Danielle Nicole DiFerdinando has the background to create a great handbag. She also happens to make sure you have a choice between great smelling leather or a creation made from something a bit more natural. As you make out your Summer shopping lists this messenger bag spells out SUMMER. The studs we love, the chains to adore and the fringes to remind you of to not take life so seriously. Even better, the LYDIA handbag costs $145.

Visit the Danielle Nicole Handbag Collection

The resources on how to are endless, everyone is joining the green movement and I am glad to be working with a magazine that cares so much about the planet and your wellness.  

http://www.projectgreendorm.com is also a great resource and an example on how to live a green dorm life. They are a national movement to educate students on how to not only live green but help students to become advocates in their community. 

Here are some tips on how to make your dorm room a bit more eco:

The first thing to do when walking into an empty dorm room is to clean it the green way.  Do not use harsh chemicals that will stick around and could be toxic.  Simple soap and water or green cleaning products, such as Green Works, will do the job just the same and you will be able to breathe afterwards.

Second, check what kind of lights the room is using.  If you have no power over what kind of lights have been installed conserve energy as much as you can.  Living on your own now means being conscious of turning off those lights or unplugging appliances that are not in use.  The responsibility falls on you.

When doing laundry in your dorm try using cold water as much as possible.  Heated water takes up a lot more energy than you realize, when all you can do is simply switch it to cold instead. 

Do you really need to use the drier for everything?  A clothing rack is not the most attractive thing standing up in your room, but it does say, I care about the planet.  You clothes might thank you as well.

Living on your own means paying for bills.  Even if it is something simple like a phone bill, most companies now offer a go paperless option.  I pay all my bills online, there is no point in receiving a bulky bill in the mail that you will probably never open anyway.  All it will do is accumulate clutter and that is never a good thing. 

Now that you are set up and your room is clean you are ready to move in and decorate.  Dorm rooms tend to become stuffy over time and one way to fix that is by decorating with a plant.  Plants take away the pollutants in your living space, plus look nice.

When buying groceries for your little refrigerator try to buy locally and organically.  The same goes for being careful on the items you purchase for your room.  Everything from a blow drier to your comforter.  You want to be good to yourself, and when you will spend the money you might as well spend it on something that is worth while. 

Now on to your wardrobe.  New clothing is always nice, wonderful actually.  So are vintage or special thrift store items.  I am not saying only shop at a vintage or thrift store, however looking into is not a bad idea.  Not only is this good for your wallet, but the unique items you might find will help you stand out from the crowd of jeans and sweatshirts.

Now look around the building, do they reuse, reduce and recycle?  Make sure to follow those rules and you will be living eco in no time. You obviously do not want to be annoying, but reminding others to do the same is doing your part for the planet as well.  Sometimes people forget or are not aware of these options.  Gently, become an active voice for living green. 

Many universities are now implementing programs to educate and remind their students to do their part for the planet and their own well being by going green.

Images via project green dorm room and planet flops.  http://www.planetflops.com

Does the lack of Eco-products in your neighborhood make it difficult to live an Eco conscious lifestyle?  If you feel like getting angry enough, allow Green in Bklyn to inspire you.  More and more native New Yorkers are starting to see the benefits in living a greener lifestyle.  The major problem that comes with the willingness and drive to change your lifestyle is the environment we live in. In some areas we are limited in the products and the stores that help with living green.  This is when Elisa Olin has decided to take matters into the her own hands.  She is the founder of Green in BKlyn http://www.greeninbklyn.com.   Olin saw the demand for Eco-friendly products but no one to supply them.  Green in Bklyn opened on Earth Day and is located on 432 Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn.  If you live in the neighborhood or feel like making a visit this store is a one stop-stop shop for everything from cleaning products to baby products.  I hope one day living a better and greener lifestyle will be as easy and convenient as anything else we do in life.

Oprah Winfrey

and Leonardo DiCaprio

To all the Vogue reading Eco skeptical fashionistas out there, I know exactly what you might be thinking. Why bother looking for Eco fashion when none of it is fashion forward.  If one bothers to look around you will see that not only are there excellent and fresh brands to try on but those in the business for years are turning to eco fashion as well.

Anyone who has been following our economic status has to agree that these days keeping those dollars in your wallet is far more important. Living an excess lifestyle, in any manner, just seems tacky and uneducated. The education you gain through your purchases is very fashion forward. 

In 2005 Anne Salvatore Epstein has decided to start Beau Soleil, a line of sustainable clothing that are made from raw or organic materials.  Since she has gained the right kind of experience at Marc Jacobs and IISLI you can bet her collections are far from being bland.  At that time she was pregnant and realized what a lot of Manhattan’s occupants still do not pay attention to.  Epstein asked herself, how is my lifestyle effecting the planet and my health and what can I do to help?  A busy lifestyle is exactly the the reason many people are prevented from realizing how much harm comes to our environment and to ourselves. 

I absolutely love the Beau Soleil collections, the fabrics, colors and silhouettes are made into the kind of style that you can dress up or down.  You can take comfort in knowing the material you put on and how it was made.  Epstein does not stop at the fabric, she wants to make sure her collections are controlled from the beginning to the end.  This means she makes sure she is kind to her laborers as well. 

If you are wondering what kind of materials are used in her collections they include; bamboo fabric, a sustainable materials, vegetable-dyed organic cottons and vintage materials.  The tencel is made from eucalyptus tress and recycled leather trims.  Epstein’s lifestyle philosophy is one that the Organic Spa Magazine embodies, “Simple.Modern.Organic”.  To find out more about Beau Soleil go to their website

http://www.shopbeausoleil.com

The Javits Center in New York City is having its 2009 International Auto Show from April 10th to the 19th. On display will be the new and improved green cars of the future.  Among them is my favorite, the MINI Cooper. This year BMW started making an electric MINI Cooper however they will only release a limited number of them to the public.  Other auto makers that are showing green cars is Mercedes-Benz, Jeep, GM and Chrysler. If you are in the market for a green car, whether it is a fuel efficient, hybrid or a battery-run electric car this is the show to see.

The overwhelming feeling one can get from the constant rush of the newest and hottest, in either fashion or technology, will eventually make you tired and reaching for something familiar.  In situations like these, it is important to look into the organic or sustainable in order to keep our sanity. Not only will your environment thank you but your body and mind will as well. 

Alabama Chanin is a brand that has dedicated itself to providing us with the kind of feeling you can only have when you are at home eating your mother’s cooking. Originated in Alabama the designer Natalie Chanin and her brand have been receiving the kind of recognition that is well deserved.  This might be as a result of their careful attention to detail and the individual.  Whether it is a product for your home or for you they are made by hand and from organic or recycled materials.  The end result shows in its classic purity and beautiful details.  You can rest assured the creator and designer of the brand knows what she is doing.  Find out more about the designer and Alabama Chanin-http://alabamachanin.com

Organic living also applies to our beauty products, sometimes being pretty also means having to inhale toxic materials.  Companies such as Priti Organic Spa and Priti Polish were born to fulfil the needs of those who want products that are free of formaldehyde, toluene and DBP.  Their soy nail polish remover is the best product they offer to those fashionistas who hate the smell of nail polish removers.  I know I do. 

The shortage of fashionable organic clothing is slowly disappearing as well.  I provided some great websites where you can shop your heart out for the most comfortable and unique products.  The best thing is, they are environmentally friendly.

Organic Clothing websites-

http://alternativeapparel.com

http://www.sandrabacklund.com

http://greenloop.com

http://www.jonano.com

Organic Beauty Products and Spas- http://www.pritiorganicspa.com 

http://www.pevonia.com

http://www.ulta.com

http://www.happyhippie.com

http://www.juicebeauty.com

http://organicspamagazine.com