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.