Black is the New Green

We all know that green is the new black. Everyone from eco-friendly celebs to green leaders have told us so. Even tshirts are telling us so! But has black also become the new green?

After browsing in Whole Body the other day, I came across Giovanni's D-tox system. I was initially skeptic of the organic coal-colored products but had a change of heart after reading the ingredients (activated charcoal, volcanic ash and super-antioxidants acai and gojo berry). The system is terrific and leaves my skin looking and feeling fantastic!


Get it here.

The House the Mouse Built Goes Eco.

Disney is undeniably one of the primary sources of inspiration for the 'tween set and the house that the Mouse built, with it's cute and wholesome shows and movies, has its own set of trendsetters. From fashion to music to causes, the channel's teen stars are definitely making waves. Recently, Disney unveiled its Friends for Change campaign. Spots air with regularity during and between shows and feature the It-girls and It-guys of the teen scene. The idea behind the campaign is the theory that a mass can always do more than just one person. Never have truer words been spoken! Going green is not just for the grownups anymore!

Check out this spot featuring Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus.

De-stressing the Eco Way

Let's face it, stress happens. It happens to all of us, no matter how calm we are or how we try to avoid it. My favorite way to de-stress is to have a healthy dinner with a glass of wine, take a nice bubble bath, and fall into a super comfortable bed for a solid 8-hour slumber. Since the green movement has steadily spread to all corners, just about anything you could possibly want is now available in "green".

After a particularly stressful day, I love to prepare a quick dinner (or cheat and pick something up) from the organic section of my local grocer or the farmer's market. A glass of organic wine finishes the meal. If you can't find organic wine locally, order yourself a bottle or two from The Organic Wine Company. Check to make sure that your state allows alcohol shipments before you order, though.

The Green Glass Company has a wonderful array of eco-friendly glassware. From tumblers to goblets, they've got it all! I'm a big fan of the clear goblets!!!


Like so many of my fellow greenies, I have eco-sins that go against my passion for living a green life. Among them is my love of the bath. The area around my bathtub looks like an apothecary with all of the products I use, but I try to negate a bit of my impact on the earth by using organic products. Check out The Daily Green's article on green bath scrubs.

Anna Sova makes an incredibly comfortable and still affordable set of organic cotton sheets.

The Bella Pura sheets are available in 4 colors and come in queen and king sizes.

Nothing combats stress like a good night's sleep! So next time you're stressed, feed your body well, take some time for yourself and sleep it off!

Squirrels, Recycling and The Farm Chicks

Everyone's favorite tiny calico kitty, Miss Harper, has a new best friend. His name is Earl and he is a medium-sized squirrel who has taken to visiting our porch daily. Initially, Earl's visits began when I started putting sunflower seeds in the new birdfeeder and he happily ate all of the seeds the birds dropped or knocked out of the feeder. Now, he comes back for the seeds and for his new friend. They spend half-hours at a time just staring at one another. It might just be the cutest thing I've ever seen! Pictures to come soon, if I can remember to leave the camera in the living room.

In other news, I have been doing some recycling research lately. Adjusting to being eco-friendly in a new city is as much a challenge as adjusting to the city itself. Each city has its own recycling guidelines and Nashville's rules definitely take some getting used to, but I'm certainly working on it!


Lastly, I wanted to point you in the direction of one of my favorite blogs. I've been a longtime fan of The Farm Chicks (especially their fabulous ideas for fun little outdoor gatherings) and their blog is equally as fabulous. The ladies are big supporters of family owned businesses and buying local, which is inherently eco-friendly because it saves on transportation of goods from point A to point B (which is often across the country). Check them out soon!

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July! I wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday!

So Fresh!

Leisure reading time is rare these days, but I like to take Sunday afternoons to sit out on the porch with a tall glass of sweet tea and a stack of magazines. The pile generally consists of the usual...Garden and Gun, Southern Living, Architectural Digest, you know the routine. This Sunday, there will be a new gem in the pack. Today, as I was headed to a tiny restaurant tucked inside one of our bookshoppes, I stumbled (quite literally) across Fresh Home magazine.


The cover was so enticing that I picked it up and couldn't put it down. Cover to cover, the periodical is loaded with terrific advice and how-to's and even includes a section on conserving energy! If your local bookseller carries the mag, pick up a copy for yourself.

The Green Project

No matter where I live, Louisiana will always be home. I remember spending many weekends of my youth in New Orleans eating in the French Quarter, hanging out on Magazine Street and seeing the sights and sounds of the city. My favorite part of New Orleans has always been the architecture. Not surprisingly, I find myself mixing pieces of Louisiana architectural salvage into my own home. The Green Project has just made that easier and even more eco-friendly!

From their website:

The Green Project operates a warehouse store that resells high-quality, salvaged building materials at low cost to the community. The store is dedicated to helping the environment by reducing the amount of usable materials placed in landfills or disposed of improperly. You may bring reusable building materials to our warehouse store, or we can pick them up for a small fee.

The Green Project also supports others who salvage or deconstruct damaged or collapsed buildings by hand, in a way that saves between 45 and 70 percent of the materials. This preserves New Orleans' unique architectural history and benefits New Orleans' residents by returning their ruined building materials to use elsewhere in the city.

Next time you're in the market for building materials, consider shopping somewhere like The Green Project or Habitat's ReStore.

Recession-proofing Your Vacation

This past weekend, my younger brother and sister came for a visit and we had an absolute blast! They were truly a delight to host and I can't wait for them to come visit again! I took them to see many of the traditional Nashville tourists spots plus a few off-the-beaten-path hidden gems.

With little sister outside of the Opry House. She is the tall blonde. I am the less tall (my preferred term) brunette. Poor RPD had to play photographer for much of the trip so he is not in the photo.

Are you still thinking about summer vacation ideas that are easy on the wallet and on the environment? The National Park Service is offering free entry into national parks across the country during the weekends of July 18/19 and August 15/16. Take some time and explore some of nature's greatest creations!

Take a look here.

A Classic Goes Organic

I am back from all that has been crazy in life! I think I've recovered from working during CMA Fest. I spent most of my time running here and there with the artists I was working with and found myself with limited time to check email and no time to sit and blog. But now, I am back to a more routine schedule and will be posting more frequently.

It's offically hot enough to officially be summer weather and a long-time summer favorite has gone organic. The classic boat tote comes in a new eco-friendly organic cotton but still has the same timeless style we all know and love! The tote is a steal at $15.00


Get it here.

Hiatus.

I have not fallen off the face of the planet as my lengthy absence would lead you to believe. I've been working like a crazy woman for a few weeks prepping and then working through CMA Fest here in Nashville. The festival, which was tons of fun, wrapped on Sunday and my fabulous siblings flew in last night for a weeklong visit. I am delighted to have them here, but because of their visit, my hiatus will be extended a while longer. I have fantastic things to tell you about upon my return and I look forward to blogging again soon. Hope you are all well!

In Praise of Billy Reid

In a world full of green ideas and suggestions, it's becoming increasingly more difficult to tell what is realistic and what is greenwashing. Through all of the waves of eco-information, one thing holds true...buying quality IS buying green. If you buy quality (whether or not it's made of eco materials), you cut down on your need to purchase in the future which cuts down on resources used which cuts down on emissions which...well, you get the picture.

Billy Reid is quality. I finally got the chance to mosey on over to the Nashville store in the Hill Center and I was blown away. Immediately, I was greeted by friendly smiling faces and an aesthetic that made me want to take up residence in the store. Comfortable seating works seamlessly among the racks of classic clothing. In fact, it's almost enough to make you forget you're in a clothing store and instead make you feel like you're at a gathering in a classically styled home with friends. Drinks are served in real glassware with a vintage napkin and store patrons are invited to sit and chat for a while. Each piece in the Billy Reid collection is well thought out and built to withstand the changing tides of fashion. The pieces are certainly worth the investment!


If I had known then what I know now, a six-year-old me would have said, "When I grow up, I want to live in a Billy Reid store."

99 Cents Can Change the World

For 99 cents, you can buy something at the dollar store...almost.

You can get something off of the dollar menu at McDonald's...almost.

You can buy a glass of lemonade from your neighborhood lemonade stand...if the kids in your neighborhood aren't trying to raise money to buy the newest video game.

99 cents doesn't buy much anymore, but it does buy a step towards a cure for breast cancer.

So many of us have been affected by breast cancer in one way or another. Whether it's you, your mom, your sister, your friend, your cousin, or maybe even one of the men in your life, chances are you have been touched by this disease. Of personal note, my grandmother is a breast cancer survivor so this cause is among those that I support fervently.

If you've got 99 cents and an interest in helping the cause, please download the song Pink Warrior by Candy Coburn. The song was co-written by a friend of mine and 100% of the artist and producer proceeds from the song go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. It's available at Amazon and itunes.

Get it here on Amazon.
Get it here on itunes.

Welcoming the Heat

After seemingly endless days of rain in Nashville, the weather is finally turning brighter and the past couple of days have been absolutely beautiful. I don't know about you, but weather like this makes me giddy for outdoor gatherings. Whip up some lemonade, throw some goodies on the grill and chill the ice cream for dessert...it's time to break out the shorts and flipflops! If you're going to have an outdoor shindig, you might as well use cute tableware. Amy Butler's eco-friendly table goods are just the ticket!


You can view the pieces here.

Amy's collection also includes some great 100% organic bedding. EcoSalon's article on the adorable pieces is here.


Now go enjoy the weather!!!

What I Love About...

One of Nashville's hidden gems found its way into my life last night. A friend wanted to meet up for drinks and suggested The Greenhouse. Always one for embracing new adventures, I agreed and off we went. It was love at first sight, pure and simple.

The picket fence that sets out the front boundary of the bar is reminiscent of one you might find at the beach where you spent your childhood summers. After you enter the gate, you step into a whole 'nother world. The greenery is lush and the picnic tables and wrought iron patio furniture plentiful. The feeling you get is one of remoteness and freedom, so it's quite easy to forget that you're still in the city. The bar is housed inside an actual greenhouse. The cherry on top came after I ordered a mojito (one of the bar's specialty drinks) and the bartender said, "It'll be just a sec, I have to go pick the mint." Now, that's my kind of place!

The Farmers' Market

If you're looking for a way to green your meals, both literally and figuratively, visit your local farmers' market. Buying food locally saves your food from being trucked across the state or across the country and it also guarantees that you know exactly where your food comes from and how it got there. I had lunch at the Nashville Farmers' Market yesterday and I had such a great time exploring all of the restaurants and merchants' booths filled with colorful produce and plants. I grabbed a shrimp po-boy from Nooley's (formerly of Baton Rouge) and a snowball at Fleur de Lis Flavors. Nothing like a taste of home in my new city!!! If you're looking for something to do this weekend or a great way to bring some local flavor into your meals, hop on over to your neighborhood farmers' market!

Sunday's Finest

Whether it's Sunday morning in church, Tuesday evening at dinner, a Friday night date or Saturday brunch, every one of us has a need for attire that can only be categorized as "Sunday's Finest" and, much to my delight, more and more designers are getting in on the eco game. Take for example, this adorable dress from Kate:


This organic cotton frock would be precious alone or paired with a cardigan for so many different occasions. And guys, don't think the designers have forgotten about you! Luxury tie designer and Harvard student Baruch Shemtov will soon be launching a line of organic neckties in lots of fun colors and patterns!

Views from the Road...

Here are a few pics from our recent road trip from Philly to Nashville. It is a beautiful stretch of country and I loved seeing every inch of it!

Pack a Lunch

Do you remember your favorite lunchbox when you were little? I had a few different lunch containers, but my favorite was admittedly my bright orange New Kids on the Block lunchbox with matching thermos.

Packing a lunch for work or school is a great way to conserve resources. Buy locally at your neighborhood farmer's market and pack it in a cute and functional lunch tote, like one of these from VivaTerra:


They last longer than plasticware and save bunches of plastic and paper bags from the landfill. Make lunch fun again with a fancy lunchbox!

Images of My Youth: Part 1

I've recently developed a renewed affinity for the images of my youth, so I've decided to post some of them here one by one. No links. No detailed explanation. Be your own detective and find out what they are if you don't already know. So here goes...

The Making of the Boat & Tote

This is quite possibly the greatest bag in the world!

If you've ever wondered how the Bean Boat & Tote was made, be sure to check out a cool video of the making of the bags over at All Plaidout. View the post here.

Moving, Mom and Mother's Day

It's been exactly one week since we left Philadelphia and already Nashville feels like home. I have to take a minute to be mushy and gushy and talk about how this would not have been possible without my mom. She flew up to Philly on Wednesday night and drove down with me on Thursday. 13 hours in the car seemed to fly by because we had so much fun! She stayed through the weekend to help set up everything in the new place and she made the transition such an easy one for all involved. So Mom, if you're reading this, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I was super excited to see that the new place has low flow toilets and an energy conscious washer and dryer. On Saturday, I changed all the lightbulbs to CFLs and picked up a few plants for the entryway and the porch. The new place is getting eco-fied one step at a time!

Sunday afternoon, Mom and I headed to Mother's Day brunch at the Loews Vanderbilt. If you ever get the chance to have Sunday brunch in their restaurant, I highly recommend it. The food and the service are both A++!

Finally, in other news, if you have a prayer list or even if you don't, please keep my cousin's precious little angel in your thoughts. Emma Kate will be having heart surgery soon in Boston. Read more here.

Don't Walk in the Attic: A Cautionary Tale

When I was small, every major rule was accompanied by a cautionary story that proved why the rule was not to be broken. I can remember going up to the attic with my dad and being allowed to play in the part of the attic that had been converted into usable space. Though the fluffy pink insulation was tempting, I knew never to walk on it. Why, you ask? Well, because if you walk on the insulation, you might just fall through the ceiling. The story went like this: When we moved from Memphis back to Baton Rouge, before you were born, the movers came to pack us and one of them was packing boxes in the attic and walked on the insulation. Before I knew it, there were two legs dangling through the ceiling right above my head! I don't know who was more startled, me or the man stuck in the ceiling!" My mom still loves telling that story. Much to her satisfaction, I never walked on the insulation for fear that my own two legs would be found hovering above someone in the den.

Fast forward 27 years. When the movers arrived to pack up the Philadelphia apartment to prepare for the trip down to Nashville, I was shocked to open the door and find the legendary Coco, the very same man who had fallen through my parents' ceiling when he was barely in his twenties. Coco and Charles, who was also present at the great ceiling fall-through and had to pull his coworker from the sheetrock or whatever it is that ceilings are made of, were almost as startled to see me as I was to meet them. The guys were terrific and in less than a day, the entire place was carefully packed and ready to be loaded. On Friday, when they arrived in Nashville, they were reunited with my mom who had come to help me drive down and set up the new place.

I'm not sure what gears of the world were turning to make such a thing happen, but I'm sure glad it worked out that way! I cannot say enough good things about Armstrong Relocation. Kevin, Tami, Charles and Coco went above and beyond to make my move as painless and easy as possible and I am so glad I used them. If you need movers, I give my wholehearted recommendation.

And just in case you're wondering, Coco didn't fall through the ceiling this time.

Checking In

Hello from Nashville!!! I will post more on the move soon and tell you about the exciting events of the past few days, but I am finally getting the chance to turn in before 2 am so I am taking full advantage of it. I hope you are all well and look forward to getting back to a regular blogging schedule soon!

A Fond Farewell to the City of Brotherly Love

Most of you know that I am a southern girl born and bred, but for the last 3 years, I have called Philadelphia home.

As of Thursday, I will no longer be a resident of the City of Brotherly Love. It has been a pleasure living here and I have created memories that will last a lifetime. I am sad to be leaving the friends that I've made in my time here and the colleagues with whom I've enjoyed working, but I am so excited to be starting a new chapter of my life. In just a couple of days, I will be resting my head in Music City USA. Those of you who are long-time readers probably recall that Nashville has a special place in my heart and I'm so glad to be able to be there on a more permanent basis. This move has been a long time in the making and now that it's finally here, I'm almost overwhelmed with emotion. Excitement, sadness, glee, nervousness, elation, exhaustion and as many other emotions as you can fit into one person...I'm feeling them all! I will be away from internet access for a few days, but can't wait to report on the move soon! Until then, I wish you all the best!

Happy Derby Day!!!

In honor of Kentucky Derby 135, today's post is a link to Derby blogger Caroline Smith's post, "Green is the New Black" and you can check it out here.

Now grab yourself a mint julep, dahlin', and go enjoy the most exciting two minutes in sports!!!

Loomstate Comes to Target

Perennial eco-favorite Loomstate has just made its products more affordable and more accessible. The Loomstate for Target collection is available here and at Target stores nationwide.

Thanks to LB for such a fabulous discovery!!!

A Tale of a LBD

Twelve years ago, when I was in high school, I was a bridesmaid in the winter wedding of my cousin. The dress was a fabulous black floor-length number with a short black jacket atop it. The ensemble was lovely, but I had no idea what I would do with it post-wedding. It was so fantastic that, even though I had nowhere to wear it, it sat in the back of my closet for four years. Then, when I joined a sorority in college, I needed a black shift dress for preference round. Enter the bridesmaids dress. Our family tailor is amazing and with a few snips and trims, the fabulous floor-length evening gown had become a knee-skimming shift. In the last eight years, it has been worn with cardigans of all colors and sans cardigan as well. But always, I repeat always, with pearls (Wouldn't want to let Mama down, now would we?). The dress has seen parties, funerals, dinners, benefits and, most recently, a memorial service. I was honored by a request to do a reading at the service and I accepted, but immediately became riddled with nerves. When the big day rolled around, the dress that had been through so much with me was suddenly calming. So thanks to the dress, and almost an hour of pre-service rehearsal with V who made sure I could get through it without falling apart, I did. And so did the dress.

But there is an eco-spin to all of this. Instead of buying something new, look into your closet and see what can be modified to meet your needs. You never know...your new little black shift dress may be disguised as a formal gown.

A Most Fabulous Blog

Haskell Harris, Associate Editor of Garden and Gun magazine, publishes a fabulous blog called Belle Decor. Recently, Ms. Harris posted about a friend of hers in New Orleans who has his own carpentry business. Matthew Thompson does a wonderful job of taking ordinary run of the mill pieces and turning them into decor statements. Take for example this reclaimed set of stadium seats:

Aren't those just fantastic???

The Silver Lining

As I've gotten older, I've come to the realization that some days things just don't go my way. Yesterday was one of those days. My cell phone quit working (due to no fault of my own) and my computer died (possibly partly my fault, but maybe not). I had to purchase a new version of each. Then, on my 6 block walk home, the bottom fell out. The sky began to rain drops so hard that they hurt. And, of course, I had no umbrella. Once I got home and changed my soaking wet clothes and shoes, I sent my mom a text that said, "Today is not my day."

Fast forward to this afternoon. As I was listening to a presentation on the intricacies of family law (not my specialty, but interesting no less), a number I didn't recognize flashed on my new cellphone screen. And then it happened again. And again. Finally, the caller left a voicemail, which I checked at the conclusion of the presentation. What I heard made my day, not because of the misfortune conveyed in the beginning of the message, but because of the silver lining that came at the end.

Here's the message:
"Hi, it's mom. I dropped my cell phone in the toilet again. [she paused here as a buildup to the highlight of the message] But I didn't flush it this time!!!"

As of this evening, we each have a new phone and neither of us plans to drop it in the toilet. At least not today.

The Vatican Goes Eco

The Vatican is going solar in a big way. The smallest country in the world recently announced that it intends to spend 660 million dollars to create what will effectively be Europe’s largest solar power plant. This massive 100 megawatt photovoltaic installation will provide enough energy to make the Vatican the first solar powered nation state in the world!

View the whole article here.

EcoManor

When most people think eco-house, they think boxy and minimal. If you're like most people, prepare to have all of your eco-house expectations shattered. Meet the EcoManor.

The home of Laura and Rutherford Seydel is a beautiful showplace that's green from top to bottom. The EcoManor website even gives great links to the household and decor products that they used that are eco-friendly. Among the fabulously appointed rooms is a pink and green girl's bedroom. Talk about putting the green in pink and green!

Where Does the Other Sock Go?

The construction of the Pyramids, the Bermuda Triangle, the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. These are indeed some of the world's greatest mysteries. But the mystery that trumps all of these is the missing sock. You know the one. You put pairs of socks into the dryer and when they're done, mysteriously, you're left with a single sock from one or more pairs that you put in. Instead of trashing the spare sock (if it's cute), consider making a plant cozy out of it. Just cut it down to size, put the sock around and over the edge of a cup, and voila!

What I Love About...

If you're ever down in little old Baton Rouge, you simply must try Bistro Byronz. The precious little Government Street restaurant is the reincarnation (after a 20 year hiatus) of the legendary Byronz. You can view the menus here.

The decor is welcoming and it's the perfect place to meet friends for brunch or lunch or dinner or drinks. Try the Mint Julep Mojito. It's fabulous!

Eco-llegiate

University-branded apparel has now entered the green scene!

School House is the brainchild of Rachel Weeks, a graduate of Duke University who wanted to bring ethically-sourced collegiate apparel to the world. She's already introduced Duke apparel and garb branded with other schools' logos is following quickly. As if fun new apparel designed wasn't enough, the factory workers who produce School House earn 2-3 times more than what factory workers down the road earn. Being planet-friendly isn't always about being organic or chemical free. Basic care and concern for our fellow man is also eco-friendly!

Check out the School House blog here.

If You're Crafty and You Know It, Clap Your Hands!

For those of you residing in the NYC area, check out Purl Patchwork's book signing and workshop with green crafting author Betz White.

From Purl's blog:

Purl Patchwork is pleased and honored to host a workshop and book signing with artist and designer Betz White, author of Sewing Green, one of our favorite new craft books out this spring! Join us at Purl Patchwork (you can find a map to the shop here) on Saturday, April 18, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm for a special workshop taught by Betz.

Special thanks to Heather for the heads up on this fantastic book and event! Check out her blog here and her Etsy shoppe here.

10 Best Coastal Eco-Resorts

Coastal Living just posted their 10 best coastal eco-resorts. Have a look here.

When Tourism Goes Eco

Sometimes, when work is bogging me down and I have to look like I am doing something productive, I go on a mental vacation. I love to look at tourism websites and I was so excited when I checked Islamorada's site today and found that they're making strides towards being greener. Check this out:

"Five Sixes Taxi recently debuted 10 environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles as the first step in converting its entire fleet. Five Sixes is the first taxi company in Florida to roll out hybrids. The cab company's officials project that the new fuel-efficient vehicles will get about 38 miles per gallon in the city, compared to their previous vehicles' 12 to 13 miles per gallon, reducing their emissions factor by 80 percent. Future plans include replacing its other 13 sedans with hybrids, and replace its 23 seven-passenger Maxi Taxis when a suitable hybrid van becomes available."

And yes, they're pink! It would be great if more vacation destinations would make strides towards being eco-friendly. You can read the whole article here.

The Boat Shoe Goes Eco

Finally, someone has created an eco-friendly boat shoe! Timberland's new Earthkeepers Classic 2-Eye Boat Shoe stands firmly on a recycled rubber sole. The boat shoe comes in two classic colors and claim to keep your feet comfy out on the water (or bopping around town) all day. Sadly, the shoe is currently only available for men but hopefully a version for women is in the works!
Earthkeepers boat shoes...Good for the planet, good for your sole.

Tag, You're It!

Meg at Pink to Green has tagged me with this cute little questionnaire.

The rules:
1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own.
2. Tag eight other un-tagged people.

• What is your current obsession? Getting fit and healthy for the summer.
• Do you use canvas or plastic bags when you go shopping? Canvas
• Do you nap a lot? Not nearly as much as I'd like to.
• Who was the last person you hugged? A friend I hadn't seen in a while.
• What’s for dinner? An avacado, lettuce and tomato sandwich on whole wheat bread and a gala apple.
• What was the last thing you bought? Groceries
• What are you listening to right now? Ingram Hill
• What is your favorite weather? Warm spring weather (sunny and not too hot)
• What’s on your bedside table? A stack of magazines and 2 books (Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes and The Bouviers by John Davis)
• Say something to the person/s who tagged you. Meg, you're blog is fantastic and a great place to find all things green!
• If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Hmmmm, good question. Probably either New Orleans or Charleston.
• Favorite vacation spot? Anywhere with a minimally crowded beach
• Name the things you can’t live without. Family, friends and exercise.
• Who is your biggest fashion influence? Probably Audrey Hepburn.
• What is your favorite tea flavor? Sweet tea or peach tea...it's a tie.
• What is your favorite book? I have a few: To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye, and The Ultimate Gift.
• If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Charleston.
• What did you want to become as a child? A rockstar.
• What do you like better, e-mail or telephone calls? E-mail.
• What is your favorite sport to play? Squash or cycling (even though you don't really play cycling)
• What was your favorite concert you attended? James Taylor
• What is your favorite flower? Pansies.

I'll tag others when I return this evening. Until then, I wish you all the best.

Addendum to Eco-Exercise

I am, admittedly, behind the curve in the online world. In the last few hours, FitSugar has become one of my favorite websites. I was surprised to find that their article about the 7 Things you should have in your gym bag contained a number of eco-friendly suggestions. From a reusable BPA-free water bottle to an organic laundry bag to natural facial towelettes, FitSugar hits the mark with their suggestions. To add a cherry on top, there's even a preppy nod by way of a Vera Bradley mention. Hey, if you're going to store your gym ID somewhere, you might as well store it somewhere cute!

Check out the whole slideshow here.

Eco-Exercise

Spring is here and it's time to get back outside and get some exercise. Running or walking outdoors is a great eco-friendly way to get your workout mojo going. If outdoor exercise isn't your thing or if there simply aren't enough hours in the day for you to fit in an outdoor workout, consider an eco-friendly indoor workout.

One of my favorite indoor workout tools was originally intended to be a winter substitute, but I've liked it so much that it's taken up permanent residence in the Eco-Prep house. If you're a cyclist, consider an indoor trainer that requires no additional energy other than what is produced by pedaling.

Because I come from a place where temperatures below 40 are highly unusual, I have a difficult time adjusting to winter up here in the north. Cycling or running outdoors during the chilly winters is pretty much out of the question. My indoor trainer has been a saving grace and has kept me on track with my cycling program.

Other great options include rowing machines or self-powered treadmills and elliptical machines.
For more eco-exercise tips, check out these links for GreenYour.com and Dummies.com.

Preppy Icon of the Day

Today's preppy icon of the day is Tea Leoni. She's got classic style and is never afraid to go with what's tried and true. Check out the anchor necklace below!
This funny girl can hold her own against the A-list of the boys' comedy club and still look super cute doing it!
Tea's classic style even scored her a page in A Privileged Life. So today, we celebrate Tea Leoni as the Preppy Icon of the Day.

Cole Haan Goes Eco

Since I started writing this blog, my friends have been like birddogs searching for green products. Rarely a day goes by without two or three emails or calls from friends who have found green goodies. Today, my super stylish friend ML found this fabulous Cole Haan tote made of sustainable materials.

The eco-friendly tote is made from natural recycled fabric with vegetable tanned leather and chrome-free leather trim. The tote is created from bionic yarn containing 30-60% fibers made from recycled plastic beverage bottles. Each tote reuses ten bottles worth of recycled plastic bottles. Get it here. Thanks, ML!!!

What Color is Your Ribbon?

Not too long ago, a good friend of mine wrote and recorded a song called "Colors Say" about how the meaning of various colors changes throughout our lives. As children, pink, green and yellow mean innocent youthful things but as adults, those same colors represent fighting disease, global change and loved ones away at war. The song calls to mind the ribbons of assorted colors representing the gamut of worthy causes. I've worn ribbons in pink, yellow, red, purple and blue but I've recently added a teal ribbon in memory of a friend.

Wearing a colored ribbon isn't just about wearing the ribbon. It's about doing your part to create awareness for causes. If it's a medical cause you're passionate about, please encourage those you know and love to get regular checkups. My grandmother always prescribed an ounce of prevention. You have no idea how far it goes!

For the readers who run and live in the Philadelphia area, the Sandy Sprint (formerly the Teal Ribbon Run) is a great 5K. I will be running it this year and I would love to run with some fellow bloggers!

Channel Your Inner Martha

EcoSalon has a great article on 10 clever ways to use leftover fabric.
I always have random pieces here and there that are too small to be put to regular use, but now I've got some great ideas on how to employ the scraps! See all ten ideas here.

Organic Madras

I get really excited when I find old favorites created in eco-friendly fabrics. I just discovered these madras pieces and wanted to pass them along.
The Raquel Skirt:

The Puerto Shorts:

Both pieces are made from 100% organic cotton. The most comfortable fabric just got even more comfy!

Making a Case for Greener Luggage

Heys Travel Goods has just come out with a new hard side suitcase. Ordinarily, I don't jump for joy over a new piece of luggage entering the market, but this one's a bit different. This hard side suitcase is made of 100% eco-friendly materials!


Heys has this to say about their product:
Why is the Eco Case a good choice?
* The shell is made of 100% recycled material and is 100% recyclable!
* A new blend of ABS gives the ECO CASE an elasticity effect similar to a rubber-band, the
shell won’t crack… ever!
* Heys ‘Better Life’ Warranty - 7 Year Worldwide Warranty
* It is the world’s first Eco-friendly Hard Side Case!

The case comes in 3 sizes and enough colors (including pink!) to make everyone happy. Find out where to get them here.

Sometimes New is Better (Off Ted)

I don't usually like newness in television. I eschew most new tv shows, primarily on the grounds that every new tv show I like gets canceled. Tonight, I lifted my ban on watching television premieres for Better Off Ted. I've been excited about the show since I started hearing mumbles about it a few months and I think it might just be my new favorite sitcom!

Jay Harrington is great as morally conscious Ted and Portia de Rossi's Veronica is a fantastic combination of Lindsay Bluth and Nell Porter. If you are a fan of dry humor from shows like Arrested Development, you'll probably enjoy Better Off Ted too. After all, sometimes new really is better!

Tender Loving Care(n)

Have you ever thought that it would be so great to be able to get all of your organic products in one spot? Now you can. In searching for evanhealy moisturizer, I recently discovered Caren. Caren is a great source for all sorts of natural and organic products (skin, hair, etc.) for both guys and gals. In addition to all of the evanhealy products I use, I also picked up some products from the Skin line which is fantastic. It's light and easy on the skin. Even the most sensitive of skin (mine included) will love the products you can get from Caren. They're also really nice too! And, as you know, good customer service goes quite far with me.

Free Shipping from Three Chickadees

When I travel, there are a few things I always take along. Without fail, my travel bag will contain Evan Healy moisturizer, the most recent issue of Real Simple (unless I've already read it too many times) and my Three Chickadees belt in Fantastical Paisley print. The belt is so versatile, it matches just about everything. If you've not yet seen the Three Chickadees site, head over now and give it a look!

Three Chickadees is offering free shipping through Saturday, March 21. Sign up for their mailing list and you'll get all the promotional codes sent right to your inbox!

What I Love About...

Today, I'm starting a new set of posts called "What I Love About..." Whenever I discover something I love so much that I simply have to share, I'll post it in a "What I Love About..." post. The inaugural WILA post is What I Love About... Hilton Suites Brentwood. Mom and I met up for the weekend in Nashville and stayed at this fantastic hotel. It's tiny by city standards, standing only 4 floors high but still, its charm and quaintness outweigh its small size. The beds are super comfortable and mom and I agreed that we slept better in those beds than we had in a long time in our own beds. (Perhaps I should order the bedding from Hilton!) The staff is so kind and helpful and I highly recommend this hotel if you're in the area.

The hotel is making strides towards being green. Their initiatives include the option of reusing towels and changing bed linens every other day.