We all seem interested in going at least a little greener, but the amount of choices — and the possibilities of greenwashing — can be overwhelming when you’re trying to be responsible. HowYouEco could help you out. The site is a clearinghouse for the eco-friendly, from appliances to clothing to vacation spots. Content includes a breakdown of green certifications and what they mean, the latest green news, and user-generated reviews of green (or not-so-green) products and companies. Check out HowYouEco here.

Like your Wookiees extra fuzzy? Think Princess Leia’s weird hairdo would be enhanced with bunny ears? Then check out Stitch Wars, the handmade tribute to Star Wars at Lauderhill, Florida’s Bear and Bird Gallery. With work by artists like Yummy Candy, John Lacko, and Pinkypunk, Stitch Wars is full of fun interpretations of Star Wars characters. Many of the works have been sold, but you can still buy from quite a selection at the Bear and Bird site (I kind of like this pillow — though OMG they misspelled “Wookiee”). You can also view the entire exhibition on Flickr. And as the gallery owners themselves say, may the farce be with you. –Mary T.

Shelterrific sponsor One Kings Lane offers great savings to our readers on designer home decor. Sign up if you haven’t already for access to exclusive, three-day online sales of designer home goods. Remember, these aren’t seconds or extras, but top-line items from leading designers. That’s why the sales don’t last forever. So sign up now! Here’s what’s happening this week:

Now through Thursday, July 23, 11 a.m. EDT:
Signoria di Firenze: Founded in the 1930s by the Cappelletti family, Signoria di Firenze was known initially for their hand-crafted Florentine embroideries. In the years since, the company has expanded their line to include a full range of luxury bed linens, each designed, cuts, and sewn in the same artisanal tradition that first set them apart.
Shown: Stripe Bed, Original Price: $62-570, One Kings Lane Price: $29-229 — Savings of up to 60%

Now through Friday, July 24, 11 a.m. EDT:

Iosis: Imported exclusively by Yves Delorme, the Iosis line of traditional decorative pillows draws its inspiration from exotic botanicals, art deco, folklore, and fairy tales. Designs are executed in cotton tapestry, elegant silks, and embroidered linens.
Shown: Gold Silk Vanda Sham 26” x 26”, Original Price: $160, One Kings Lane Price: $79 — Savings of 51%

Yves Delorme: Internationally acclaimed for fine linens, Yves Delorme has an eye for detail and commitment to quality that is truly on par with the most iconic French couture fashion houses.
Shown: Barbizon Red Tablecloth, Original Price: $155, One Kings Lane Price: $78 — Savings of 50%

Now through Saturday, July 25, 11 a.m. EDT:

Skout Pillows: All available in 24” x 24” and 20” x 20”.
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Woven Accents
Shown: Tibetan Beige/Light Blue Rug, Original Price: $3780, One Kings Lane Price: $1899 — Savings of 50%

Going live Thursday, July 23 at 8 a.m. EDT:

Grainware
Shown: Hospitality Pin Gold Ice Bucket, Original Price: $260, One Kings Lane Price: $129 — Savings of 50%

Mariposa
Shown: Twist Cocktail Box with Blossom Weight, Fuchsia

Going live Friday, July 24 at 8 a.m. EDT:

Fred Red
Shown: Black/Gold Modern Stripe Leather Pillow

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This recipe is one that seems way too simple to taste so good. There are only four main ingredients (squash, potatoes, parmesan, and green onions) and a handful of seasonings (salt, pepper, and thyme). It’s from Bon Appetit, but I saw it over at one of my all-time favorite food blogs, Smitten Kitchen, whose pictures actually made my mouth water. Because I only wanted one torte, I halved the recipe. I used my not-so-nice mandoline to slice my potatoes and squash, and unfortunately couldn’t adjust the blade to the recommended 1/8 inch. Therefore, my torte only had four layers instead of six. Other than that, I followed the recipe exactly except for bumping the oven temperature up to 400 degrees for the last 25 minutes of cooking — I really wanted a crispy brown crust! One torte serves four, but two of us ate nearly all of it the first night. The reheated leftovers the next day were even better. (I kid you not!) Check out the herbed summer squash and potato torte recipe and take advantage of the sweet summer squash at markets right now. –Erica P.

Am I obsessed with dog poo? You might think so, but the truth is, when you have two mastiffs who weigh as much as the average human, you spend a lot of time cleaning up the output. That’s why I was so excited to find Fido’s Flushables at a street fair over the weekend. I bought a starter set of 25 bags for $6.95 after founder Tracey Fleisher assured me that they’ve been tested even with very large dogs. The Fido’s Flushables bag feels a bit like plastic, but they’re not made from plastic or even the same material as a non-flushable biodegradable bag. Fido’s Flushables are made of Poly Vinyl Alcohol, a water-soluble material that breaks down quickly and completely and is even safe for septic.

Unfortunately, my first try with flushing a loaded bag wasn’t exactly stellar. I followed directions as advised and only used one deposit, but it still proved to be a bit much. It didn’t clog up, but it didn’t go down, either. Only after letting the bag, er, dissolve a bit did everything flush away. My second try worked like a charm — tossed it in, flushed, and it was gone forever! I think the key with big dogs is that you have to be sure it’s not too wide of a load. (Are you loving my euphemisms here?) For regular-size or small dogs, I don’t think you’ll have a problem at all. Here’s what Fleisher had to say:

I did have a customer say that she dumps hers in first out of the bag and then throws the bag in on top of it. She mentioned that the large load (195# Great Pyrenees) had a tough time flushing because it was larger than the drain hole and with human waste, the waste separated while flushing and the bagged dog waste could not do that. This is not my preferred method, but may be necessary. Also, please remember, that for any reason, the bags are 100% Guaranteed! But I would like to see you be able to use them of course.

Regardless, if you want to be able to pick up the poo without having to revisit it every time you open your trash can, I recommend Fido’s Flushables. I should mention that the bags should not be used for cat waste as water treatment facilities aren’t equipped to deal with what that might contain. Learn more here. –Mary T.

Sarah K. O’Brien designed an amazing bowl that not only looks nifty, it helps keep fruit fresh. We’ll let the New York Times tell the story:

“Her Elizabowl is more honeycomb than basin, its shape-shifting white plastic folds resembling an Elizabethan ruff. The bowl’s petals expand to yield more than a dozen flexible, fist-sized compartments. Each holds one round fruit, keeping it visible and away from the other fruits’ discharge of ethylene gas, which speeds spoilage. When folded, the collar design can cradle one or two grapefruits.”

O’Brien has a patent for the Elizabowl, which won the 2008 International Home Housewares Student Design Competition. Now she’s competing for a James Dyson Award, and you can vote in the competition here. Here’s to seeing the Elizabowl in stores sooner rather than later!

I’m a huge fan of the magical powers of microfiber cloths when it comes to cleaning: I use them as dish scrubbies, floor cleaners, stainless steel polishers, etc. So when I recently spotted these sweet microfiber slippers designed for cleaning floors, I just about lost it. Cleaning my hardwood floors while I scuff about the house in slippers? Imagine how easy it would be to tackle the pet hair tumbleweeds if you had these — immediately swished away with a flick of the toe! The chenille microfiber soles are removable and machine washable so you can get rid of the nasty stuff that you just picked up (thank goodness). Find them at Bed Bath & Beyond for $9.99. –Megan B.

Clayswan, the Etsy shop of porcelain artist Lyn Swan, immediately caught my eye with its vibrant colors. Swan freely acknowledges that the color ranges of her dishes and vessels are inspired by Fiesta Ware — she says so right in her shop announcement. But it’s the mix of bold colors with organic forms that make the Clayswan pieces so appealing. The “hand built” creamer and sugar set in two shades of orange, for instance, is delightfully free-form but with enough pop for those who just aren’t into more traditional, muted pottery tones. I also like the skewed approach to a matched set of cups that don’t match at all. Even better, the pieces I’ve viewed are all within the $22-35 range. See the Clayswan store here. And if you prefer muted tones? Lyn Swan has a shop of more traditional colors on Etsy, too. –Mary T.

I was first educated about light pollution years ago by a friend who was an amateur astronomer. After hearing countless laments about how hard it was to see stars without going far into the country, I found myself actively resenting searchlights and uplit buildings. A recent post at GREENville Eco Family got me thinking about it again. Aside from star-gazing, there are good reasons to care about light pollution — too much light increases greenhouse gasses, wastes energy, and throws off sleep cycles. I did a little more research on what steps the average person can take to help. No doubt the best place to start is the wonderfully named International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), whose site includes a guide to minimizing light pollution in your home and yard. More good information can be found at Canadian Living with “8 ways to reduce light pollution” and at The 365 Ways Blog. How do you light up your home and yard at night? –Mary T.

Photo by Peter Wienerroither via IDA

I’m a sucker for great packaging. I can know nothing about a product and choose it over another because of the package design. Admit it — you’ve done the same thing! Something tells me that the products from Green & Spring are great inside and out. Each item is made of 100% natural plant materials and created using herbs and flowers native to the British Isles. Plus, the colorful birds printed on the bottles are just so pretty! Pick up some products here. — Erica P.