative, but she continues to concern the reader with more than just the chemicals, but the fact that the chemicals that we are also applying to our skin end up in our drains and sewers polluting water, and also the empty containers end up in landfills affecting our environments inability to decompose all its materials.
The chapters continue with inspiring the readers to exercise for their own good. Exercise is as simple as walking twenty minutes a day, which is almost equivalent to sixteen minutes of hard cardio, and remembering to stretch and care for our bodies because we only have one chance to take care of ourselves. By encouraging the readers to read, Uliano hopes to decrease carbon emissions, CFCs, and VCOs, from exhaust from cars (which she discusses in the seventh chapter). By far one of my favorite chapters involved consuming, more importantly, shopping for everything from organic cotton clothing to sweatshops and groceries to cleaning products, covered in chapters four and five. In a conventional cotton T-shirt, in the manufacturing processes, it takes over 150 grams of pesticides to make, which is a whole cup of sugar. It's almost so hard to fit everything that can be broken down into this one summary! In household cleaning supplies, advertisers can use the term "organic" because of the chemical formulation, but it's important to know that the strong smells that come from cleaning supplies are VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) which are petrochemicals giving off gases at room temperature; more importantly, these chemicals emit greenhouse gases. "Aerosol labels promising `no CFCs' are very silly because chlorofluorocarbons were banned from all aerosols in the seventies" (136). The consumer needs to take action into their own hands and take a couple of extra minutes and do research before purchasing a highly toxic product that can increase harm on our environment which will drastically change global warming for generations to come. I've learned that I can just help our environment by making the smallest changes and that can help in the largest ways beginning with recycling or carpooling! "It's True: Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees, 6,953 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, 587 pounds of air pollution, 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space, and 4,077 kilowatt hours of energy" (163). If you're looking for a simple change and want to help the environment, this is an easy read with great recommendations for going green!

Summary of Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life

Are you confused by all the advice you hear and see daily on how to "go green"? Do you want to incorporate earth-friendly practices into your life, but you don't know where to start? Don't stress! Green guru Sophie Uliano has sorted through all the eco-info out there and put everything you need to know about living a green lifestyle right at your fingertips. In Gorgeously Green, Sophie offers a simple eight-step program that is an easy and fun way to begin living an earth-friendly life. Each chapter covers topics from beauty to fitness, shopping to your kitchen -- even your transportation. Whether it's finding the right lipstick, making dinner, buying gifts, or picking out a hot new outfit, finally, there is a book that tackles your daily eco-challenges with a take-charge plan. Just consider Sophie your go-to girl with all the eco-solutions. Find out how to:
  • Green your entire beauty regime
  • Detoxify your home
  • Indulge in guilt-free shopping
  • Adopt a home fitness routine
  • Prepare eco-licious treats
  • Give your kitchen a green makeover
  • Become more aware of your impact on the earth

The book's dozens and dozens of eco-friendly tips, products, and practices combine to form a treasure trove of practical advice for every possible way to become stylishly green. Your questions about dressing, makeup, eating, shopping, cleaning, travel, and more are all answered right here.

Adopting a green lifestyle is among the most positive, forward-thinking, and personally fulfilling choices that anyone can make -- and Gorgeously Green shows that it doesn't have to be tedious, time-consuming, or glamourless!


Are you confused by all the advice you hear and see daily on how to "go green"? Do you want to incorporate earth-friendly practices into your life, but you don't know where to start? Don't stress! Green guru Sophie Uliano has sorted through all the eco-info out there and put everything you need to know about living a green lifestyle right at your fingertips.

In Gorgeously Green, Sophie offers a simple eight-step program that is an easy and fun way to begin living an earth-friendly life. Each chapter covers topics from beauty to fitness, shopping to your kitchen-even your transportation. Whether it's finding the right lipstick, making dinner, buying gifts, or picking out a hot new outfit, finally, there is a book that tackles your daily eco-challenges with a take-charge plan. Just consider Sophie your go-to girl with all the eco-solutions. Find out how to:

  • Green your entire beauty regime
  • Detoxify your home
  • Indulge in guilt-free shopping
  • Adopt a home fitness routine
  • Prepare eco-licious treats
  • Give your kitchen a green makeover
  • Become more aware of your impact on the earth

The book's dozens and dozens of eco-friendly tips, products, and practices combine to form a treasure trove of practical advice for every possible way to become stylishly green. Your questions about dressing, makeup, eating, shopping, cleaning, travel, and more are all answered right here. Adopting a green lifestyle is among the most positive, forward-thinking, and personally fulfilling choices that anyone can make--and Gorgeously Green shows that it doesn't have to be tedious, time-consuming, or glamourless!

Questions for Sophie Uliano

We had the opportunity to chat with Sophie Uliano over e-mail about Gorgeously Green, her suggestions for saving the Earth, and the very real possibility of becoming a hippie. Here's what Sophie had to say about the economics of eco-consciousness, the allure of non-toxic nail polish, and of course, whether it's truly easy being green.

Amazon.com: I've heard a common complaint that energy-saving light bulbs, organic food and clothing, and other "green" products are not as economical as traditional products. Is that true? Any tips for readers who want to be eco-conscious and budget-conscious too?

Sophie Uliano: I think that going green has a double meaning in that it also is about saving money. There is no way that I would or could go green if it meant that I was going to have to pay much more. If you make the cleaning spray that I suggest in my book, you will save a bunch on cleaning supplies because it's an all-purpose cleaner that I use on almost everything (a great germ-buster too). You will pay a little more upfront for energy-saving light bulbs, but as they last 15 times longer, you will save money in the long run. Food is the only thing that you may have to pay a bit more for, however, I think that your health is an important investment, so I choose to save on boring cleaning supplies and treat my family to food that not only tastes more delicious, but will keep them healthy and vibrant. Remember that if you follow all the energy-saving tips in the book, you are going to save a wad of cash too--so it's a win/win.

Amazon.com: I think many people are interested in making more sustainable choices, but when it comes to the heavy lifting it can be hard to break old habits. We tend to think, "Someone else will ride their bike to work today--I'll drive like I always do." What advice do you have that can help people "walk the talk"?

Uliano: I agree that it is hard to break old habits. My suggestion is to break one habit at a time. Choose the one thing that bothers you most. For me it is using paper towels when I know that I can easily use a rag instead. Make a decision about the change you want to make and tell your friends and family that you have decided to do this one thing and that you want their support. It could be that you are going to cook one organic meal from scratch once a week, or that you are going to air-dry your clothes this summer or simply that you will wash out a barely used zip-lock bag, instead of throwing it away--easy!

Amazon.com: Furthermore, I've heard many people worry that eco-consciousness is the first step toward becoming a granola hippie, to use one of your own phrases from the book. Do you have to be a hippie to go green?

Uliano: You so don't have to become the tree hugger/hippie to live a green way of life. I feel passionately that you can still have the glitz, the glam and the gleaming house because now there are so many eco-friendly companies that offer you safe and healthy choices: nail polishes, organic clothes that are fabulous to name a few.

Amazon.com: Not everyone lives in an area where green options are available and accessible. Can you suggest a few ways that readers can live a greener lifestyle even if they don't have easy access to car-sharing companies, wet dry-cleaners, and other alternatives you mention in your book?

Uliano: If you don't have easy access to some of the green options in my book, it really doesn't matter. No matter where you live, you can make a start. I recently visited my in-laws in Georgia, who have fewer options than we do here in Los Angeles; however, they have embarked on making their own cleaners, composting, growing veggies etc. There's advantages to living in a metropolitan city in that you can buy all the great eco-stuff, but if you live in a more rural setting, it's fantastic too because you may have a yard in which you can grow tomatoes or air-dry your laundry. I'd pick the latter if given the choice!

Amazon.com: Your book is mainly directed toward female readers--what tips do you have for men who are interested in making sustainable lifestyle changes?

Uliano: I wrote my book for women because I realized that as a mom, wife and working girl I could show like-minded women how easy it is to become green, however, men can totally benefit from my book too! My husband doesn't have a huge interest in non-toxic nail polish, but he's fascinated with everything solar and has started biking everywhere. We work together as a team, inspiring each other with our daily green discoveries--it's fun!

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