Your turn to help me –

Don’t worry — I’ve filed my taxes for 2007 — and even sent in my estimated tax for this first quarter of 2008. But since I’m officially going to be transitioning (aka changing what I write in the “occupation” box) from full-time student to self-employed writer, I really need help with taxes and stuff going forward.

Got recommendations for a good CPA? JediWright suggested Hutchinson & Bloodgood, but the’re kinda far away. I’m hoping to find someone in Santa Monica or very close to it –

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Your turn to help me –

The shampoo obsession continues! So when I reviewed the eco-friendly and awesome EO shampoo, I sort of joked about getting a shampoo co-op together to save money. But since then, this shampoo co-op idea has gained traction and is really going to happen. Do you want to join the co-op?

Why you should: EO offers its Chamomile & Honey shampoo and conditioner in gallon jugs — which would lets the eco-hair obsessed reduce and reuse bottles while saving money. The 8 oz bottles I got at the Co-op each cost $7.99 — about a buck an ounce; the gallon jug would bring that per-oz cost to under 50 cents!

Reader April has already roped 3 other people to joining in the clean hair fun. We would meet up every month to 6 weeks or so for a shampoo party, where everyone brings their empty bottles, fills up, and — I dunno — shares hair tips? My current plan is to somehow turn this into a recurring happy hour, but the actual format of the shampoo fill-up will depend entirely on the consensus of the co-op members-to-be.

So free yourself from parabens and 1,4-Dioxane and get clean hair! Email me at greenlagirl@gmail.com, and lemme know if you want to be part of the shampoo co-op. The first shampoo fest will be in mid-April –

I’m also taking name suggestions for said co-op — something that sounds less crunchy than shampoo co-op…..

Update, 4/4/08: A prob with the co-op! EO’s ranking suddenly changed –

Tags: shampoo

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Your turn to help me –

My hands freeze when I bike, so I need cycling gloves. But which ones to get?!

Basically, I want gloves that keep my hands warm and don’t look ugly. Ideally, I’d like gloves that don’t look too incongruous with the outfits I generally wear — which are not the spandex glowy cycling clothes, but normal everyday clothes. But I think there are just basic features of biking gloves I don’t understand.

For ex, what’s up with the gloves that don’t have fingertips? (right) Is that simply an aesthetic thing? What is the actual purpose of the tip-less-ness? And will those keep my hands warm enough?

And why do the pics of the full-fingered gloves look so scary? (left) Is it just me, or do they look way too much like disembodied hands? Non-biking gloves aren’t sold in such creepy severed-hand-like fashion….

Lastly, I’m not even sure if cycling-specific gloves are necessary. Can I just buy better-looking “regular” gloves and wear them for biking? Because I think I have a better chance of finding used, eco-friendly, or fair trade gloves that are not cycling-specific….

Anyone own biking gloves they’re in love with? Do share –

Tags: gloves, bicycle, bicycle, gloves

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Your turn to help me –

As you know, I don’t like weird chemicals in my hair, so I’ve gotten a bit weird about getting my hair cut — as in I haven’t gotten it cut in a really long time.

Actually, the real reason I haven’t gotten it cut in so long is that the last cut I got was horrifically mullet-like. No, I didn’t ask for it — and I’ve since vowed never to get my hair cut by anyone from Jersey (sorry, hairstylists from N.J. who might be reading this). Luckily, it’s since grown out — A LOT.

Unfortunately, green haircuts have proved a bit tougher to find than green facials. Greenopia ranks some of them — but the rankings seem to have mostly to do with the type of hair color used — irrelevant for me, since I don’t color my hair.

If I lived in Encino, I’d definitely go to Nori’s EcoSalon — but I’m actually not even quite sure where Encino is. I do know it’s rather far to go for just a haircut –

More close by, the greenest salon I’ve found is Veda, an Aveda concept salon in Santa Monica. However, while Aveda does a lot of green marketing, their stuff is really only semi-green. Plus a cut and style costs between $80 - $100 — not totally outrageous, but kinda pricy.

So my questions are two-fold:

1. Do you know of any hair salons that use eco-friendly hair products on the westside?
2. Assuming I get no positive answers to question 1: Should I get my hair cut at Veda, since it’s the greenest one I’ve found? Or do you have a different salon you go to that you’d recommend?

All hair advice is appreciated -

Tags: haircut, veda, aveda

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Your turn to help me –

I need to invest in a lint brush, and I need your expert reviews. What’s the best eco-friendly lint brush option out there?

I’m leaning toward this Evercare Magik Brush (right), since it’s the kind that you can use over and over again sans extraneous waste — meaning there’s a possibility I could even get it used, greenifying my purchase even more. However, I need to know that this thing actually works over the long term before I bring it into my apartment.

If this brush only holds up for a few brushings, I don’t wanna get it — because that means I’d be sending another clunky synthetic thing into the landfill. A sticky tape-based roller like this (left) might be the better option in that case — even if it means a piece of tape waste after each use….

Both the items are cheap, so price isn’t an issue — It’s about potential for eco-friendly reuse. Lemme know if you’ve tried either of these, and how you’ve liked them — or if you know of another lint-removing gadget I should consider instead.

Tags: lintbrush

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Your turn to help me –

Alright — I’m finally at the bottom of my JASON shampoo and conditioner bottles — and I’m ready to switch! Besides their “moderate risk” scores on Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database (both shampoo and conditioner got 5s), my hair was slowly getting buildup. My head feels heavy –

So far, I’ve gone through 2 green hair care stuff I’m not happy with:

>> Jason’s Natural Moisturizing Sea Kelp Shampoo and Conditioner: Ranks a “moderate risk” 5; creates build-up.

>> Avalon Organics Conditioner: Ranks a “low risk” 2; doesn’t feel thick enough and is slow to detangle. (I liked the shampoo fine, but I like matching shampoo-conditioner sets)

So now I’m looking for green shampoo suggestions — from the low-risk list I’m considering. Tried any of these and loved it? Let me know so I don’t pick another dud –

>> Aubrey Organics
>> Burt’s Bees
>> EO
>> Korres. Reader Callie recommends this one.
>> Miessence
>> Natural by Nature
>> Nurture My Body
>> Terressentials

Last but not least, here’s a fun old related post: Get your hair did: Eco-friendly hair care.

Update, 3/2/08: I went with EO — and LOVE the stuff.

Update, 4/4/08: A prob with the EO shampoo — the ranking’s ranking suddenly changed –

Bottom photo by gordon comstock

Tags: shampoo

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Your turn to help me –

Some of my resolutions for the new year:

* Stop eating milk products and eggs, period. This’ll end the whole avoid them for a couple weeks, decide “maybe it’ll be different this time,” eating pizza or ice cream or omelet, then feel horribly sick and bloated routine of yesteryears.

There are others, but they’re more serious, and thus less funny. What’re yours?

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Your turn to help me –

Help me pick out a new digital camera! While Pixelle’s been okay, she takes really crappy pictures unless it’s really sunny and bright and outdoors. Also, she takes AA batteries — and those things run out fast in a digicam. I’m tired of recharging batteries all the time –

My requirements:

* Something basic. I’m not a photographer; I’m just a blogger who takes photos. I want something that’ll produce relatively decent photos without requiring me to do much beyond pointing and shooting.

* Runs on something other than AA batteries.

* Not too expensive. I don’t need anything top of the line –

Got a recommendation? What do you use, and do you like it?

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Your turn to help me –

My friend Traci and I are throwing a holiday party this Saturday — and I’m supposed to make a LEED-certified gingerbread house for the occasion. At first, I was really psyched, but now I’m kinda getting stressed —

But right now I just had a couple cups of coffee and feel ready to tackle the task. So I’m wondering — How long do gingerbread houses keep if I don’t lacquer it with weird chemicals? Can I bake and assemble today, or should I wait until Friday?

And if you’re gonna be in LA this Saturday and we know each other and you haven’t gotten an evite yet — It’s because gmail’s rather handy habit of putting every email addy I ever send a note to in my address book is not so handy when you’re trying to go through your contact list to figure out who to invite. Lemme know if I accidentally missed you — You haven’t been blacklisted –

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Your turn to help me –

What are you doing for Step It Up? Here’s the 2-parter I wrote ’bout this grassroots environmental action day –

I’m planning to go to the Global Warming Rally in front of the Federal Building at 11000 Wilshire Blvd., mainly because the event’s close to me and easily accessible via Metro 720. The schedule:

11 am - 12 pm: Welcome. Optional yoga. Samples of ACTIVATE vitamin water.

12 - 1 pm: Lunch break. A group’ll walk to Native Foods for take-out.

1 - 3 pm: A speaker from a green company, plus perhaps a free screening of a movie. Both TBD, so I’ve no clue as to how exciting either will be.

3 - 4 pm: Closing ceremony.

I’m planning to go — with Chocolate Chip Zucchini cookies, with farmers’ market zucchini, of course — in hand. Might you be there too, with your own home-baked concoction?

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