Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life (Paperback)

by Sophie Uliano (Author)
Key Phrases: gorgeously green, green girl, United States, Los Angeles, Green Goddess (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Are you confused by all the advice you hear and see daily on how to "go green"? Do you want to incorporate earth-friendly practices into your life, but you don't know where to start? Don't stress! Green guru Sophie Uliano has sorted through all the eco-info out there and put everything you need to know about living a green lifestyle right at your fingertips.

In Gorgeously Green, Sophie offers a simple eight-step program that is an easy and fun way to begin living an earth-friendly life. Each chapter covers topics from beauty to fitness, shopping to your kitchen—even your transportation. Whether it's finding the right lipstick, making dinner, buying gifts, or picking out a hot new outfit, finally, there is a book that tackles your daily eco-challenges with a take-charge plan. Just consider Sophie your go-to girl with all the eco-solutions. Find out how to:

• Green your entire beauty regime
• Detoxify your home
• Indulge in guilt-free shopping
• Adopt a home fitness routine
• Prepare eco-licious treats
• Give your kitchen a green makeover
• Become more aware of your impact on the earth

The book's dozens and dozens of eco-friendly tips, products, and practices combine to form a treasure trove of practical advice for every possible way to become stylishly green. Your questions about dressing, makeup, eating, shopping, cleaning, travel, and more are all answered right here. Adopting a green lifestyle is among the most positive, forward-thinking, and personally fulfilling choices that anyone can make--and Gorgeously Green shows that it doesn't have to be tedious, time-consuming, or glamourless!

Questions for Sophie Uliano

We had the opportunity to chat with Sophie Uliano over e-mail about Gorgeously Green, her suggestions for saving the Earth, and the very real possibility of becoming a hippie. Here’s what Sophie had to say about the economics of eco-consciousness, the allure of non-toxic nail polish, and of course, whether it’s truly easy being green.

Amazon.com: I’ve heard a common complaint that energy-saving light bulbs, organic food and clothing, and other "green" products are not as economical as traditional products. Is that true? Any tips for readers who want to be eco-conscious and budget-conscious too?

Sophie Uliano: I think that going green has a double meaning in that it also is about saving money. There is no way that I would or could go green if it meant that I was going to have to pay much more. If you make the cleaning spray that I suggest in my book, you will save a bunch on cleaning supplies because it’s an all-purpose cleaner that I use on almost everything (a great germ-buster too). You will pay a little more upfront for energy-saving light bulbs, but as they last 15 times longer, you will save money in the long run. Food is the only thing that you may have to pay a bit more for, however, I think that your health is an important investment, so I choose to save on boring cleaning supplies and treat my family to food that not only tastes more delicious, but will keep them healthy and vibrant. Remember that if you follow all the energy-saving tips in the book, you are going to save a wad of cash too--so it’s a win/win.

Amazon.com: I think many people are interested in making more sustainable choices, but when it comes to the heavy lifting it can be hard to break old habits. We tend to think, "Someone else will ride their bike to work today--I’ll drive like I always do." What advice do you have that can help people "walk the talk"?

Uliano: I agree that it is hard to break old habits. My suggestion is to break one habit at a time. Choose the one thing that bothers you most. For me it is using paper towels when I know that I can easily use a rag instead. Make a decision about the change you want to make and tell your friends and family that you have decided to do this one thing and that you want their support. It could be that you are going to cook one organic meal from scratch once a week, or that you are going to air-dry your clothes this summer or simply that you will wash out a barely used zip-lock bag, instead of throwing it away--easy!

Amazon.com: Furthermore, I’ve heard many people worry that eco-consciousness is the first step toward becoming a granola hippie, to use one of your own phrases from the book. Do you have to be a hippie to go green?

Uliano: You so don’t have to become the tree hugger/hippie to live a green way of life. I feel passionately that you can still have the glitz, the glam and the gleaming house because now there are so many eco-friendly companies that offer you safe and healthy choices: nail polishes, organic clothes that are fabulous to name a few.

Amazon.com: Not everyone lives in an area where green options are available and accessible. Can you suggest a few ways that readers can live a greener lifestyle even if they don’t have easy access to car-sharing companies, wet dry-cleaners, and other alternatives you mention in your book?

Uliano: If you don’t have easy access to some of the green options in my book, it really doesn’t matter. No matter where you live, you can make a start. I recently visited my in-laws in Georgia, who have fewer options than we do here in Los Angeles; however, they have embarked on making their own cleaners, composting, growing veggies etc. There’s advantages to living in a metropolitan city in that you can buy all the great eco-stuff, but if you live in a more rural setting, it’s fantastic too because you may have a yard in which you can grow tomatoes or air-dry your laundry. I’d pick the latter if given the choice!

Amazon.com: Your book is mainly directed toward female readers--what tips do you have for men who are interested in making sustainable lifestyle changes?

Uliano: I wrote my book for women because I realized that as a mom, wife and working girl I could show like-minded women how easy it is to become green, however, men can totally benefit from my book too! My husband doesn’t have a huge interest in non-toxic nail polish, but he’s fascinated with everything solar and has started biking everywhere. We work together as a team, inspiring each other with our daily green discoveries--it’s fun!

Product Description
Are you confused by all the advice you hear and see daily on how to "go green"? Do you want to incorporate earth-friendly practices into your life, but you don't know where to start? Don't stress! Green guru Sophie Uliano has sorted through all the eco-info out there and put everything you need to know about living a green lifestyle right at your fingertips. In Gorgeously Green, Sophie offers a simple eight-step program that is an easy and fun way to begin living an earth-friendly life. Each chapter covers topics from beauty to fitness, shopping to your kitchen -- even your transportation. Whether it's finding the right lipstick, making dinner, buying gifts, or picking out a hot new outfit, finally, there is a book that tackles your daily eco-challenges with a take-charge plan. Just consider Sophie your go-to girl with all the eco-solutions. Find out how to:

• Green your entire beauty regime
• Detoxify your home
• Indulge in guilt-free shopping
• Adopt a home fitness routine
• Prepare eco-licious treats
• Give your kitchen a green makeover
• Become more aware of your impact on the earth

The book's dozens and dozens of eco-friendly tips, products, and practices combine to form a treasure trove of practical advice for every possible way to become stylishly green. Your questions about dressing, makeup, eating, shopping, cleaning, travel, and more are all answered right here.

Adopting a green lifestyle is among the most positive, forward-thinking, and personally fulfilling choices that anyone can make -- and Gorgeously Green shows that it doesn't have to be tedious, time-consuming, or glamourless!

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (April 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061575569
• ISBN-13: 978-0061575563
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,055 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Green Housecleaning
  #5 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Environmental Science
  #6 in	Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Reference

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Information on Green Living, April 8, 2008

By	Eco-Friendly Interior Designer (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews

While Gorgeously Green contained plenty of useful information, I didn't give it five stars for a couple reasons. I found several aspects of the book irritating: the constant references to "feeling great about yourself for being green", Sophie Uliano calling herself and other women "girls", and the maintenance plan and certification and the end of the book. More significantly, the chapter on greening one's home lacked information. Fortunately, there are other books that deal with eco-friendly homes and I mention one later in review.

However, good information wins in the end and I recommend the book.

In the introduction, Uliano writes: "Many of us think the whole green way of life will be tedious, time-consuming, and even boring. Wrong! I have found out that caring about the planet doesn't have to be granola/hippie stuff. On the contrary, it's the most exciting, colorful way in which we could possibly live. After all, green is the new black, and we're going to be wearing this shade for a long time. Going green is not a fad; with temperatures and pollution levels on the rise, it is becoming a way of life."

There are 8 steps to becoming Gorgeously Green:

1: Becoming aware of what it means to be green. Chapter includes a "Gorgeously Green Lifestyle Checklist."

2: Green Goddess: Covers what should be used and avoided in body care products and makeup.

3: Your Green Temple:
Not really a chapter on being green, but an exercise routine that also includes daily mediation.

4: Soulful Shopping:
Uliano writes: "When I go shopping, I pick up a new suacepan or a pretty sheet set and take a few seconds to ask myself if we can make do without it. 9 out of 10 times the item is put back on the shelf." She suggests you do the same with a "Can I live without it?" exercise. Good idea!

Also included in the chapter is a discussion of sweatshops, fair trade and places to find organic clothing.

5: Your Palace: Creating the home you desire.
Discussion of non-toxic cleaning products, the basics of conservation (turn down thermostat, CFL's), and recycling garbage how-tos.

This chapter does not include advice on renovation or decoration for the home, except to say avoid furniture that is marked stain resistant and avoid all products with PVC. A terrific book that does include green information for the home and how to make it beautiful is the award winning book, HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT: BEAUTIFY,DETOXIFY & ENERGIZE YOUR LIFE, YOUR HOME & YOUR PLANET.

6: Every Last Bite
Covers organic and local food, what foods to eat and to avoid. There are also nice-looking healthy recipes.

7: Out and About Having Fun
Smart transportation, using your car wisely. Eco-friendly entertainment.

8: Go Super Green
Conclusion and "Gorgeous Green Checklist" again, presumably to check your progress.

Overall, a good green reference book.

47 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeously Greenwashed?, May 10, 2008

By	Marion Cook "GREEN FAERIE" (LONDON, UK) - See all my reviews

I tried really hard to love this book. While I truly admire Sophie Uliano's enthusiasm and witty tone, there are few "buts" that were quite annoying. What's worse, these nasty "buts" made me question whether the advice given in the book is authentic, useful, and genuine.

1. Do yourself a favour and skip the beauty section of the book. Ms Uliano had to spend more time researching before writing a segment on green beauty. Many of "organic" and "green" products she recommends are loaded with potentially toxic substances such as synthetic preservatives and fragrances. Consistency is key. Poorly researched tips in one section undermine author's credibility in other areas, and in general undermine reader's trust in the whole green living thing.

2. While the book is very informative and packed with easy tips, most chapters look like a link exchange section of a website. Too many links to websites - and some aren't that relevant. What's more irritating, the author blatantly promotes her own website on every page. It may be fun once or twice, but not in every chapter.Sometimes it feels like the author didn't really care about adding more information to the book - why bother if you can easily upload all the articles online?

Speaking of online: most of the tips can be easily found online FOR FREE.

3. Too many typos. It's "Herbatint", not "Hebatint", mind you. And this hair dye is so chemically loaded, you shouldn't really mention it in a green living guide. When I found ten typos, I stopped counting, and I wasn't even in the middle of the book. I know, it's not the author's fault, it's the publisher's lack of effort, but still. Such things don't support the idea of importance of green living.

In general, the book is an easy uplifting read that may convert few babyboomers into "green girls".

46 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Guide, April 10, 2008

By	SFSlug "theSFSlug" (the Golden State of California, USA) - See all my reviews

This book has sections for every green aspect of life. I wish I could give it four and a half stars because overall it's great to have, but does have a few *minor* problems. It seems to be targeted at thirty to forty something mothers with young children, but I'm none of the above (20s single) and still found this book to be jammed packed with useful information. My favorite section was the beauty one. I was using a natural moisturizer I thought was pretty safe but instead turned out to be a 7 out of 10 hazard on the Cosmetic Database! The book also includes an enlightening section on yoga routines which actually seem doable. The house section is all encompassing, from your mattress down to your shower cleaner. Uliano also provides a handful of skincare recipes which are easy and straightforward. There were somethings that did annoy me with this book, though as I said before they are all minor. Number 1 is that the first chapter can just be ignored, it was boring and really didn't seem to have a point. 2nd is that there are several noticeable typos throughout the book (minor, once again). 3rd, Uliano plugs her website throughout all the sections. If you want to use any of the checklists or quizzes she has created, you need to register on the website first. It's a bit off-putting. 4th, I wish there were more food recipes provided. 5th, a few of her tips seem a bit extreme, i.e. I'm probably not going to pack any carrot sticks the next time I go to the movies or an amusement park. 6th, and this is my biggest gripe, I wish she would include some information on the cost of some of the products and services she mentions! All-in-all, I'm very happy with this book. It has at least a brief overview of everything you could think about greening up (even weddings and dry cleaning) and has literally TONS of useful websites and resources in every section (except the first, which as I said before, is rather aimless). While this book probably won't make you look like the Vargas girl on the front, it will help you live your life in a more earth-friendly manner. I know I'll be referencing it for years to come.