EcoPlum Green Living Blog
How to Go Green With Silv: Clutter
by Silvia Milanova, September 23 2016, 184 Comments
Photo courtesy of David Wheeler via Flickr. Americans swim in clutter. And lots of it at that. At the end of 2013, the total self storage rentable space in the US was 2.3 billion square feet, according to a survey...
How to Go Green With Silv: Cell Phone Radiation
by Silvia Milanova, June 17 2016, 0 Comments
Copyright: lassedesignen / 123RF Stock Photo Looks like our constant pocket companions are under scrutiny once more. Cell phones and cancer—words you don’t want to hear in the same sentence considering how attached we are to our devices. But these...
How to Go Green With Silv: Green Your Cruise?
by Silvia Milanova, May 26 2016, 5 Comments
As a cruise goer, I’ve had many fond memories on cruise ships: winning a beanbag toss championship, exploring the crystal-clear waters and beautiful islands of the Caribbean and seeing a coral reef for the first time, just to name a...
How to Go Green With Silv: A Grain-Free Experiment
by Silvia Milanova, January 20 2016, 0 Comments
The holidays are a time for indulgence—hearty pies, smoked meats, homemade pastries filled with sweet jams, glass after glass of a favorite beverage, you name it! And temptations are everywhere—work parties, family gatherings, holiday getaways. Yet, here I am sitting...
How to Go Green With Silv: Green Holiday Decorations
by Silvia Milanova, December 09 2015, 0 Comments
For some, the holidays have become a time of chaos; a dire search for the perfect gift, pressure to entertain to perfection and 'obligatory' fancy decorations that cover every inch of house and tree. But let’s not forget what the...
Red and Processed Meats Linked to Increased Risk of Cancer
by Silvia Milanova, October 28 2015, 1 Comment
Vegetarians may be onto something. Eating a lot of red meat can cause cancer. A recent report from The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer division of the World Health Organization (WHO), revealed that processed meats have...
How to Go Green with Silv: Recycling Your Auto "baby"
by Silvia Milanova, September 24 2015, 0 Comments
I will be completely honest; I don’t know much about cars. I still get my Ferraris mixed up with my Porches—a mistake my male friends never cease to point out—and don’t even get me started on lesser known brands and...
How to Go Green with Silv: Cancer Prevention
by Silvia Milanova, August 12 2015, 0 Comments
The topic of cancer doesn’t seem to fade away for long. Its prevalence and its prevention seem to be constant topics in the medical field. For decades, cancer prevention focused primarily on lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, reducing drinking, healthy...
How to Go Green with Silv: Time for a (Stay)cation!
by Silvia Milanova, July 08 2015, 0 Comments
NORTHEAST EDITION Summer is in full swing! And if you’re one of the 42 percent of Americans who didn’t take a single vacation day in 2014, (those living in cities took off the least number of days—what are you waiting...
How to Go Green with Silv: Celebrating Nontoxic Kids' Clothes
by Silvia Milanova, May 06 2015, 1 Comment
The baby princess has finally arrived! And with the birth of Princess Charlotte, it’ll be no time before parents start dressing their little ones in pieces from the royal’s wardrobe. As with Kate Middleton’s own fashion influence on women’s outfits...
How to Go Green with Silv: Be Happier
by Silvia Milanova, March 04 2015, 0 Comments
How are your New Year’s Resolutions going? Are you sticking to them? Don’t worry if you’re not. A recent study revealed that 49% of people frequently abandon their resolutions and only 8% are successful in meeting their resolutions. But instead...
How to Go Green with Silv: Eco Holiday Tips
by Silvia Milanova, December 17 2014, 0 Comments
It’s bizarre to think that another year has gone by. As you get older, time really does seem to fly by—with lightning speed, at that. So, as the holiday season is well under way and you’re probably putting some finishing...
Soy: To Eat or Not to Eat
by Silvia Milanova, November 13 2014, 0 Comments
If you have an intolerance to dairy (as I do), you must know how uncomfortable it can be to consume it when sometimes you “have no choice”. A lot of my favorite foods and beverages contain dairy—brownies, lattes, mashed potatoes,...
How to go Green with Silv: Laundry Detergent
by Silvia Milanova, June 18 2014, 0 Comments
Photo courtesy of Peppysis via Flickr. Summer is just around the corner! You may have barbeques, beach days, vacations and more daylight to look forward to, but with all the summer activities going on, you may also have more laundry...
Spotlight on Fair Trade: Shanti Boutique Handmade Jewelry
by Silvia Milanova, July 01 2013, 0 Comments
When you pick up a new pair of earrings, or try on a ring, what goes through your mind? How do I look? Is this the right fit? Do you think about how the purchase positively or negatively impacts people...
How to Go Green With Silv: Breathing Easy at Work
by Silvia Milanova, April 17 2013, 0 Comments
Photo courtesy of Heidi via Flickr. Achoo! Achoo! Do you find yourself sneezing all day at work? Do you blame it on your allergies, or an a looming cold? But what if the real culprit is actually your working environment?...
How to Go Green with Silv: My Green Home
by Silvia Milanova, February 13 2013, 0 Comments
I recently left my childhood home and moved a few towns over to a much bigger and nicer house. In addition to finally enjoying the luxury of having my own bathroom, our new property sits on one and a half...
How to go Green with Silv: Green Resolutions for 2013
by Silvia Milanova, January 02 2013, 0 Comments
As we said goodbye to yet another eventful year, and welcomed 2013, some of us might’ve contemplated beginning a new workout regimen, being more reserved with our spending budget, or perhaps striving to be more environmentally conscious. If the latter...
How to go Green with Silv: Green Babies
by Silvia Milanova, October 23 2012, 0 Comments
Photo courtesy of Fasih Ahmed via Flickr. Congratulations! Your baby boy or girl has finally arrived and you’re now ready to dive into motherhood (or fatherhood—hello, dads). Before those sleepless nights become habit and diapers and toys take over the...
How to Go Green with Silv: Insect Repellent
by Silvia Milanova, July 09 2012, 0 Comments
Photo courtesy of Chi Tranter via Flickr. It’s that time of the year again; it’s hot, humid and hazy—the perfect environment for those pesky little mosquitoes, gnats and ticks! Five minutes outside in this weather, and if you're like me,...
How to Go Green with Silv: A New Green Tool Puts Cleaners to Shame
by Silvia Milanova, May 09 2012, 0 Comments
Photo courtesy of Enokson via Flickr. The Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Skin Deep Cosmetics Database has been a treasure trove for those seeking the complete lists of ingredients and their purpose in cosmetic products. Now, EWG, a founding member of...
How to go Green with Silv: Room to Room Challenge Part II
by Silvia Milanova, March 07 2012, 0 Comments
Mar 7, 2012 Photo courtesy of Eco Architect via Flickr. This month, we are continuing with the Going Green Room-to-Room challenge. In honor of Daylight Saving Time this weekend, we are going to focus on your bedroom—a place where you...
How to Go Green With Silv: Lead in Lipstick - Worth the Perfect Shade of Red?
by Silvia Milanova, February 24 2012, 0 Comments
Photo courtesy of Bernie C via Flickr. Is finding the perfect shade of red worth getting sick over? You might want to rethink your pucker color after a recent FDA study found that about 400 lipsticks manufactured by some of...
How to go Green with Silv: Room by Room Challenge - Part I
by Silvia Milanova, February 01 2012, 0 Comments
Photo courtesy of Alan Crawford via Flickr. As the New Year is well underway now, some New Year’s resolutions are slowly dissipating from people’s plans, as others are taking permanent residence. If hitting the gym six days a week didn’t...
How to go Green with Silv: Greening your Cleaning Routine
by Silvia Milanova, October 10 2011, 0 Comments
Want to 'green your cleaning’ routine, but don't have any idea of where to start? Don't stress—if you’re not a ‘green guru’ just yet, these simple steps will bring you a step closer. From cleaning your toilet bowl and sink...
How to Go Green With Silv: A More Explorative Vacation
by Silvia Milanova, August 10 2011, 0 Comments
Imagine diving into the blue waters of the coast of Queensland and studying the magical powers of the Great Barrier Reef, sailing alongside enormous icebergs in chilly Alaska, or planting carbon-sucking trees in the dense Mindo Cloudforest in exotic Ecuador....
Skin Deep Continues Despite Compact's Close
by Silvia Milanova, July 25 2011, 0 Comments
If you’re like most eco-conscious and healthy individuals, you usually not only look at the ingredients on what goes into your body, but also what goes onto it. Lotions, body washes, lipsticks, eye shadows, you name it – most beauty...
How to Go Green With Silv: Green Event Planning
by Silvia Milanova, April 11 2011, 0 Comments
Photo courtesy of Tina Villarreal via Flickr. There are many ways you can help preserve the environment; from making big purchases such as buying a hybrid car, to smaller tasks such as composting, being green is becoming easier every day....
How to Go Green With Silv: Running Green
by Silvia Milanova, September 12 2010, 0 Comments
Photo courtesy of brett lohmeyer via Flickr. Running shoes are very important when it comes to being comfortable during a long run. But what if you can do more than just slip into a nice pair of sneaks, and improve...