Connecticut Green Living

Happy holidays! If you are like me, you are enjoying Christmas or Hannukah with a huge cup of joe. All that running around, gift buying and cheesy smiling in Christmas PJs for the J.C. Penney photographer makes this mandatory. My favorite eco-coffee brand is from my home state of California, nestled along the mighty Pacific in Santa Cruz. For Christmas, they have concocted a slew of recipes to go with their sustainable brand. You will not only enjoy top line coffee, but feel assured you are helping your carbon footprint. Steeped is certified as a "farm-to-cup" B Corp, meaning it has met standards for transparency, accountability and charitible giving. This is 100 percent ethically-sourced coffee, roasted in small batches. And it comes in cute compostable bags that mimic the tea experience. The company is offering its holiday samplers of premium coffee, the "Seasonal Sampler Set", for 24.95. It comes in a holiday-themed box and boasts coffee strengths from light-t...

Christmas begins with coffee. I don't care if you are "a tea person" or some phony "just water for me" whiner, java appears on every family's kitchen counter Christmas morning. This is because Santa was up all night delivering presents to Rome and Bali and now he/she's back, having just wrapped Junior's bike. Santa is knackered. I buy Steeped coffee from Santa Cruz whenever I want a quick, eco-friendly way to get my fix. "The Lineup" features several types, with names like "California Blend", a gentle everyday choice, and the bolder "Breakwater Blend". There are even decaf packets for you of the sensitive stomach. The company is certified as a "farm-to-cup" B Corp, meaning it has met standards for transparency, accountability and charitible giving. This is 100 percent ethically-sourced coffee, roasted in small batches. It comes in cute compostable bags that mimic the tea experience. I recommend reusing your ba...

If there is one thing I hate, it's the sight of those bloody Keurig machines all over the place, from a neighbor's home to an airport I once dashed through. Yes, convenient, but oh-so-bad for the environment. I was happy to try Tentera Coffee, as they say they "care about the planet". Their roaster's mission, they say, "is to replace the environmentally damaging single-serving pod coffees.” These pour-overs, as they are called, don't require any additional tools. All one needs is hot water and a mug; they are lightweight and eco-friendly. The company says, ”They are a better replacement for busy coffee drinkers using instant coffee, and they are convenient for people with limited space and appliances-- not to mention the brew time is completed in seconds. With high-quality beans, Tentera coffee drinkers won't have to endure the unhealthy side effects of drinking low-grade coffee." But how does it taste? Admittedly, it is not as strong as I like...

As a half Jew, half Christian, I was immediately intrigued when I received the promo from Take My Face Off . Also, it's a pretty cute name (and trust me, this time of year there are plenty of days when I'd love to take my crusty old winter face off.) But I'm rather picky about how I remove my makeup. Traditionally I've favored petroleum jelly or Noxema with a tissue. My mother used to use cotton balls but I have found that those shed and then I have stringy cotton enmeshed in my foundation (ok, I rarely wear foundation). The thrust of Take My Face off's solutions is they are environmentally friendly by virtue of being washable, but also smooth to the face. No messy tears. Nothing in the waste bin. Happy Hanukkah Called The Mitty Mini Menorah Gift Set, the kit comes with (obviously) eight disposable washcloths shaped like flames, along with the cardboard menorah for placement. Pockets in the back mean they slip easily over the cardboard prongs or your fingers. The...