EcostoreUSA

The Mat Saved Me

When you are in the middle of something that is bigger than yourself you often don't TAKE the time to look deeply to see what is going on.

What is new...how you are feeling....everything ok with yourself....

I have been running so hard and fast that I have become a victim of this syndrome.

Little hints were making themselves clear to me that the treadmill that I have been on was going to break unless....I ...took....a ...very....deeeep breath.

So I made a promise to myself. No office this weekend. No answering calls. Go out with friends and stick close to my family. Maybe do laundry, clean house and attempt making a meal...(still have not gotten that far).

And on top of today’s list was to get myself to a Yoga class.

You all know that I teach Yoga and have for sometime now. I love what happens to students as they take time to grow with their practice. I love what happens from mat to mat. I constantly tell my clients, family and friends..."you need to go...it will help...it can SAVE YOUR LIFE..."

But I have stopped going to class. Busy running from computer to computer, answering emails and taking phone calls – you know the drill.

I took my teacher training from Jonny Kest.....he owns www.CenterforYoga.com . I knew that he was teaching today and I knew that it was HIS class that my body and spirit have been yearning for. 

I asked Rand (my second daughter) to join me knowing that it would be hard on her but helpful too....There was easily 100 students in the room. 

 Jon told us some amazing things.

He had just read a study that stated 50 percent of US citizens suffer from some sort of a "chronic illness" --at least one.  He asked how many of us had had red meat or alcohol the night before?  White flour?  Sugar or caffeine?  We all had to raise a leg in Down Dog to show who had...we all had!

He said that chronic disease comes from these things. That we have too much....and disease of the body, disease of the spirit is coming from that EXCESS>

He put us through a rigorous class of moving meditation. By the end of the 75 minutes I had sweat out the toxins and the tears and the fear and the anger and the anxiety that has been filling me up for the last few months.  By the end of the class I was left with my joy, my excitement, my inner child and the person that I love being.

I have been professionally telling everyone to Make No Nasty Chemicals(TM) a part of your life for a long time.  I needed to remind myself that the inner nasty toxins can poison you too.

I went back to my mat today and I saved my life.

Today Is The Day

 

We have been through this before; after all it was just one year ago that we launched at Meijer. I remember it as if it were yesterday…we put together a team to go look at the shelves of every single store we could get into and just – uh – stare at our products. Wow. All of those bottles of laundry liquid are finally up and ready to go into the shoppers hands and help their family say No Nasty Chemicals™.

 

Today all over New York City the US Manufactured (and NYC is a BIG, BIG deal) maybe even right now as I speak ecoStore USA products are being put up on end caps in every single Duane Reade drugstore.

 

New York, you have heard me say this before, my fantasy to run around the city and be part of something huge!

 

I was there last week with the ecoStore team, the dinosaur, Kristal, Julian, the extremely patient Duane Reade Team, who have learned to understand our mindset and energy while we learn theirs. I was no longer as impressed with myself as I stood outside in the snow, fabulous hair melting into pelts pouting for a cab. It can be a tough town.

 

But this week it’s coming together.

Please take a look at the Duane Reade homepage where you’ll see our rotating advertisement, displaying our products.

Go to Facebook and say hello, tell us what you think.

 

We are here for YOU! We have heard your stories. We listen. We get why you want No Nasty Chemicals™ and we want you to know this is just the beginning!

 

Today is really the day.

We have more for you.

Stay tuned.

 

Sean Penn on Larry King: Haitian Relief

Although I have not been a huge fan of Sean Penn, his cry out for the victims of Haiti has been magnificent. He said that if we do not continue to help this country 1,000,000 people will die when the rainy season begins.  He said the US Military is doing an incredible job there and they desperately need funding to beat the onset of malaria, TB, Tetanus and more that is setting in and with the rainy season that could last several months they could have massive death.
 
Please do something and check out Sean Penn's relief organization and make a plea on behalf of the ecoStore USA team. Learning what you can do to help.

Household Cleaners and Breast Cancer

A story about household cleaners and breast cancer was sent to me by a close friend and it strikes a very personal note with me and just reading the headline it feels like a knife going through my belly. 

Losing both my Mother and my Grandmother to Breast Cancer within 10 fast years of each other is why I feel so compelled to work day in and day out with ecoStore USA.

We all have babies!  Parents everywhere should take a second and third look at the many safer alternatives there are out to use....you could be saving the life of someone you love.

Detox 2010

I started writing this blog a little over a year ago and really stumbled for the first few postings because I realized right off the bat if you do not write with an authentic voice than you will be called out on it or worse - ignored.

Not an easy thing to do when you stand the chance of being embarrassed, humiliated or just plain laughed at...what does she know? Who is she?

A year down the road I am of course wiser. It is easy being me, calling it the way I see it and hope that some of you guys and gals are in agreement.

I am about health - for our babies - health for our family, the planet and health for me.

Yeah. It starts with me - like it or not!

So 2010. Who is my hero? Who has rung my bell this year? What do I talk about? This is what has been on my mind in December as I consider this blogpost.
 

Detox.
Slowing down the crazy eating/drinking/running too fast, too hard without sleeping/not paying enough attention to the things that should come first.

I bought this detox kit at Whole Foods 2 weeks ago and started it on Sunday (12/20/2009). My body had just said, "ENOUGH!!" I am cutting my coffee in half, started running again (instead of walking -- I want hot thighs) and made it to a few more yoga classes. Nice start.

BUT as I took my run today I thought a LOT more about the detox.

Readers...
I am making a plan.
This detox is not going to be merely physical.
It is going to encompass the whole thing.
The positive is going to outweigh any negatives that come my way.
I am going to detail this plan in my head.
And it is going to be all mine.

I'm cleaning both my inner and outer house and detoxing ---2010!!! Polishing it up -- Spit and Shine!

AND lastly,
This is not a New Years Resolution.

This is MY LIFE.

Here is the best part...
I am off to hang with my "gurls" to have fun, see a movie and have a martini lunch afterwards!

Take a guess at what I will be drinking?!?

Happy New Year Everyone!
XOXO

Bravo! Bravo! The Winners of the Sustainable Business of Year Award

Live on YouTube the Sustainable Business Network Awards, in which ecostore New Zealand enjoyed the honor of winning. A team effort of committed individuals and a passionate founder who believes in what he is doing; As Malcolm Rands puts it (and we are paraphrasing):

"It’s about amazing people around you, having people that believe in you and people that work together. Staying true to your values. Authentic..."

Lunch with a Super Savvy Mommy and Dr. Alan Greene

Hopefully you know who Maggie Smith is, she blogs at Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy. ecostore USA was lucky enough to find Maggie up in Traverse City, Michigan where we asked her to work part-time for us. In the short time that we have known her, she has worked tirelessly to spread the word about our company, our mission and goals. More importantly she is a mom (sorry Jason! Yes and a wife too!).

When she invited me to have lunch in New York City with her and Dr. Alan Greene, I was DELIGHTED (did you hear the squeal through the computer screen?)! It was a good thing that my meal was so excellent (You must try the Blue fin Restaurant on 47th Street) because I just say there eating while Maggie talked with Dr. Greene asking him many thought provoking questions that are so important to us as parents. Dr. Green graciously and conscientiously responded to every thought Maggie had and it was an excellent learning experience for all three of us. Maggie continues to amaze us all with her endless energy and optimism. Jason and Dexter are very lucky to have and we feel pretty fortunate too!

Read about Maggie's lunch with Dr. Greene and spend time getting to know this great gal; her blog is a great insight to who she is and just how fabulous she is.
 

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION ? YOU DECIDE....

My dad, he was green before it was cool or some trendy word. I cannot go into all the details because it would take FOREVER but Don Appel was into living right. From as far back as I can remember, he played tennis and skied because it was healthy, fun and it felt good to do something physical. He did not do it to fit in, look good or impress others. He walked; hiked, owned horses (even rode them once in awhile). Dad is 82 and still active both physically and mentally.

He loves ecostore USA. Everyday I receive endless emails from him directing our team on marketing, PR, new products to try, products to eliminate and everything on the topic green, healthy and eco-friendly.

Today, Dad sent me an interesting article that discusses big companies moving forward with full disclosure of ingredients. We wanted to share it with our readers and get some feedback from you, our readers on your feelings. Is this enough to just disclose the ingredients or is it green washing?

We are proud to say that from day one we have offered full ingredient disclosure on both our website and labels; and our MSDS sheets are listed online as well.

Thanks dad---you did great this time. Love you lots!!!

Check out the Ecosize Me Newsletter for November 2009

 

We love helping out Michigan based companies and we've written about ecosizeme before but now they have a fabulous newsletter that we wanted to share with you - we really feel their passion and mission consides with ecostore USA and our mission. Here are a few quick excerpts...

Following Our Passion with Environmental Education

"Juli and I launched this organization because of an unshakable commitment to the preservation of the earth and our environment. Our mission is to encourage education about natural resources, conservation, recycling and waste reduction. Join us on our journey as we all become better stewards of our environment. You can learn more at our website at www.ecosizeme.com.

Be sure to check out the Environmental Education page to learn more about programs we offer."

Be Eco-Thankful

"This is the time of year that we give thanks for all that we have. To our list of blessings, Juli and I will both be adding the understanding of our environment and appreciation for the natural resources that surround us. All the “things” that we have, come from the Earth’s natural resources. One way to demonstrate our gratitude is to become stewards of our environment…taking responsibility for the natural world around us."

“While we all have an impact on our environment, we can each choose to live in a way that does less harm” ~marymeyer.com

We encourage you to please Download Ecosizeme newsletter vol 1[1] and visit their website.

The Winner of the NYC Basket

 
Kasey Madelyne had the honor of drawing the winner of the Duane Reade gift basket...

 
Congrats to this handsome man who no doubt must love eco-friendly products and Duane Reade! See you in NYC Chris Giordano!