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.

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.

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.

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!

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...

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!!!

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.

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.