Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Sophie Uliano (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 8, 2008

In this day and age, adopting a -green- lifestyle is among the most positive, forward-thinking, and personally fulfilling choices that anyone can make. Yet many women still suspect that it-s tedious and time-consuming, reserved for crunchy, tree-hugging, holier-than-thou types who eschew the glamour of modern life. But being green doesn-t have to make life grey-and for the fashionable woman who-s always been more interested in her compact than in compost, environmental guru Sophie Uliano presents GORGEOUSLY GREEN, the modern girl-s guide to living in sustainable style! An upbeat and practical guide, GORGEOUSLY GREEN shows the modern woman the simple steps she can take to become more aware of her impact on the earth, update her beauty regimen, create an eco-friendly home, adopt a healthier diet and fitness routine, indulge in guilt-free shopping, and more. From her choice in light bulbs to lipsticks, every woman can learn how to look and feel fabulous without polluting herself or the planet. Packed with the most up-to-date information, GORGEOUSLY GREEN covers: *BEAUTY: Revamp your beauty regimen, discover the top environmental culprits to look for in cosmetics, and gain tools, tips, and insights on everything from nail care to fake tans. *FITNESS: Treat your body like the -green temple- it is! Sophie-s program takes you out of the gym and back into the home with yoga and other easy activities. *SHOPPING: Learn to shop and dress the Gorgeously Green way, rethink dry-cleaning, start using organic tote bags, and eliminate junk mail. *HOME: Create the toxin-free home that you and your loved ones deserve: invest in safe alternative household products, put on your gardening gloves, and discover the joys of composting. *FOOD: Eat seasonal, local, organic, and whole foods without going broke, and try out many of Sophie-s extremely simple, delicious recipes. *TRAVEL: Get the skinny on hybrid cars, alternative fuels, and guilt-free travel. With a foreword by the beloved actress and activist Julia Roberts and a jam-packed resources directory, GORGEOUSLY GREEN shows women how they can help protect and heal the planet in many different ways and remain perfectly chic. Sexy and smart, girly and gossipy, and never preachy, GORGEOUSLY GREEN is an inspiring lifestyle makeover for even the most reluctant environmentalist.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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!

About the Author

Sophie Uliano is a passionate environmentalist who has developed an earth-friendly lifestyle that appeals to women who don't want to compromise their glamour or style. She lives in Hollywood, California, with her husband and daughter.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (April 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061575569
• ASIN: B001W6RS1U
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Home Improvement & Design > How-to & Home Improvements > Green Housecleaning

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 65 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Guide April 10, 2008

By SFSlug

Format:Paperback

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.

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars I wanted to like this book.... June 30, 2008

By S. Rosten

Format:Paperback

I wanted to like this book, I really did. I found it to be very cute, but a bit of a puff piece.

There's alot of tid bits of information, but nothing substantial. Some information is conflicting - on one page Sophie says she avoids microwaves and doesn't want it altering the molecules in her food. Yet, on another page, she writes that the microwave is the most eco-friendly way to cook, as it uses the least amount of energy.

And yoga sun salutations and exercise instructions don't belong in a green guide. They just don't!

I also purchased Easy Green Living by Renee Loux and found it to be much more substantial and informative - like a mini encyclopedia on what you need to do to live green.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars A bit redundant August 4, 2008

By M. Haddad

Format:Paperback

Though this book has some great tips and is fairly easy to read, it could have been summed up in maybe half the pages the author actually used (saving many trees, of course). I found many of her tips to be a bit silly, and her lack of descriptive vocabulary (must everything be "simply to die for" and/or "gorgeous"?) boring. The list of fashion vendors provided in Chapter 4 seems more like shameless free advertising. Some of the vendors no longer exist, and many are quite expensive. Save your money and check out websites or the local library for more up-to-date advice, or start a green group to discuss alternatives to eco-friendly living instead.