Well – you know if Coca Cola is taking major steps to be more eco-conscious then this “green” thing is more than just a fad. Brandweek reported that Coke’s newest digital billboard in Times Square is powered by wind-power. Not bad! Even better – they have influenced a trend and about 30 billboards will be wind-powered. In total, they will be preventing about 1866 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Coke seems to be taking the green thing pretty seriously. They are also aiming to have all of their cans and bottles in the US recycled or reused by consumers. That’s a lot of bottles and cans – considering the amount of Coke consumed in the US each year.

Say what you want about Coca Cola (and I have a lot to say about that beverage – mostly not good) – but that is one powerful brand. I was fortunate to participate in a marketing competition in graduate school and our team was challenged by the Coca Cola corporation to increase marketing efforts in Malaysia. Traveling throughout even the most remote areas of Malaysia – I learned a lot about the depth of the brand’s reach. In tiny towns with only a handful of people you would still find Coca Cola products and signs. And each and every person I spoke to not only knew about Coke, but had an opinion on the “health benefits” of the drink. It was considered excellent for digestion and many even believed that it broke down fats and cholesterol thereby improving heart health. Crazy! But it clearly showed me the Coke – love it or hate it – is an incredible brand.

So if they are going to do their part in going green – more power to them. If they can inspire other companies to do the right thing – fantastic. I know their reasons are not purely (or even largely) altruistic – but hopefully it will have an overall positive impact. Now, if only they didn’t sell such an addictive, high-fructose-corn-syrup-laden, obesity-inducing drink….

Constantly searching for ways to make Garden Girl even more “green” – I am happy to announce that we are now using compostable cellophane bags for our packages. For those of you who are Garden Girl customers, you know that each package comes wrapped like a little gift. We do this for 2 reasons – 1) it’s always nice to open something that looks pretty and 2) it helps to keep the products secure while shipping – reducing damaged products (and waste).

Our products are packaged in recylable PET #1 plastic or in glass, we do not use unnecessary outer boxes (which have always bothered me anyway) and we use biodegradable labels made from corn whenever possible. We also offer refills for some of our most popular products to reduce packaging waste. And when we ship packages, we use recycled packing materials.

So finding a replacement for the plastic poly-cello bag was clearly the missing link. And that is why I am so excited to use these bags. They are made from tree cellulose – and the trees are grown specifically for this purpose so there is no forest damage. And not only do they biodegrade, but they are even safe for your compost! Look pretty AND green? Doesn’t get much better than that!

Now that all the hubbub of the holidays has settled down, you can sneak off and get the things you really wanted! And best of all, this is when the prices are the lowest! Geesh – I went to Ann Taylor and got 2 adorable shirts for $12!! Unreal.

And Garden Girl is no exception. From now until Midnight on Monday, you can save a whopping 15% off your order (no minimum order). Here’s your chance to try something new (like the incredibly popular Like Magic anti-aging serum with hyaluronic acid and a peptide complex, or the lusciously rich and yummy Smooches chocolate mandarin body butter) or restock your favorites (like Chill Out mandarin grapefruit body lotion or No Worries face cream for dry or sensitive skin). It’s all free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products, mineral oil and phthalates – but best of all, Garden Girl products are all incredibly effective. We guarantee it!

Whatever you choose, you save big. But don’t forget – it’s just for ONE DAY. To take advantage, simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com

place your order, then use coupon code

DEC29

to save the 15%

Happy ordering, happy Monday – and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Last minute shoppers unite! I am a procrastinator myself so instead of discouraging this behavior, I am rewarding it! Yep – I’m giving you $10 off your order. No strings attached.

Stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, girlfriends, relatives, teachers – get it all done from the comfort of your home. Snowstorms messing up your shopping plans? Too much going on this weekend to get out and shop? Sit back, and give yourself a break.

Order TODAY by 3pm and it will be shipped today – and you’ll get it before Christmas. Order by noon on Saturday and it will ship on Monday and, barring any USPS craziness, you should still have it by December 24th.

Shop away! And save big on paraben-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free and phthalate-free goodies!

Go to www.gardengirlskincare.com

Use coupon code: XMAS to save $10 off your order

Happy shopping and happy holidays!

We are at the final countdown to Christmas. Last minute gift buying frenzies start this week. So as you are doing your shopping, I wanted to give YOU something special:

For every $40 you spend, you will receive one $10 gift certificate – FREE!

Yep – free Garden Girl money! Spend $40, get one certificate, spend $80 get two certificates, etc. There’s no limit! And best of all – instead of a One Day Sale – this week this offer is valid until Friday at Midnight (December 19th).

With these free gift certificates, it means when things settle down after the holidays, you can buy yourself something that you really want (or need) – totally guilt-free! OR you can use the gift certificate to give as a little gift – great for a stocking stuffer or a little something extra with another gift.

So finish up your shopping from the comfort of your couch, and pocket a little something for yourself while you’re at it. Here are some ideas:

Hand it to You hand cream for your child’s teacher
Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub for the babysitter
A travel-sized face kit for a friend
Hugs vanilla body butter for a stocking stuffer
Or we can even create a special gift basket!

Don’t forget – Garden Girl products are always free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates!

And a great bonus – we wrap each order in it’s own gift wrapping so they are ready to give! Want to order multiple gifts? Simply mention in the comments section which products you’d like wrapped separately and we can take the gift wrapping off your “to do” list!

So how can you take advantage of this great deal? It’s very easy. All you have to do is write – Gift Certificates in the comments section when you place your order. Get going right away by going to www.gardengirlskincare.com!

Thanks so much, happy shopping and have a great week!

I just picked the winner of the first Garden Girl product giveaway. I have to say – this was fun and it was great to see all the entries. I loved the creative ones! Next time I might have the winner be “most creative” – but this time it was random.

So here’s the big winner:

Tame (Chrysalis1975) – please email me at kristin at gardengirl.us – I don’t have your email address!

CONGRATULATIONS, Tame!! You chose Smooches chocolate mandarin body butter – excellent choice. My boys think it smells like a Tootsie Roll. I think it’s just plain yummy. And it is a fantastic moisturizer packed with aloe and shea. It’s rich and thick – and free of parabens, phthalates and petroleum products too!

I loved doing this so keep your eyes out for more – might make this a regular thing!
Thanks again to all participants!

Ok – I know that I sell body wash – and yes, that is mainly what I use because I love it and it leaves your skin more moisturized than bar soap, but once in awhile I like to use bar soap just to change things up. I like the simplicity of it, it almost feels “retro” now!

My favorite? Hands down it’s Dr. Bronners Peppermint Organic Bar Soap. It is creamy and rich and smells amazing. I love peppermint in the shower – it wakes you up (which is why I love Garden Girl’s Alive body wash too!)

On Dr. Bronner’s website, they describe the soap as follows: “The peppermint essential oil tingles the body and clears the mind. Because therapeutically peppermint oil is a mild stimulant it increases vitality and clarity. All oils and essential oils are certified organic to the National Organic Standards Program. Wrapped in 10% hemp-flax / 90% post-consumer recycled paper from Living Tree Paper Co.”

My biggest pet peeve? It doesn’t last as long as I’d like. If you decide to try it, definitely buy it at Trader Joe’s if you are near one. It’s around $2.75ish vs. the $4.19 on the Dr Bronner’s website!

It looks like at least some companies are finally reducing the amount of phthalates in their products. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics just released results of a follow-up study to their “Not Too Pretty” study from 2002 in which they had found 70% of the 72 products they studied had phthalates. In this recent study, they studied 12 of the worst offenders, and found that 9 had reduced or eliminated the phthalates.

What are phthalates? They are an ingredient that is often found in fragrances, but usually not listed in the ingredients list. The problem is that they mimic hormones and have been linked to genital changes in baby boys, reduced sperm count in men, and early puberty for girls.

So it is heartening to know that some big cosmetics and personal care companies are listening and have made an effort to reduce this harmful ingredient.

Check out the article in USAToday and the full report from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

I’m winding down for the night but I am finding myself in a giving mood – so I’m thinking I will do something new! Here’s the deal – I’m giving away the winner’s choice of either Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub OR Smooches chocolate/mandarin body butter (4 oz) to one lucky winner. No strings, no hoops, no gimmicks. Simply post a comment here on this blog stating which one you’d prefer to win and why. Entries will be accepted until midnight Friday (Dec 12) and I will post the winner on Saturday. Don’t forget to give your email address so I can notify you if you win!

Don’t forget – all Garden Girl products are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates.

Good luck!! And feel free to let others know about the contest as well!