I'm an admitted earth lover.  However, that doesn't mean that I want to sleep on it!  I want to develop a love of nature in my two kids and camping is a great way to do it.  My kind of camping involves rv rentals though.

So the question is, how do I balance my love of the planet with the need to camp in an RV instead of a more eco-friendly method such as tenting it??  Well, try googling eco-friendly RV rentals and you'll come up with a huge assortment of kinds of RVs that will fit the bill.

Check out this one clad in recycled aluminum cans.  It's self sustaining, not an eye sore (because it seamlessly blends into it's surroundings) and contains tons of eco-friendly materials in it's construction.

There are a whole range of more practical eco-friendly RV units that can be rented as well.  Everything from fuel efficient models to extremely light models to reduce fossil fuel usage to models that promote the earth to units that use recycled materials.

It's amazing what you can find when you just take the time to look for it.  I definitely recommend checking out all your options before renting an RV this spring and summer!

Clean lines, bold colors and eye catching graphics are what dominate this line by reiter8.  This company makes a range of bags, purses, wallets, pillows, totes and even Christmas stockings out of used sails.  The company name was chosen because it means to say or do again which is exactly what they are doing with these sailboat sails -- reiterating their value.

These are a great eco-chic find for every green design fan looking for something different.  Many of their items feature the original sail seams as part of the design -- check out the green stitching on the blue star pillow for example.  Better yet, if you have an old sail taking up valuable storage space, donate it to reiter8 for them to reuse.  They'll even send you a bag made out of the sail that you send.  Pretty cool keepsake if you ask me!

They've got their own Etsy store and blog running which would definitely be worthwhile checking out.  They've even got durable luggage tags made out of the small bits of sail left over.  Great practical use for small pieces of the material instead of just wasting it!!

I've never heard of soapnuts until I ran into a giveaway featuring them as the prize on Organic Girl's blog -- you can read and enter the contest here.

They are literally nuts that you use for soap right off of the tree!  This particular company, Superior Soapnuts, uses nuts from the mountains of Nepal.  They are the dried fruit of the Ritha (sapindus mukorossi) tree.  Although other trees are used by other companies for soapnuts, this particular tree apparently has the highest amount of saponin in it which is what gives the nuts their awesome cleaning powers.

They are completely all natural, chemical free and come just as they are seen in the picture.  You put 3 - 5 nuts in a bag provided, hit it with something hard to break them open and toss it in with your dirty clothes.  Nothing else is required.  Not even fabric softener as the clothes will come up naturally fluffy and soft!!

The nuts can be used repeatedly until they are no longer shiny with saponin.  They can be used between 4 and 8 times depending on how hot the water is that is used to wash the clothes.  Lower temperatures are easier on the nuts (lol) and the environment!  They even have recipes using the soapnuts to make other cleaners such as liquid soap.

Financially speaking, these make a lot of sense as well.  A 500 gram bag of soapnuts can clean up to 200 loads of laundry!!  Sounds too good to be true, I know.  I decided to buy their trial pack to try them out.  At only $1.75 + shipping (super cheap btw), you can't really afford not to!  All natural, chemical free cleaners with muslin bag packaging and all that's left over is compostable shells.  Definitely a must have.  I'll re-post after I receive them and give them a whirl.  I definitely do more laundry than you could possibly imagine so these would be a lifesaver in terms of not having to worry about what chemicals are being left on our clothes and linens.

If you're an eco-enthusiast and in the market for a new laptop, netbooks might be a great alternative.  They're smaller, so they use less resources.  Many models are extremely energy efficient.  And one model, in particular, makes me "green" with envy.

The Sony Vaio has a case that is made up of 23% recycled CD's which really increases the sustainability of the product itself.  It is very energy efficient with a backlit 10.1 inch LCD screen, a battery that lasts up to 7 hours, 250 GB hard drive, Microsoft 7, 1.66 Ghz Intel Atom Processor N450 and  1GB RAM.

Another neat feature that is extremely environmentally friendly is it's packaging.  It comes in a PET case instead of wasting resources making cardboard.  PET is a plastic made from recycled pop bottles.  I'm loving this eco-chic netbook although I might have to get it in green!

A few months ago, I featured Etsy seller Joyful Girl Natural as my Hump Day Etsy find.  She is an extremely wonderful (and talented!) woman who has been making organic products for over 20 years and selling them for 4 years.  To thank me for my feature, she sent me a bottle of this massage oil for kids.  By the way, totally not necessary for people being featured to send me a gift but I probably won't refuse! lol

The massage oil is safflower oil infused with the essential oils of organic chamomile, lavendar and spearmint for added aromatic benefits to the massage.  My daughter is nearly 4 now and has been a handful to get to sleep since before she was even born.  Fiesty is really how I'd describe her at bedtime if I had to use one word.  This massage oil is fantastic at getting the fiestiness out of her a little bit so that she'll lay still long enough for the sandman to find her.

This oil is great for kids that love massage -- she's definitely a massage lover!  The scent of the chamomile and lavendar have the natural effects of sedation while the oils are warmed by skin to skin contact.  Kids especially enjoy the power of touch constantly wanting hugs, cuddles and kisses.  Massage is a natural extension of the need for touch with even the most traditional of doctors now recommending infant massage.

I love, love, love this massage oil and so does my daughter.  It's non-greasy and I don't have to worry about what kinds of chemicals are seeping into her blood stream through her pores.  The bottles used by Joyful Girl Natural are made from PET (recycled plastic) containers that do not leech into the oils inside.  The bottles are easily recyclable as well as reusable if you want to refill them with another product when they're empty.

She now has her own blog that you can check out to keep up-to-date with this Etsy seller and her extensive (197 items for sale!) line of products.  The customer service is excellent but I do need to warn buyers that it may take some time for you to receive your order.  This is simply because each order is custom made instead of being made in big batches and then sitting on the shelf for months before reaching you.  Definitely more than worth the wait!!  Thanks for the great products Shelly!!

Furniture is one area that has an over flowing abundance of eco-friendly shopping choices.  Check out bar stools, for example.  You can choose from stools made from sustainable resources such as bamboo.  Or ones made from recycled aluminum like those pictured here.  Or stools made from environmentally responsible companies who take care to reduce processing waste.  How about locally made stools to reduce their carbon footprint and support local products?  Maybe eco-friendly finishes such as low VOC paints or natural stains?  All of these, and many many more, are all available to shoppers who are eco-savvy.

It amazes me everyday just how many environmentally friendly shopping choices there are as green slowly becomes the "new black".  It seems as though there are literally hundreds and hundreds of options available to consumers as they look to green up every purchase.

The key is not to become overwhelmed by choice.  Simply shop with a conscience.  Remember the planet before you open your wallet.  It's easy to live a green-er life each small and simple step at a time.  Even the smallest choice before purchasing something once a week can really add up over the course of a year.  Multiply that by everyone making simple, eco-friendly choices and you've really made a difference!!

This alarm clock by Bedol is not only gorgeous in form, it's gorgeous in function as well.  There's no batteries and no plug in because it's completely powered by water!! 

It comes in 5 colors -- pink (pictured here), purple, charcoal, blue and green.  The shape of the alarm clock mimicks the only power source necessary for it to function -- water.  The body of the clock is shaped like a single drop of the most precious resource our planet has to offer.  It's transparent so that you can see the water inside of the clock and sits on a base which is actually the cap.

To fill the clock, you twist off the cap base and pour regular tap water into the droplet portion.  Replace the cap and voila!  No need to do anything else.

Some users report that the water needs to be changed every 6 to twelve weeks but this doesn't mean you need to readjust your settings.  There's a microchip inside that will keep track of the time during fills.  Empty the water onto your plants and replace with fresh tap water.

There are lots of articles online about how exactly this works.  I'm no scientist but it has something to do with using ions in the water to generate a current.  There are two metal poles inside of the clock that the ions generate a charge between without any chemicals whatsoever.

Just the kind of thing I love -- stylish, functional, waste free, chemical free and eco-friendly!  This would be especially perfect for people who travel a lot.

Those tiny green square dots outlined in red are what would need to be covered with solar panels to power the entire world in 2030.  Yes, the entire world!!  Imagine that for a moment.  0 carbon emmissions.  None at all from electrical consumption machinery or transportation.  Absolutely incredible, right?  I ran into this map by Land Art Generator while stumbling around the net.  It reminded me of the ridiculous Verizon vs. AT&T coverage maps that are constantly being shown on television ads.  You know...

Now, I know that these maps are not completely comparable.  This one is only the United States.  And it only shows areas that have cell phone coverage by the two companies but imagine what could be achieved if even 1/1000 of that space was covered by solar panels instead of simply having cell phone coverage!

Not convinced??  How about this popular map showing McDonald's locations through the United States?

What if 1/100 of that space represented solar panel coverage?  What if we simply slapped some solar panels on the roof of every single McDonald's worldwide?  Remember that the Mc Obesity epidemic is not simply an American issue...they are unfortunately spreading worldwide into the far reaches of pretty much everywhere.  Imagine how much emissions could be saved simply by having self sufficient McDonald's?  Kind of makes me see things a little more clearly.

Daniel Michalik has an incredible range of furniture made entirely from cork wastage from the bottle stopper industry.  Cork is an extremely important element in eco-friendly design because it can be harvested from trees without cutting the tree down.  The trees will continue to grow even long after the cork has been harvested.  Cork can be used in many design situations from furniture construction to flooring applications.  It's pliability makes it an extremely versatile material that is sustainable, recyclable and in supply in a great abundance.

This lounge chair is made entirely from cork and is called the Cortica.  This piece shows the materials incredible ability to bend in two different directions simultaneously.  This bent sheet is 72" long to cradle the recliner's entire body and allow total support.  The cork suspends the seated person so that they feel entirely weightless.  The bends in the material allow the resting person to rock from side to side as well as forwards and backwards.  In this manner, the user becomes entirely buoyant as if they are floating on the ocean.

Cork is 100% natural waterproof quality as well as the feeling Cortica gives the user sparked the imagination of the designer.  He set off with two test subjects, two cork lounge chairs and a camera to the nearby local beach.  The resulting movie is pretty incredible to watch and can be seen on his web site.

His work is incredibly resourceful, full of humor and functionality while still making other designer's drool with envy.  Daniel Michalik is sure to be featured here again and I'll certainly keep an eye on his up and coming designs.  His work is currently being featured at Voos Furniture design.

These eco-friendly modular homes look like they are ripped straight from the mind of Dr. Seuss during his Who-Ville days.  They're made by Eco Hab Homes to lessen the carbon footprint of inhabitants while maintaining an eco-chic designer look at the same time.

The pods come in three sizes 4 m (13 feet diameter), 6 m (20 feet diameter) and 8 m (26 feet in diameter).  While they don't sound much bigger than a typical prison cell, the layout is fantastic and makes use of every square inch (or centimeter! lol).  They can be one or two story tall and have connector tunnels put on to form a whole bubbly little compound if that's what you need.  The designer spent a considerable amount of time laying out each and every area and even lived in it for a period of time!

There are optional solar panels which can be installed, rainwater collection systems and even wind turbines!  The system is actually set up to be completely self sufficient when completely configured.  You can finally live "off the grid"!

The styling and details are just as cute on the outside as they are on the inside.  While the manufacturer does state on the site that it can be set up as an office, studio, playroom, gym or garden room, the pods are definitely designed for day to day living.  There are many different sizes and styles available to be fully customized to your needs.

The turnkey models even include a fully functional kitchen with energy efficient appliances, built in cupboards and sofa, shelving units, desk and work station, CFL light fixtures and undercabinet lighting, low flow aerated shower heads, dual flush toliets and in floor heating!

The first floor is generally laid out with a kitchen, half bathroom, living space and office area open to each other to create a spacious feel.  There are round windows providing a great view of the outdoors as well as natural ventilation when they are opened.

The homes are generally headed by extremely efficient wood burning stoves.  Very little wood is needed to heat the home because of the compactness of function and design.

The second floor of the design is where the bedroom (s) can be found as well as a full bathroom and even storage depending upon the layout chosen.  The price of these homes ranges from $13,565 USD for the bare bones one storey 4m shell to $97,080 for the 2 storey 8m turnkey model.