If you're like me, more than once you've thought about giving up your current living conditions to move into a house built completely green and nontoxic (from the foundation to the floors). Of course in the real world, it simply isn't that easy. or affordable. But what is possible, and simpler than you may think, is to work with what you have. A few fast upgrades will deliver big results when it comes to being eco-friendly. It just takes a little research and a little planning. You can tackle them all at once, or just choose to do one at a time. Either way, it's an easy way to go green and still have time to bake that loaf of organic 12-grain bread. Continued...

Call me old fashioned, but I'm not usually one to overly pamper my pooches. You'll never see a dog I own wearing frilly frocks with bows clipped uncomfortably into her head. But a dog is still part of the family and deserves plenty of love, treats and, by all means, chemical-free goodies. Continued...

Now that you know a little more about aromatherapy and how to get started, it's time to take it to the next level. (If you 'skipped class' when I taught Aromatherapy 101 or just want a refresher, read it here.). Continued...

Scrubbing your floor with chemicals is really just as bad as scrubbing your face with chemicals. And pretty much every cleaner you'll find on store shelves contains a veritable who's who list of toxic ingredients. Although the long-term health effects of chemicals vary greatly-due to the level of toxicity and the amount of exposure-some have been known to include eye and respiratory irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders and memory impairment according to the Environmental Protection Agency. And the Consumer Product Safety Commission states that, of common household chemical compounds, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects and even cancer. Continued...

I've got to hand it to Jurlique. Just when I think their product line up can't get any better they prove me wrong with another amazing new item. Their hand creams, available in Rose and Lavender, have been a favorite among countless Jurlique devotees. And now a new formula has been released that's completely different in spirit than the romantic Rose and calming Lavender creams. The refreshing scent of the Citrus Hand Cream is like a dose of pure, bottled sunshine that instantly revives your mind while it hydrates your hands. Of course, it's perfect when you're knee-deep in snow and the balmy days of summer seem ages away. Continued...

Mia Ljungberg, Danish travel journalist resident in Stockholm, Sweden and Quito, Ecuador. She spends most of the year travelling and writing about eco friendly places around the world. She is a fulltime travel consultant and writer for Organic Style. Continued...

I have to admit I'm a little biased with this one because Grammy Award-winning Wyclef Jean is my absolute favorite musician. But that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve the honor of being an eco-celeb. In fact his humanitarian foundation, Yéle Haiti (www.yele.org), actually does a lot more than help the environment. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, about half of the population lives at an extreme poverty rate. Sixty percent of Haitians are illiterate and the education system is in shambles. When it comes to the natural environments, 98% of the forests have been destroyed and two-thirds of the farmland is now destroyed, making it even more difficult to feed the poverty-stricken country. Continued...

As you probably know by now, not every product claiming to be 'natural' actually is. Also not every product labeled 'organic' is full of 100% organic ingredients. In fact, most skincare products contain far less than 100% percent. A company may add one little organic ingredient to the mix and slap an "it's organic!" sticker on the label to make you feel like you're paying for the real deal. When in fact it's also filled with plenty of non-natural ingredients. (You won't find these products on Saffron Rouge though. I personally spend plenty of time making sure the products are completely pure and as organic as possible.) Continued...