A few weeks ago, I shared that my father had passed away unexpectedly. He was my hero and it was complicated; I wrote this song for him. Strange coincidences before and after his death have felt like a blessing and here’s one more: In the weeks before he died, I randomly chose to read these uplifting books, all of which deal with an adult processing the death and dying of significant family members in fascinating and beautiful ways. Each one affected me differently — but all were powerful and, also, damn good reads. Have you read any or all of these books? One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle ..read more

The New York Public Library defines “climate fiction” as dealing with “the impact of climate change on the earth and on society. Spoiler: it’s never good!” But who wants to read stories about destruction when we get that in the news every day? Beginning July 19, please join me for the (free) Mommy Greenest Positive Climate Fiction Summer Book Club! You don’t have to be an avid reader (or environmentalist) to participate! Write What You Know “Write what you know” is quite possibly the most widely disseminated piece of writing advice in the English language. Search “write” followed by “what,” a ..read more

We all love the idea of natural sunscreens. They aren’t made from potentially toxic chemicals and won’t harm coral reefs. But let’s be honest: Many can leave a white sheen on your skin that can feel a little…ghostly. But not my new favorite natural sunscreens from Suntribe! Natural Sunscreen 101 For years, I’ve been talking about how to ditch chemical sunscreens. Most are made with hormone-disrupting chemicals like oxybenzone, which also damage the coral reefs that are a critical defense against global warming — an astounding 14,000 tons of sunscreen is washed off swimmers’ bodies and into the ..read more

Join me on Instagram this Friday for a conversation with Laura Warrell, author of “Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm” the book Oprah Quarterly called “a lush (sexy) ode to charismatic bad boys and the women who love them.” Yes, please! The post Join Me In Conversation with Laura Warrell appeared first on Mommy Greenest ..read more

Proud to see my eco-friendly home living tips featured on Rent.com, just in time for Earth Day! Click through to read more: Eco-Friendly Home Living Tips for Better Sleep and Daily Energy | Rent. The post MG Featured on Rent.com: Eco-Friendly Home Living Tips for Better Sleep and Daily Energy appeared first on Mommy Greenest ..read more

The only category of skincare for women over 50 is “anti-aging” — but what’s the alternative? In reality, the only thing that stops aging is death. So the idea of buying a product that makes you stop aging — aka “reverses” “suspends” or “prevents” aging — is a serious crock. Caraline, which sponsored this post, exists to counter that idea with incredibly nourishing plant-based skincare that celebrates the skin you’re in. Read more and score one of FIVE Caraline Skincare Daily Hydrate & Nourish Duo sets, worth $95.  Kate Baer, one of my favorite poets, put it best: “How the dead must ..read more

Happy spring! Tomorrow is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, which means longer days and shorter nights — and in California, where I live, it’s a hop skip and jump to summer weather. That’s why each year around this time of year, I swap out my closet — all 100% thrifted or swapped, of course! How I Closet Swap It has nothing to do with fashion shows, but I do think of my clothes in terms of seasons. Spring is mostly light colors and fabrics, flowy skirts and with layerable short sleeves and lightweight cardigans. Fall is darker colors, long pants, long sleeved sweaters, and w ..read more

Do the pink and red boxes of mass produced chocolate made from cacao that can’t seem to shake its connection to slave/child labor make you uncomfortable? If so, please join me in choosing fair trade chocolate this Valentine’s Day! FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE FOR THE WIN As I reported in this oldie-but-goodie gift guide, fair trade chocolate manufacturers forge economic partnerships that can alleviate poverty, reduce inequality, and create opportunities for farmers and artists—especially women, who produce 76% of fair trade goods. These businesses combat human trafficking by creating opportunities f ..read more

Wah wah. After feeling a slight sore throat and stuffy nose and testing negative for three days, on the fourth I got the dreaded covid double line. The good news (besides the fact that “The Crown” just dropped four new episodes) is that I’m vaccinated and my symptoms are mild. According to the World Health Organization, cases of the illness are down globally, but in California, where I live, there’s been a slight uptick in the number of people testing positive over the last few weeks. Time to break out the masks! Meanwhile, I’m N95’d up, pounding vitamins C and zinc twice daily, and ..read more

Have you tried shampoo bars? I’m loving this one from Brixy! SHAMPOO BOTTLES SUCK It’s a fact: 94% of plastic ends up in landfills or the environment, including 500 million shampoo bottles each year. These new Brixy bars are a solution: The shampoo bar lathers up great and rinses clean, the conditioner leaves my long hair easy-to-comb but residue free, the body wash is damn good soap — and I can’t wait to try the face wash line, dropping soon!  SUSTAINABLE CRED These vegan bars are never tested on animals, palm-oil free (and rainforest-friendly), and the essential-oil powered scents ..read more