(photo courtesy of Sophie’s A Simply Gorgeous Life website) 

Interview with Sophie and Her 3 Gorgeously Green Books 

The focus of my post today is: an Eco-expert, a New York Times best selling author, a wife and a mom. Her fans, besides yours truly, are celebrities, who call her both “Hollywood’s Green Guru,” and a friend. The “Gorgeously Green” woman I will write about and interview, is of course, Sophie Uliano. 

Don’t be intimidated by Sophie, because she has, in fact, been quoted as saying, “Everyone can become environmentally conscious just by taking small steps…For me, green isn’t extreme…There’s shades of green…You pick your shade.”

So far, Sophie’s written three books: a New York Times Bestseller: Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-FriendlyLife (2008), The Gorgeously Green Diet: How to Live Lean and Green (2009) and Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products (2010). I highly recommend you read all three. In fact, having read them and been motivated by the books, is what prompted me to contact Sophie to request an interview to accompany this post. 

All three of Sophie’s above mentioned books may be purchased by going to her Gorgeously Green website, and clicking on the Simply Gorgeous Store. There you will also find that it’s a place to find all the ingredients needed when you follow Sophie’s directions to make your own products.  Additionally, the GG website is where you will find Sophie’s daily tips, tricks she offers, and her “how-to” videos.

Sophie’s first published book: Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friiendly Life (2008) is a New York Times Bestseller. The foreword is by Julia Roberts.

Jacket image: Robert Rodriguez Publisher: Harper Collins 

Sophie wrote the book because she wanted to help people to see that it was actually simple and fun to be “green.” There is an Eight-Step Program that, while you can certainly start right at Step 1, the book is written so that readers are equally successful starting at any step. Given how she presents herself, it’s no surprise that Sophie wanted it to be gorgeous and stylish! Gorgeously Green Girls Club!

Sophie encourages other women to get together and form an Eight-step program. It certainly is even more motivating when I have like-minded friends with whom to talk to about my goals and progress. To facilitate that, Sophie has a Gorgeously Green Girls’ Club, and you may get the password to start one in this book! 

Sophie’s 2009, The Gorgeously Green Diet: How to Live Lean and Green:

Jacket Illustration: Robert Rodriguez Publisher: Dutton, member of Penguin Group 

Sophie aims high. She promises her readers that they can, “lose weight and help save the planet, and do it all in no time–and with less money” In very thorough, and manageable ways, Sophie suggests how exactly you can achieve your goals. Included are more than one hundred “Cooking For Beauty” recipes for one to plan an individualized four week plan for eating healthy and wisely. Along with that is an exercise program. On Sophie’s website, the following daily tip was given:

“…My book should really have been called a “live-it” as it’s about celebrating rather than denying the foods you love.” 

Sophie’s 2010, Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Expensive, Less Toxic, and More Beautiful Products:
Jacket Illustration:: Robert Rodriguez  Publisher: Voice, Hyperion

Sophie’s inspiration for writing this book came while she was working with her friend, Julia Roberts, and other friends and women of less famous stature. Sophie wanted to show them that they too could make their own products from simple recipes. What I most appreciate is that, throughout the book, Sophie really does relate to the fact that not all of us can deal with, or have time, to whip-up complicated do-it-yourself products. In fact, although clearly a celebrity (she begs to differ in her answer to one of my interview questions), Sophie demonstrates to her readers that she’s not pretentious–not that I’m suggesting that every celebrity is . However, I literally laughed out loud reading about her attempts to make/fix things for her daughter, including a sequined ball gown for an American Girl doll. Given that one of my children is a girl, I liked that she “leveled the playing field” for us “typical” people. As she writes, don’t give up; “Clueless Is Out and Crafty Is In,” is how she begins. Readers are given tips, suggestions and actual recipes to make cleaning products, baby care and skin care products, and yes, of course, dog treats! As the Good Housekeeping quote beneath the photo at the header of this post notes “Sophie Uliano is a Mary Poppins for the New Millennium” - and I couldn’t agree more.

The  Gorgeously Green Getaways is a wonderful resource, and Sophie herself reviewed all of the listings. Read how Sophie’s terrific sense of humor comes through with her description of what you’ll find when you click on the logo:  

“You may have guessed that I’m not exactly the hemp backpacker type! I have to admit that I love a little bit of luxury on the rare occasion that I can tear myself away from a horribly chaotic life. That being said, it’s got to be a Gorgeously Green Getaway, or I wouldn’t go.” 

The logo below is one that Sophie created. It is the Gorgeously Green Seal Of Approval ; that means that Sophie has both researched and tested the products, and found them to be deserving of her Seal.Click on each icon below to connect with Sophie, Gorgeously Green™

Moxie’s Interview Questions for Sophie Uliano:

1. You’ve considered yourself an environmentalist since your childhood. Tell us what key things really developed that environmentalist in you?

My mom was a really green person, although she just called it common sense. It was the way we lived – re-using , recycling and conserving everything we could. I also grew up in the beautiful countryside, so I developed a love for, and a deep connection to, Nature.

2. When you were young, what did you think you wanted to do when you were older?

I always wanted to be a writer.

3. Do people recognize you when you’re shopping for food and want to check out what you’re purchasing?

Not really because I’m not famous! People in my community recognize me from seeing me on TV.

4. I love your You Tube channel.  On one of your videos, you shared your, “Healthy Beauty Finds. ” You began by saying something that I would like to repeat for everyone: “I love makeup, love cosmetics. However, it has to be healthy, it has to be non-toxic, because I’m simply not going to put anything on my skin that contains chemicals that could be harmful to my health. That would be insane.”

Fortunately we have you to point out great companies and your picks.

When people recognize you, do they then stop and ask you for advice, or ask to see what you have in your makeup bag?  What do you have in it now?

I often get asked for advice, which I love to give and feel honored that people ask. In my makeup bag now? Tom’s Of Maine dental tape, 2 Vapour Organic Lipsticks, one Jane Iredale lipstick, an RMS beauty illuminating balm and a lip balm, a small vial of Floracopeia’s Rose and Vetiver Attar (very concentrated perfume oil).

5. When your daughter has playdates, has anyone ever confessed to being concerned about what healthy snacks they were serving?

More fascinated than concerned. I’m always interested to see what other mom’s serve their kids so I ask my daughter for DETAILS  - call me nosey! I pretty much know if she’s eaten junk because she comes home in a very bad mood.

6.  You’ve now written three books, but do you remember the exact moment when you realized that you should be compiling all your expertise and research, and write a book? 

Yes – I was driving on the freeway coming back from yet another class where I was learning about sustainable practices. It occurred to me that all this information is so important yet totally boring for most people. I know I have a knack of making even the most day-to-day things interesting and I’m also a good teacher/writer – so I knew that Gorgeously Green was a book that needed to be written – I wanted to get people excited about this way of life, people who normally wouldn’t give a toss about it.

7. How exactly did you find out that your book, Gorgeously Green, had made it to the New York Times Bestseller List?

My husband called me and I was so excited. After Oprah aired, I knew I had a pretty good chance.

8.  I’m quite in awe of you. You seem perfect: healthy eating habits, regular exercise, etc. I’m quite sure you’ve never gone to bed without washing your face. Do you have any bad habits at all?

I’ll let my husband speak to that! I am really messy when left to my own devices. Thankfully I married a super-tidy man – he irritates me but has inspired me to get a bit more order into my life. I like shopping for clothes and makeup way too much! I like to take long, hot baths, which uses up way too much water – do you want me to continue???

9.  You have a Gorgeously Green Book Club on your website, so I know you love to read. I also know you love to exercise and cook. What else do you do to relax?

The most relaxing thing for me is to cook – I just go into a zone of ease when I’m creating a dish. I’m actually about to launch a brand new cooking blog:  www.gorgeouslygreedy.com
I also knit and oh yes – gardening is really relaxing for me.

10.  Sophie, I almost fell off my chair the first time you responded to me via Twitter. There are many people who do not respond to tweets. I assume you don’t have a “typical” day schedule, correct?

So, how is it possible to find time in your already busy day to interact with fans, not only via Twitter, but also on your Gorgeously Green, A Simply Gorgeously Life Website, YouTube. and I bet, even snail mail?!

I so appreciate that you appreciate that I replied. I’m a little erratic with replying and connecting but honestly it’s my favorite thing to do as I get a sense of feeling connected to readers and that is so valuable to me. Sometimes I get up super early and get onto tweetdeck or facebook to reply. If someone makes the effort to leave a comment for me, the least I can do is reply.

11. Best piece of advice for those of us who still struggle to only buy/eat healthy food and cosmetics? As in, those of us who find that sometimes old habits are hard to break. 

Baby Steps. Start with the one thing that may be really bothering you. You may want to try to eat healthier so take one action toward that goal: order a farm box, decide to buy organic dairy products. Make a decision to cook from scratch 3 days a week. If it’s your beauty, start with a product you use the most.

12. You’ve appeared on so many shows, and been interviewed by so many people. Who would you like to interview you, that hasn’t had the opportunity?

I’d like to be interviewed by the ladies on The Talk and Arianna Huffington

13. Is there someone that *you* would like to interview, but haven’t? 

I would like to interview Vandana Shiva (a very smart lady, who has created great change environmentally speaking,) and Richard Branson.

14. Care to divulge any future plans for books, etc.? 

Toying with a book for tweenagers and a book for mom’s who want to a new passion and purpose after having kids. Feedback appreciated??

Thank you to Sophie for being so generous with her time to respond to my interview questions, and for allowing me to have this wonderful opportunity!

Moxie Reviews™ 2011.   Content copyright.  Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner, Moxie, is strictly prohibited.