TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER The Bookworm Sez Advertisement

Every time you turn around, someone mentions "going green." All that talk is making you positively blue.

You already recycle. You buy organic, you re-use grocery bags, and saving gas is a no-brainer.

But as much as you want to be environmentally-conscious, there are some things you're simply not prepared to do.

You are not, for instance, going to "go gray."

Manicures and pedicures are sacred things, you won't give up chocolate, and you absolutely need body lotion or you'll feel like the Sahara in high heels.

Relax -- preferably in a tub filled with Earth-friendly body salts -- and read "Gorgeously Green" by Sophie Uliano. You can be in the pink of health, keep your finances in the red, and still be "green."

OK, so you're convinced. Ready to start?

First, Uliano says, become aware and remember that you can't go green overnight. Vow to do one positive thing each day and pat yourself on the back if you do two or more. For a lot of people, a green lifestyle starts with baby steps, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Next, take a look at the products your family uses. Gather the jars and bottles together and take a stab at reading the ingredients. Would you believe that many of those chemicals are carcinogenic?

Uliano recommends that you immediately throw out anything that contains ingredients listed in her "Red Zone," and she offers safe Web sites where you can find replacements for your makeup, body lotions, cleaning supplies and baby products.

Choose your clothing wisely, Uliano says.

Cloth made from plant products is much healthier to wear and better for the environment to buy.

Shop wisely, and when you do, bunch several trips into one to save gas. Better yet, bike or walk to errands.

Buy organic or make your own compost and plant a vegetable garden. Teach your children ecological mindfulness, and don't be afraid to be a pest when you notice a corporation that's being wasteful.

Think it's hard to become earth-friendly?

"Gorgeously Green" is loaded with thousands of ideas, some of which are easy and some of which will take a lot of arguing with your family to enforce.

Uliano offers tips, hints, Web sites, checklists and ideas for feeling better about your carbon footprint, and although there are some conflicting recommendations (microwave or not? Take a day to drive all over town in search for recycled Christmas cards?), readers will surely find something do-able now and plenty of good goals for later.

One caveat: while "Gorgeously Green" is extremely useful, I fear that some readers might get a little overwhelmed by the multitude of suggestions.

Uliano stresses that you can incorporate ideas as they fit in your life and that you can't leap in with both feet today, but in her zeal to pack in tips, she doesn't say that often enough.

Still, if you're paralyzed by indecision, this book will give you plenty of jumping-off points, so pick up a copy. For you, "Gorgeously Green" is just peachy.

"Gorgeously Green" by Sophie Uliano, HarperCollins, $16.95, 309 pages.