Episode “Organic Products”

Nicole Tomlinson: Have you ever looked at the back of your shampoo bottle and not been able to pronounce any of the ingredients on the label? What kind of chemicals are we putting on our body’s everyday? I am here with Amy Holland who is going to answer just those questions. Hi Amy.

Amy Holland: Hi Nicole. 

Nicole Tomlinson: Now I see a wall full of personal products back here can you explain a little bit about some of them?

Amy Holland:  Our Company tries to buy products that are made with organics as well as natural ingredients. To get away from some synthetics. Naming a few would be Methyl Paraben’s, polypropylenes, Laurel sulfates. Along with heavy fragrances that are synthetically done. The more natural we can get our ingredients to be the healthier its going to be for our skin and hair and environment.

Nicole Tomlinson: would you say that using this product is going to be better in the long run for our bodies?

Amy Holland: Absolutely.

Nicole Tomlinson: What about our water supply. Because you wash your air and those chemicals go right down the drain and into our water supply.

Amy Holland: You have got it.

Nicole Tomlinson: Do you have any organic hair dyes?

Amy Holland: We have botanical hair as well as Jason’s puts out one.

Nicole Tomlinson: This is a wash out?

Amy Holland: Right over time and that’s a more permanent coloring.

Nicole Tomlinson: So how long doe these last normally?

Amy Holland: Probably different hair styles and different hair textures can take it for different lengths of time but I would say for a couple of months.

Nicole Tomlinson: Really well that is about the same that mine last, so it’s pretty comparable. What’s another really good product you would recommend?

Amy Holland: Well, there is the Weleda line they make wonderful salves and lotion and oils just to massage your bodies with and there all organic.

Nicole Tomlinson: Nice they smell good.

Amy Holland: Yeah and everybody recognizes Buts Bee’s, that’s a wonderful company because they do label on the front of their product, how much of there product is natural and they are shooting for a 100%. They are not organic but they are natural and there company uses recycled material in there packaging which I really respect. Along with using soy based inks.

Nicole Tomlinson: Apple cider vinegar shampoo? I read that if you put a little apple cider vinegar in your hair it makes it shinier. Is there any other benefits we should know about?

Amy Holland: This is a very interesting line of shampoos its morocco method, and their more or less like mud.

Nicole Tomlinson: A little bit like clay I guess so the consistency is pretty thick and muddy? What about day to day stuff we use all the time like toothpaste?

Amy Holland: you know there is a wide variety of toothpaste everybody is trying to get away from fluorides because we already have fluoride in our water. And tea tree of course is wonderful for freshening everything. It’s a antibacterial agent.

Nicole Tomlinson: So this is all to take care of me and you but what about to take care of the little ones?

Amy Holland: Again Weleda is the company that we know and trust. They are doing Bio-dynamic Gardening. They have supplied us with organic Calendula which is great for a baby’s skin. And the soap also has Calendula in it I believe along with organic ingredients.

The diaper cream has zinc, sunscreens should all have that as a major ingredient, titanium dioxide. Zinc and titanium dioxide I am using interchangeably, and there a reflective agent. When you put that on it tends to turn you a little bit white sometimes but it’s reflecting the sun away from you and it really is the best. The chemicals that are in the sunscreens that are on the market today actually change when the sun hits them and can become very toxic.

We like to look at the big picture of being sustainable on every level. On your own body as well as how you are impacting the world.

Nicole Tomlinson: So next time you are looking to stock up your medicine cabinet maybe you should check the labels! Thank you so much Amy for having us here today and from all of us at Zen living, thank you for watching. I am Nicole Tomlinson and we will catch you next time, peace.

Episode “Organic Style”

Nicole Tomlinson: We have eaten Zen, built Zen, and even shopped Zen. But did you know that we can wear Zen? That’s right I am wearing organic, natural, chemical free clothing. Clothing that won’t harm my environment. Clothing that won’t harm my body. Today we will show you how to dress for health and best of all for style.

I am here with Amy Holland, owner of Eco wise, and she is going to explain a little bit about what I am wearing. Hi am how are you today?

Amy Holland: I am fine thank you. You look great.

Nicole Tomlinson: Oh thank you so much, now I am wearing clothing from your store and its all organic right?

Amy Holland: Yeah, what makes it organic is the fact that it is grown without pesticides. And doesn’t need fertilizers to grow.

Nicole Tomlinson: So this was basically hemp?

Amy Holland: It is Hemp.

Nicole Tomlinson: It is hemp and it is grown out of the ground and processed.

Amy Holland: It’s a weed.

Nicole Tomlinson:  I am wearing weeds. Why is it so important and healthy for us to wear clothing with low impact dies and organic materials?

Amy Holland: It’s healthy for us as individuals because we don’t want a lot of chemicals right next to our bodies. And it is healthy for the planet to start buying things that are beneficial to the soils so that we are creating a lifestyle that can keep on generating. Rather than killing off our soil.

Nicole Tomlinson: Now tell me these pants are beautiful, can you talk a little bit about them?

Amy Holland: Those pants are from china they are organically grown hemp and cotton. 55% hemp. Hemp is a great alternative fiber, its light and wears well. As well as being something that doesn’t take pesticides or fertilizers to grow. And it looks great, the style is wonderful.

Nicole Tomlinson:  Buy buying clothes we are supporting our environment because we are supporting a more natural way of…

Amy Holland: Of living.

Nicole Tomlinson: With more Americans going organic it’s good to know that we have more options. And thanks to Amy Holland and our friends at Eco wise, we can now find more fashion alternatives. I am Nicole Tomlinson, and from all of us at Zen Living thank you so much for watching.