Book cover image used with permission of author Lisa Beres
As someone who's been challenged with very difficult allergies since my early 20's, prompting me to always strive to "live green" before green was "glam," I was thrilled to read the little book recently, Just Green It!: Simple Swaps to Save the Planet and Your Health, by authors Ron and Lisa Beres, owners of Green Nest.
Just Green It! might be small in size, (probably printed this way purposely to wisely save paper ala trees!), but it's BIG in practical green living tips, resources, and products that you can begin implementing in your home and life, right away. In fact, Just Green It! is so packed with easy-to-read info and products that I wish I'd had this book years ago as it likely would have saved me years of product research, money, and allergic reactions, some of which have sent me to the emergency room, pronto. (Just ask my hubby Steve.)
From tips on recycling, to what type of eco-friendly paper plates to buy, to how and where to buy non-toxic paints and carpets, to being careful about "greenwashing," (companies claiming to sell green products that really aren't), to eco-friendly laundry detergents, diapers, pet foods, unscented green tea shampoo, non-toxic makeup, and much more, Lisa and Ron give you a personal "consult" on how to go green via Just Green It!, including showing photos of which products to buy, and which ones to avoid. As a professional writer in the home/lifestyle niche, I especially liked their chapters "Top 10 Steps to a Greener Office," and "Top 10 Steps to a Healthy Nursery." Oh, and if you want to become a "green career guru" yourself, there's even a chapter on "Top 10 Green Careers for the Future."
Lisa Beres personally practices what she preaches in her book too, because just like I became ill from paints and other remodeling materials when I was just 23 years old and my hubby and I (unknowingly) remodeled our first cute little home, Lisa became ill from moving into a home with all new building materials. The good news? It not only didn't stop her; it spurned the beautiful Lisa and her handsome hubby Ron on to start her online business, Green Nest, to help others avoid a similar fate. Don't you LOVE that?! And they've done such a good job at it that they've been featured on national TV shows and many other media outlets; their book and biz have been endorsed by celebrities; and Lowe's Home Improvement stores now carries their book.
Lisa and I have been emailing each other for several years, and to be honest, I don't remember how we met online but since we live just about an hour from each other in SoCal, we have decided to finally meet in person this fall. And when we do, you can bet these two "gone green" gals...
...are gonna do our very best to find one delicious (green) cappuccino!
Go Green!
Kathryn :)
PLEASE NOTE: This blog post was meant to genuinely inform and inspire my blog readers and friends to "go green" to help both our planet, and ourselves, but I cannot be responsible for any result you experience as a result of reading Just Green It!, or this blog post, because as someone with challenging allergies myself, I know from personal experience that each person must personally test and find products that work for their particular body, home, and life situation because no one product or brand is right for everyone, including those labeled non-toxic, organic, or "green." Be informed; be savvy; be healthy!
