All winners are randomly chosen through Random.org, through the Rafflecopter widget below. To enter this giveaway, please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All winners are randomly chosen through Random.org, through the Rafflecopter widget below. To enter this giveaway, please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today our Eco-Expert is Sue Taggart, Founder and Integrated Marketer for green lifestyle site, eco18.com. For a Brit transplant from a rural area, living in New York City for over 25 years has certainly presented it’s challenges. Life has come full circle with a weekend refuge in the Catskill Mountains that is certainly closer to Taggart’s original “home” than her city apartment will ever be. A serious health issue in Taggart’s mid-thirties gave her pause to really think about whether allopathic medicine was her best option. Turned out is was not. Life has a really strange way of nudging you in the right direction if you are open to change. For the past twenty years Taggart has, and continues to be, the CEO and Chief Brand Strategist at ADinfinitum in NYC. Her marketing background and passion for natural health options sealed her fate. Now, Taggart is taking what she has learned and pouring it into Eco18, a green lifestyle site which she started in 2011.

EPM: Can you tell us a bit about your passion for parties?

Sue: I’ve always loved entertaining guests in my home, and I think that stems mostly for my passion for cooking. I remember spending lots of time in the kitchen as a little girl with my mother and grandmother as they made simple yet delicious meals for the family. Preparing food brings back memories and it’s something I love to share with friends and loved ones. I enjoy the whole creative process of party planning—from developing a theme to table decorations, invitations, etc. At the same time, attending parties and networking events is a part of my job as the CEO of a full-service agency in Manhattan, its my favorite part of the job!

EPM: Why should we care about Parties and CO2?

Sue:  Caring about the environment falls on all of our shoulders because it’s something that affects each one of us. At eco18.com we always stress to our audience the importance of doing a little bit each day to help make the world a greener and healthier place. Parties and events create a lot of waste, but with good planning we can be more thoughtful of incorporating eco-friendly elements to every aspect of the process.

EPM:  What is the biggest Eco -mistake you see at parties?

Sue: Unnecessary waste. While we all love a good party, they can create tons of waste if not planned effectively. There are so many simple solutions to make these celebrations more eco-friendly it just takes some creativity. For instance, instead of sending out paper invitations, send an electronic invitation via email or use social media platforms like Facebook to connect with guests, or better yet pick up the phone and give friends a call. Always opt for reusable plates, cups and utensils instead of disposable paper ones, and hang up reusable decorations that you can use year after year. There’s no need for streamers and banners that will be thrown out after just one party. Lastly, know how many guests are coming to your party and cook for that number, do not cook more food than necessary and risk wasting it. If you do have left over food, partner with a local food shelter so the food doesn’t go to waste.

EPM: What was your favorite Eco-party?

Sue: I threw a fabulous Black Dinner Party this past Halloween for the eco18.com team! Everyone dressed up in costume and I decorated my home to get everyone in the Halloween spirit. I threw sheets on the furniture, tipped the picture frames, lit plenty of candles and even picked up some fake black roses from the local dollar store, which I’ll be using again next year! I cooked the entire dinner from fresh, local ingredients and the menu featured a caramelized pumpkin soup, followed by black bean and sirloin chili and then black fettuccine with lobster (my personal favorite). It was simple, delicious, eco-friendly and the perfect amount of spooky!

EPM: What is the easiest; simplest tip for people to Eco their parties?

Sue: If people want to do one thing for a more eco-friendly party, my suggestion would be to serve guests homemade dishes that feature organic and locally grown food. Your guests will appreciate the time and effort you took in creating a homemade meal for them! Farmers markets are a great place to find fresh, locally grown produce and making these purchases will cut down on one’s carbon footprint. Also it’s a good idea to include at least one vegetarian dish in your menu since many eco-minded people don’t eat meat. For drinks, opt for some delicious organic wine or beer from your local brewery!

EPM: Do you have any advice for party planners?

Sue:  My advice to any fellow party planner is to plan well in advance. That way you have time to research eco-friendly options as well see what you can use from items you already have. Don’t be afraid to get creative and find simple solutions to cut costs while remaining eco-friendly.

Debra Duneier is the Founder and President of EcoChi-LLC,  aFeng Shui Master Practitioner, an accredited LEED® Green Associate and Certified Eco-Designer. Ms. Duneier is the creator of the EcoChi® system of design and the author of EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience, released September, 17th 2011. Her training, background and perspective have made her a resource on topics including: Feng Shui, Green Design and Sustainability and Real Estate, for media outlets including Martha Stewart Radio, Brokers Weekly, Social Life Magazine, Barons.com, CNBC, MSNBC, NBC, Sierra Club, The Huffington Post and the Associated Press.

EPM: Can you tell us a bit about your passion for parties?

Debra Duneier:  Parties are a celebration of life. It gives us an opportunity to honor our achievements and acknowledge the passage of time. What a gift to be able to get a break from our everyday lives and laugh, dance, sing, socialize and be creative! Think about this for a moment- laugh, dance, sing, socialize and create. When we were children, this is  how we spent most of our day. Parties give us a chance to reach the child within and get back to what is really important in life.

EPM: Why should we care about Parties and CO2?

Debra Duneier: As I mentioned previously, parties are a celebration of life. What better way to celebrate life than to be conscious of our impact on our environment? When planning a party it is a unique chance to educate others by example and to be a positive force of change. We learn by what we experience so when our guests attend a consciously designed party there will be a ripple effect. Not only will your party lower Co2 emissions but you may have influenced future parties and the daily habits of others just by example. When we accept our small part in taking care of our planet, we are free to celebrate our place in the natural world with more meaning.

EPM: What is the biggest Eco -mistake you see at parties ?

Debra Duneier: The biggest Eco-mistake I see at parties is the overuse and abuse of plastic. Plastic plates, utensils, drinking cups, straws, water bottles, decorations and party-favor-bags filled with more plastic! What I find shocking? There is no place to discard these plastic items for safe recycling. It all winds up in a landfill.

EPM: What was your favorite Eco-party?

Debra Duneier:  My favorite Eco-party was a costume party when everyone made their costumes from recycled materials. The golden rule? Nothing new was to be purchased to create these costumes. It was so much fun to see how creative and inventive we can be! After the party we made piles to recycle and donate the components of our works of art. It was a fun and satisfying end to a great night!

EPM: What is the easiest; simplest tip for people to Eco their parties?

Debra Duneier: The simplest tip to “Eco” a party is to set up easy to identify recycling bins. Color coded (green for paper, blue for metal and plastic) and labeled trash cans allow your guests to participate in an easy, effective and Eco-friendly clean-up.

EPM: Do you have any advice for party planners?

Debra Duneier: Party planers carry a huge responsibility moving the party industry forward when it comes to our environment. We hold the power to change the world with our wallet. Conscious purchasing sends a strong message to corporations. If we don’t buy their products they don’t make money and so they have to adapt and provide us with products that we want. Party planners must educate their clients so that their money is spent with companies that are Eco-friendly and provide humane working conditions for their employees. We can change the world, one party at a time.

 Finally Debra beautifully add: 

Life is lived the way it is designed. That is a core concept of the EcoChi® system of design that meticulously blends the powerful ancient and modern lessons of classical feng shui, green and sustainable living and environmental psychology to revolutionize how people experience their spaces and their lives. Parties are a fundamental part of our lives. When celebrating with consciousness we feel our connection to the natural world and with that, we experience a significantly deeper joy.

Brian Worley is an event and lifestyle authority, a wedding expert, reality TV Host, co-owner of YourBASH!  event production, and designer of over 70 of the most unique movie industry premier events. He has has over twelve years of creative event experience. Brian’s extensive background in event production, in combination with his unique sense of design, has lead him to creating some of the industry’s most innovative events such as celebrity and other high profile weddings, network and music label parties. Brian’s twelve-plus years of experience in event production helped him to crossover to television as an event planner/host on a number of TV shows.

What is particularly amazing is that one of Brian’s personal interests is producing and designing events that are both GREEN and ECO-FRIENDLY. He strives to create stunning events utilizing the philosophy “REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE.” He implements this idea in simple ways such as organic and pesticide-free food, bio-diesel generators, rented furniture, recycled fabric, drapes, and linens, and low watt/LED lighting, just to name a few.

Brian is not only a Green event guru, but a budget specialist as well, proving that with creativity and an eye for style, you can turn any ordinary event into and extraordinary event.

EPM:  Can you tell me about your passion about Parties ?

Brian Worley: I Have been producing and designing events for the past 13 years, I love that I get to create unique spaces for people to have fun in….  each party has a different theme or decor so I am always being challenged to come up with something new and exciting and no two events are ever the same…

EPM:  What is the biggest Eco-mistake you see at parties?

Brian Worley: That the trash is not separated into biodegradable and compostable… there is a ton of waste when throwing an event… and it is so easy to recycle these days…

EPM:  What was your favorite Eco-Party?

Brian Worley: We produce and eco-casino event each year and we are able to show the guest that you can create an event that is still stunning, beautiful and exciting and that eco events don’t have to be burlap and granola…

EPM: What is the easiest; simplest tip for people to Eco their parties?

Brian Worley: Start with an eco-friendly menu… every party has some sort of menu and it is an easy place to begin.

EPM: Do you have any advice for Party Planners?

Brian Worley: When we adopted the idea that we would do eco-friendly events years ago, there was very little information on how to do it, now the internet is flooded with info, products and ideas, so spend a little time with Google and you can learn a lot.

I use reusable plates in my everyday life. However for special occasions such as birthdays, beach parties, big events, school events or any other celebration  disposable tableware is so versatile and such a practical option, that I am so exited to talk and I want to tell everyone about Susty Party Biodegradable compostable tableware. They are steamed, naturally dyed, completely compostable, colorful starch plates made in the USA! They are not just too cute but  they are environmentally friendly as well. 

One of the things that bothers me the most at parties is the paper or plastic tableware that goes direct to the trash and I’m always there thinking they will go direct to the landfill. I see this in almost in every party I attend and it hurts! I haven’t seen many parties where people really recycled them. The environmental impact of traditional birthday party supplies that are made from plastic, Styrofoam and paper is tremendous, These products are bad for the environment because the process of manufacturing uses petroleum and chemicals. Since the recycling rate in the USA is only 26% there is no hope for recycling so we need to make the switch to eco-firendly products like Susty Party.

Environmental Good

• Renewable: Made from tapioca, potatoes starch, and a small percentage of grass fibers.
• Compostable & biodegradable: Biodegrades in under 100 days in a commercial facility
• Recyclable: If composting is not an option, you can toss them in the paper recycling stream.
• Regulated: Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) Certified base material. Vegetable-based coating material is pending certification.
• Non-toxic

Susty Party is a wonderful compostable option to plastic and non-biodegradable products.

Another plus is that they are really cute and colorful. If you have a theme for your party you can follow it with their different colors. This  really helps brighten up any kid’s party or holiday occasion. The amazing part is that the colors are created with natural dyes. Each plate has a unique color pattern that comes from the baking process. Each of them is unique.

Want to get more amazed? They go in the oven, in the microwave and are freezer safe, plus they are super sturdy. They’re disposable but also feel durable. Wow!

So if you are a mother like me that can’t stand plastic plates ending up in a landfill add Susty Party tableware to your party supply list ! 

Whale Tail Chips Ingredients

As a mom, I always look at ingredients. I believe it is my responsibility to be sure what goes in my little ones bodies is something that won’t hurt them. For me, a green sustainable mom, the first thing is to look for is no GMO’s in the ingredients, because they are in many products. Remembert hat more of 70% of unlabeled products in the USA are estimated to have GMO’s. 

So if you can’t see the words No GMO in the bag of the chips it normally means that it is another unlabeled GMO’s product that comes from potatoes or corn that is not organic.  This is not the case of Whale Tails Chips; they are made from organic tortilla from organic corn grown in the USA.  

Whale Tails Chips healthy ingredients are: 

• Organic
• Glutten Free
• Non GMO
• Zero Trans Fat
• Kosher

 Mom approved!

Packages and Flavors

Whale Tails Chips are Available in 1.5 oz that are perfect for snack and 9 oz bags perfect for family gatherings.

 They offer 3 flavors.

• Original Flavor Yellow Organic Corn with “Alaea” Red Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salt. Alea is legendary for LOW in sodium!! Guilt free! This is my favorite!

• Organic Blue Corn Infused with Chia that adds a healthy punch that contains higher amounts of omega-3 than any other vegetarian source, all essential amino acids and 5 more times calcium than milk.

• My son’s and daughter’s favorite Barbeque Flavor with a tropical sun-ripened mango and a splash of lime creates a unique flavor!

Their Amazing packages

It is OK to “trash” their bags? Yes it is! It is amazing, if you realize that 80% of Chip Bags in California end up in landfills and they are probably there forever – you know is bad. Whale Tails Chips bags are different. They are bio-degradable and that means they break down in a landfill!

Their Environmental Compromise

Whale Tails Chips shows their environmental compromise for promoting, protecting, and preserving the world’s ocean, waterways, and marine life everywhere. With their ingredients, their name, their cute shape, their inspiring pictures on their bio-degradable bags, they are telling us a story about a product made with love and respect for the consumer and for the environment.  They tell this story in a way that sounds as beautiful as the sound of the whales singing in the oceans.  I was able to hear it, what about you?

To achieve their noble goals they have partnered with different important organizations that work towards same goals. They are partnered with THE WYLAND FOUNDATION, IFAW, NRDC, WildCoast, Sea Shepherd, Surfrider, Action Sports Environmental Coalition, Amercian Cetacean Society, Pro Peninsula Magdalena Bay – Baja California, Mexico, the Marine Mammal Care Center and The Center for Marine Studies.

I have to end this review by saying that Sarah my 11 year old daughter, a true animal lover found the tail shapes were cute, she was delighted with their flavor, but most importantly she has been inspired by their involvement with organizations that help the oceans and marine life. She was impressed with Wale Tales Chips because of all the love and dedication she found in this product. She said, “Mom can be this the only chips we buy from now on”?

So if you are a mom like me that believes in offering better options to your kids and to your friends at parties – add Whale Tails Chips to your shopping list!                                                                                                                                                                                                

If you are planning a party Start here

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Today, most beef comes from cows that eat corn – not grass. The big problem with this is that most of corn in the USA is genetically modified.  This makes it a genetically modified organism (GMO). The cows eat the GMO’s then you feed your kids with GMOs. Auch!

That is why I am so exited to write about Prescott Frost, which is a great alternative that taste delicious and is safe and healthy for you and for your kids. 

• Their animals are 100% grass fed and
• USDA Certified Organic
• NO hormones
• NO antibiotics
• NO corn
• They believe that return to organic and traditional grass farming is essential to our collective health. 
• They are committed to challenging the industrial food model and work daily to make this happen.

We tried Prescott Frost last week and my kids found it delicious I did too! You can order online here and they will send you the beef to your door. It comes really fast and very cold. The only thing I would ask them is to put some instructions on how to prepare the meat; I do love instructions and new recipe ideas!

I promote offering healthy food in parties because I am a believer that parties should not be associated with unhealthy eating or surrendering to the idea that your kids are going to eat GMO’s at their next celebrations. After tasting Prescott Frost I can tell you that is a delicious, healthy choice for parties!

Go organic, with no GMO’s, in hot dogs or hamburgers for any kid’s party, summer party, barbecue or any other occasion.

If you need more information on why is so important to go Grass Fed-Beef:

Grass-fed beef has 10 times more beta-carotene than feedlot beef which studies show to be important for:

• Stimulating the immune system
• Maintaining healthy vision, skin and bones

Grass-fed beef contains three times more vitamin E than feedlot beef and research reveals that it helps:

• Prevent Cancer
• Prevent Cardiovascular disease
• Omega-3 fatty acids are three times more abundant in grass-fed beef, and have been shown to:
• Reduce blood pressure
• Prevent cardiovascular diseases
• Maintain healthy brain function
• Slow the growth of many cancers
• Prevent arthritis
• Prevent and treat depression

Grass-fed beef also contains three times more CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid, which is another of the healthy fats and has been shown to be good at:

• Lowering LDL cholesterol (the so-called bad cholesterol)
• Lowering the risk of diabetes
• Lowering the risk of heart disease
• Lower the risk of many cancers

            If you are Planning a Party  Start here  

Reuse

Reduce the amount of paper and Reuse your favorite online party planning service. Send E-invitations for you Super-bowl Party with an Eco-twist !

Reuse your Barbecue 

And offer the best Hamburgers ever ! Grass-fed Meat for your Super Bowl Party.  U.S. Wellness Meats  produces 100% grass-fed meat, which is both good for people and for the environment. Plus, USWM’s online store makes ordering simple, with free overnight delivery. They have several products perfect for Super Bowl parties.  Party-ready recipes as yummy wings that fit perfectly for Super bowl parties !

Reusable Plates

BigKitchen.com  an online kitchenware’s retailer that have great products for a green super bowl party as *VerTerra Dinnerware* – Environmentally-friendly plates, bowls and serving dishes are made only from two products: fallen leaves and water.

• A superior alternative to paper and Styrofoam disposable dish-ware
• Safe for liquids including chili, soup, dishes with sauces and more
• Non-toxic and biodegradable
• Compostable and convenient
• Durable yet lightweight
• Downright stylish

 Reusable Straws !

GlassDharma offers reusable straws i just love them ! is the right time to say “No Thanks!” to single-use plastic straws ! GlassDharma straws not only replace their plastic and toxic counterparts, but their beauty and style lend to compliments and conversation.

And they are Great for all hot or cold drinks they look Beautiful in cocktails – great accessory for stemware and martini glasses!

Reuse your Decorations

Brian Worley  from Your-Bash.com a full service event Production company that strives to make all of their events as green as possible believes that Super bowl  Parties are always themed and there should be some sort of decoration.

Reuse by finding used things around the house, use them as decor to start with and then add to that. Use your kids footballs or borrow from a neighbor rather than just buying them for a one time use. If you do buy them only for the party, donate them after to a children’s charity. Same things goes with team jerseys , pennants, or anything else you may buy to use as decor for this one time event. It is unlikely that the same two trams will play each other next year, so donate anything you can. I like to use real decor items like real footballs, hang real team pennants and jerseys when I decorate for a Super Bowl party… I am a fan of decor that is real rather than those paper cut out items that are sold at a party store… they may cost a little more, but they do not end up in the trash as often and can be reused.

• If you are planning a Superbowl party Start here 
• Get the Green Superbowl Menu Coupon Here
• Renting a Keg? Start here
•  Join the “Plan a Party, Rent a Keg, Save the Planet” Movement Here 
• Green Giveaway Enter an Win Here