Written by Melanie Kozlan, Four Green Steps.com
Gazpacho is the perfect summer soup for a handful of reasons: Not only is it full of vitamins and antioxidants, it only takes 10 minutes to make! Healthy and incredibly easy to prepare, try one of these refreshing summer soups tonight, or the next time there's a heatwave and it feels too hot out to eat or cook.
Fresh Summer Gazpacho
Written by Laura Sigler
The weather is heating up as July is just around the corner. A concern for women from around the globe is what to do with their hair. Instead of taming the frizz or styling your hair with chemical products, opt for the natural hair care methods. It's easy and it's eco-friendly! Give it a shot and here is how...
Hair Growth
Dandruff Reduction
Conditioning
Dry Hair
Oily Hair
Frizzy Hair
Written By Madiha Boolani
Too many old jeans taking up all you closet space? Tired of wearing the same old shirt again and again? Living on a limited budget? Here is the solution to all your problems! Clean out your closet, get a pair of scissors handy and get ready to let your imagination run wild!
1. Dye your tank tops or faded t-shirts to coordinate with your existing wardrobe. You can also tie dye them to get funky new t-shirts.
2. Make a scooped, square or v-shaped neckline at the front of a top with a different neckline at the back. Add in lace or sequins to brighten up the neckline.
3. Create an opening at the front or back of a top. Add an interfaced strip of fabric to create a buttoned or laced closure.
4. Cut the logo of a shirt you love and couldn't part with and apply it onto a simple basic shirt.
5. Design a new skirt by cutting off an over-sized shirt right underneath the armpit. Fold the top part inward and hem it. You might need to sew it tighter or
Read More »from Green Ways to Recreate Your Wardrobe| Written by Melanie Kozlan, Four Green Steps |
 Many believe that singing to your plants will help them grow (possibly because if assumes you've made great efforts to care for your plants) but even more people believe that having plants in your home/office will make you happier. Plants are scientifically proven to increase happiness as well aid those in recovery! Surrounding yourself with plants adds life to your environment and makes us feel more relaxed, similar to how we feel when we are outdoors appreciating nature. Caring for plants also takes us away from our stress and troubles and focus on other things. Some plants even purify our air!
From the Gardening Guide: "Studies show more and more that taking care of plants can be the most efficient method to improve the physical and emotional general condition. They have a serene effect, they can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve the mood people taking care of |
Written by Madiha Boolani,Four Green Steps
Green Hotels not only help save resources but also save money in the process! It reduces energy and water bills as well as decreases costs in disposing off wastage. According to a recent study conducted by Cornell University 90% of all respondents were willing to pay a premium at green restaurants and hotels. Hence being green provides hotels with a profitable differentiating factor. Furthermore it increases the long term value of the property and hence the owners can demand a higher price when the property is sold since the value is enhanced by lower utility bills per square foot, healthier aspects and owner care.
Ways hotels can make their business more eco-friendly:
Written by Melanie Kozlan, Four Green Steps.com
If mosquito bites are jeopardizing your perfect summer here are some simple ways to make your own natural insect repellent and to take care of the itchy mosquito bites that are driving you crazy.
DIY Mosquito Repellent:
Combine 2 Tbsp of vegetable oil with 10-15 drops of essential oil.
Need to get rid of a mosquito bite? Try rubbing one of the following to the affected area:
Image courtesy of Creative Commons.
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Image courtesy of Creative CommonsWritten by Madiha Boolani, Four Green Steps.com
It is a hot summer day and you would love to wear that miniskirt you just bought a few days back. But you are all out of shaving cream and don't have the time to go to a drug store to grab some. Or maybe you are tired of applying chemicals to your skin and are looking for a natural alternative. Well it is time to try out a few natural substitutes for shaving cream and get that smooth shave you've always desired.
Soap
One of the best alternatives to shaving cream is glycerine soap. Not only is it organic but a bar of soap also lasts longer then a can of foam. It allows the razor to glide well over the skin as well as helps keep them clean and better for longer. It is also biodegradable so you don't waste resources. You will always have soap around the house so never again will you have to fret about getting shaving cream before you shave.
Hair Conditioner
Hair conditioner helps in keeping hair soft. An organic or herbal
Read More »from DIY: Get Smooth Summer Legs Without Buying Shaving Cream
Written by Melanie Kozlan, Four Green Steps.com
Go Green this fourth of July by incorporating vegan and vegetarian recipes into your Independence Day barbecue! Here are some of our favorite recipes for celebrating America's special day:
Summer Fresh Chilled Basil Quinoa Salad
Raw Blueberry Cheesecake with Crumb Topping
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
Peaceful meditating stone statuesWritten by Melanie Kozlan, Four Green Steps.com
Heart disease is currently the leading killer of men and women in the USA. While many are turning to medication or struggling to change their diet, a new study suggests the easiest way to reduce your risk of a heart attack is through regular meditation. Research shows that meditating for twenty minutes, twice a day can decrease your chance of a heart attack by approximately 50%!
From Planet Green:
The randomized controlled study followed 201 men and women at an average age of 59 with narrowing arteries. Half went to a control group and half studied TM as a part of their treatment. Both groups received regular medical care. After five years the following results were found:
Written by Melanie Kozlan, Four Green Steps.com
A new study suggests that Americans are more accepting of cloned meat than Europeans, corresponding well with the FDA's extremely loose regulations of meat labelling. Americans are more inclined to eat cloned meat regardless of their intentions as they may be consuming it unknowingly: the FDA doesn't require cloned meat or dairy products to include any labelling concerning if the product comes from a real or cloned animal.
From Food Navigator:
The survey asked participants about their likelihood of buying and eating meat and other products from cloned animals.
Prof. Fox and his team's results showed differences in attitudes and opinions on both an international and local level, the most significant of which being that American consumers are more accepting of cloned products than European consumers.
The researchers reported that students both Ireland and France were less likely to consume cloned products than American
Read More »from Americans Less Bothered by Cloned Meat than Europeans