THINK GREEN: I Sort.

We complain a lot about how hot it is, or how polluted the air is, or how dirty some places are but we do not see how irresponsible we can be inside our very own households.

Waste management starts in us. Sort your waste. It's easier than it sounds.

Divide your waste into two - biodegradable and non-biodegradable.

I keep all my paper waste and recycle them as lining to my pets' litter box.

I place all leftoever food from the table or the kitchen sink in one bag.

I keep all plastic containers in one bag and give it to someone who can sell it for extra money. The containers are recycled for another use.

Before I dispose the waste, everything is sorted our accordingly. Sounds great, right?!

But I am just one person. There are six families living in the building where I stay and probably hundreds in the community I stay in. Imagine if all of us learn and actually sort our wastes, what a better world!

I sort. Do you?

I first posted this entry on this site.

Travel Talk : Travel Green with a Handy Soap

I love going out of town on a weekend; the only spare time I have for it, really. It's a little bit hard to go on long leaves from work. It used to take me so much time preparing for a travel. But as I got used to it, things were easier. I have a travel kit that's always ready-to-go.

One of the items on my travel kit, is a bar of soap, which is usually placed inside a plastic wrap that can get messy after use. I used to bring new soap bars but realized that it is too big for a short travel. Most I know end up leaving it. The mess it causes inside the travel kit can be a challenge. Carrying a soap dish can take too much space for a 2-day travel. Relying on hotel soap may not be safe, especially if you have sensitive skin. Soap bags in stores can be expensive. I, at one point, went for shower gels. But it also means having to bring loofah or a scrub, which defeats the purpose of traveling light.

Two years ago, while preparing for a short trip to the beach, an idea came to mind while I was dumping something to the trash can.

See the photo above? What do you do with those almost-consumed soap bars inside your bathroom? Do you dispose them and replace with a new one right away? Don't. Use it as your handy soap for the next short travel.

Where to put it? Well, I use those Mentos canisters. They're small, in fun colors, transparent (just peel off the stickers), and has tight lock. I use it for my travel soap, cotton buds, jewelries (so they don't get mixed up), baby powder, etc.

You saved money and bag space. You recycled and traveled conveniently. 

I originally posted about this here.

THINK GREEN: Be reef-friendly

It’s summer here in my country. We were at 37 degrees Celsius (98.600ºF) the other day. A lot of us would want to hit the nearest beach to ease the heat and humidity.

As you enjoy the sun, the sand, and the beach, do not forget to be responsible travelers. Dispose your trash properly. Keep the shore and the waters clean and free of anything that could ruin its beauty and harm both the humans and the sea creatures.

If you need to use a sun block, be smart and green in your choice. I recommend Human Nature’s 100% Natural Safe Block. It is water resistant and blocks 93% of all skin-burning UVB rays, with spf15. It does not just take care of you; it is also reef-friendly because it does not contain the harmful chemicals that most sunscreens do. It is also rated PA+++, the highest possible rating against skin-aging UVA rays.

Human Nature is a Filipino company whose products are available in the Philippines and in the US.

Disclaimer: Human Nature did not pay me to write this article.I am a mere consumer who recommends the product based on personal choice and experience.


Photo Details: I own the image. It was taken at Camaya Coast, Mariveles Bataan, Philippines.

I first posted this entry on Bubblews.

My Top Ten Favorite Human Nature Products

100% Natural
Money back guarantee
Cruelty free
Pro-Philippines
Pro-poor
Pro-environment

What else can you ask for?

Human Nature has everything I look for in a personal care product. I first heard about this product from my former boss. She is a fan of the product more because of its advocacy and because she knows her skin is taken care of. I find myself in the same situation now. 

Let me give you a short story of how Human Nature.

Gandang Kalikasan, Inc. was the brainchild of Gawad Kalinga volunteers Anna Meloto-Wilk, Dylan Wilk and Camille Meloto who burned with the desire to help uplift the Philippines and the Filipino people from poverty.

Anna's passion for the environment blossomed with her first child. Together with Dylan her husband, the successful British entrepreneur who gave up his fast cars and wealthy lifestyle in England to work for the poor in the Philippines, they decided to use cloth diapers after reading that disposable diapers contain toxic chemicals and take 500 years to deteriorate! Living a more sustainable and "green" lifestyle eventually led them to using fewer chemicals and, well, less stuff in general.

Anna and Dylan lived in the United States for a year while Dylan set up a network of Gawad Kalinga volunteers. During their stay, Anna noticed a growing trend of affordable, natural and ethically-acquired products entering the mainstream market. Formerly found in just boutiques and high-end stores, they could now be bought in supermarkets and drug stores.

Upon their return to the Philippines, Camille and Anna continued their research and were able to successfully collaborate with a natural formulator to create Human Nature's first line of products.

                                                                                  SOURCE: Human Nature

My dear friends and I have been fans of HN product for years now. Last Christmas, we did some Human Nature gift shopping to give to our friends. We want to share a product we believe in with the people that we care about.


I have played around their products and found my comfort. If you have not tried any of their products, my top ten might help you start with your own trial experience.


10 - All Natural Spray Sanitizer, 50ml for P59.75 - If you think this cool spray is just for your hands, you are wrong. You can also use it for any surfaces, disinfect rooms, or clean toilet seats. It kills 99.99% of the germs without the chemicals. I like the cool after-feel it gives me.  

9. 100% Natural Healthy Lotion, 50ml for P64.75 - No harmful chemicals and gives a non-greasy feel.

8. 100% Natural Fragrance Free Soap, 120g for P64.75 - Use a soap that does only what it's supposed to do - clean. Leave the fragrance job to your perfume.

7. Perfect Glow Mineral Blush, 43g for P250.00 - Get that blush and not the harmful chemicals. I like the Sun-kissed shade a lot.

6. Natural Feminine Wash - Chamomile Cool, 50 ml for P54.75 - This is 98.66% natural. The cool sensation of this variant leaves 7you feeling fresh and clean.

5. Nourishing Facial Wash, 50ml for P79.75 - I like the smell of this Tomato extract facial wash. It's a good after work clean.

4. 100% Natural Massage Oil, 50 ml for P195.00 - It has two variants and both smell good, but I like Rejuvenating better. Say no to the itchy massage oils they use in spas, bring your own. 

3. 100% Natural Hand and Foot Salve, 50g for P119.75 - The softening effect it gives is something you will like from this product. The all-natural plant oils gives your hands and feet a soothing relief. I like the Strawberry variant.

2. 100% Natural Purifying Facial Scrub, 50 ml for P104.75 - Made with real strawberry seeds and fine bamboo granules, this no-chemicals facial scrub can remove dirt from your face without harming it. It also gives yous face a soft feeling after wash. It smells good, too.

1. Balm for All Seasons, 10g for P99.75 – This is a very soothing all-around balm. I use it for headaches, body pain, itch, or insect bites. I like the smell a lot. It is not too strong as a lot of balms around. The smell gives you a calming effect.

As you can tell, I found comfort using HN products. Aside from taking care of myself, I also like their advocacy. I like that they don't test on animals, they help Gawad Kalinga, support farmers and other communities, they use all-natural ingredients that help preserve the environment, they take pride in being Filipino by showcasing our own talent and products, that they offer great customer service, and how they are extremely passionate about everything I just mentioned.

If you can find a product that gives what you need, takes care of you, and everything around you, like the environment, the animals, the poor, and the country, stick to it. Don't sell out just because of the brand name.

IMPORTANT!

Human Nature did not pay me for this writing. I am a mere fan of their advocacy, intergrity and product. 

All photos, links, and product descriptions were used with the permission of Human Nature and can be found from their website.

The Project Tenfold Circle, the non-profit organization I am with, will soon partner with Human Nature. Check our facebook page regularly. Stay tuned.

This entry can also be found from this link.