Archive for the ‘Just For Fun’ Category
Jan
30
Etsy’s Green GoodsWe’ve got you covered as far as eco-friendly wood furniture and décor goes, of course, but if you’re looking to make your whole life a little greener, Etsy has quite a selection of upcycled and eco-conscious goods to choose from! The online marketplace is also an oasis for vendors offering vintage finds (whose environmental benefits we have already discussed).
Coffee lovers everywhere will smile upon this concept: the reusable cup sleeve. Keep it in your car, purse, or at work — wherever you find yourself in need of a cup of joe-to-go — and start saving a little more cardboard from the trash. They’re available in an array of adorable prints from Etsy user beyondquilts.
User PapierLapin crafts what she calls “a self-mailing invitation” out of 100% post-consumer fiber. By printing on all sides of the envelope, she’s eliminated the need for the actual invitation card, allowing you to save on paper and cost of materials. Design your own invitation or ask PapierLapin to personalize them for an extra fee. Put away the paper bags, and start packing lunch (or snacks!) in one of these delightful reusable bags (pictured above) available in a variety of prints and sizes. Or, if you’re dining at home, pour yourself a cool drink into one of these recycled wine bottle glasses. As an alternative to synthetic dryer sheets, try a reusable “dryer ball” made from felted wool. Along with reducing static, the wool helps draw moisture away from clothing so you won’t need to run the dryer as long. Adding a drop of scented oil gives clean clothes a refreshing aroma, too. And lastly, you can add an extra touch of eco-friendly bamboo to your home with these clothes hangers, which mimic the style of typical dry cleaning ones to prevent unwanted creases. When it comes to buying clothes, few options say Reduce, Reuse, Recycle as much as choosing from racks of things other people don’t want. Finding a sweater at a thrift store means that sweater will not end up as trash so soon, but be granted a new life in your closet for another year or few to come! And what’s more, after spending an hour sifting through hanger after hanger, you’ll have a true appreciation for your finds — or steals, really, since secondhand shops are wonderfully inexpensive. You may not be able to pick up the most recent trend, but you’re almost guaranteed not to find anything your friends, or your friends’ friends, already own. If you’ve got a couple hours to spare this weekend, why not try your hand at the art of thrift shopping?
For novices, here we present a step-by-step guide: Step 1: Locate a thrift shop(s) Typing “thrift store [your city]” into Google is usually the simplest way to find a few local shops. Otherwise, search Salvation Army, Goodwill, or Volunteers of America online for locations. Make sure to check the hours — Salvation Army, for example, is generally closed on Sunday — and be sure you’ve located a retail store as opposed to a mere drop-off spot. Keep in mind that, like the mall, Saturday afternoons can be crowded and should be avoided if you prefer quieter shopping escapades. Step 2: Pack an iPod and hand sanitizer While this step is optional, it will maximize your enjoyment of the thrifting experience. Perusing every rack on your list can take at least an hour, so why not plug in some headphones and have fun with it? The hand sanitizer may or may not be necessary, but it’s nice to have. Those hangers might have been around the block a few times. Step 3: Arrive and grab a cart You will want to find a cart because there will be many articles of clothing that you A) are not sure if you like and B) are not sure will fit. Try them on. If it works, then you have a new $2 blazer! And bragging rights. Step 4: Have a broad idea of what you need Beware this one common pitfall of thrift shopping, and perhaps the most devastating. If you walk in with a specific cardigan in mind — navy blue with gold buttons, maybe — you will not find such a cardigan. If you walk in thinking that you simply need a blue-ish cardigan to go with your khaki shorts, you will likely be more successful. Most shops organize their massive volumes of clothing by type (button-downs, sweaters, jeans, pants, etc.) and then, within each category, by color. Don’t narrow your vision! Think broadly, or in terms of occasions — a shirt for a specific night out, for example — and you’ll be happier in the end. Step 5: Begin the search For best results, look at everything. If you need a black skirt, look at every one on the rack, and some grey ones besides. You never know what amazing, designer-label frock is hidden like a diamond among the more rough-hewn. And if you find something almost perfect, keep in mind that you can always enlist the help of a tailor. Skirts can be shortened and jackets taken in, still for under the price of new ones. Happy hunting!
Nov
21
Art with no limitsSome of the most unique pieces in the world are made by artists that take everyday things, that most people throw away, and make unbelievable art. The artists mind is the only limitation to his work, and these few artists have no limits. Their art enables you to look at things in a much deeper and meaningful way. Ha Schult, a German artists, is world renowned for his work with garbage. He has made “trash people” that have been featured in famous places throughout the world. The “trash people” are life sized and are made from mostly recycled cans and old computer parts, but Shult incorporates anything and everything that he finds. These statues make a definite statement, however, the meaning of that statement is left to individual interpretation.
Dr. Evermor has created the world’s largest metal scrap sculpture as well as an entire park devoted to his creations. The park is located in Wisconsin and it incorporates metal from as far back as the 1880’s. Dr. Evermor’s work began nearly 30 years ago with just a simple exhibition. Evermor always liked collecting odd metals and other objects. As time went on he let his inner child free and decided to make something extraordinary out of his hobby.
Based in London, Tim Noble and Sue Webster have created multiple exhibitions that allow people to see garbage in a beautiful way. They accomplish this by playing with light and shadow. They create art pieces that look like nothing more tha a pile of trash, but all it takes it the right amount of light to be able to see a shadows of the most amazing forms.
There are many other artists such as the ones described above. They all work to bring awareness to the growing problem of pollution and the importance of recycling, reusing and re-purposing your old materials. Along with conveying an important message, the artists are revolutionizing modern day art.
Oct
8
Drink to Save the Planet
All the environmentally conscious people who like to enjoy a martini or a bottle of beer from time to time, now have a reason to celebrate! Eco-friendly alcoholic beverages are on the rise, everything from wine to vodka now has an organic version. What makes regular alcohol different from an eco friendly one? “Green” alcohol is a broad term. This could me anything from the way the ingredients that the alcohol is made from are grown to how sustainable the actual brewery or distillery is. To be labeled USDA Organic, Spirits must be made from organic materials which are grown in soil that uses no pesticides and processed in an distillery that follows organic standards. Organic standards go as far as restricting the cleaning products used inside the distillery. The two brands that made eco friendly spirits a household product are Square One Vodka and Eco 360 Vodka. These two companies go beyond just growing organic ingredients, but also incorporate the “green” initiative to the way they do business. Square One recognizes people in their community for their eco friendly efforts as well as reducing the amount of energy and gas consumption within their company. 360 Vodka has an environmental benefits statement that is posted on their website where consumers can see in what other ways the business is going “Green”. Another brand of Vodka that is worth mentioning is Tru Organic Vodka, which is promising to plant a tree for every bottle that is sold. Besides this clever marketing technique, the company makes their bottles with 25% less glass, and uses recycled corks and soy ink. But with Eco-friendly drinks come eco friendly bars! These types of bars are becoming more popular and can be seen across the country. The very first organic bar/restaurant, Gustorganics, was opened in New York City in 2008. The venue itself was built from recycled materials and uses solar lighting and energy powered by only wind. A bar in Portland Oregon, called Hopworks Urban Brewery, has an unbelievably long list of ways that their building, surrounding area, brewery and food/drinks are eco friendly. They went as far as having water retention systems on the territory. There is also a bar that is not only incorporating “green” technique in their business but is also reaching out to the local community. Uncommon Ground, located in Chicago hosts monthly mixers to bring people together and expose them to their rooftop garden and their free organic appetizers, while also getting them interested in supporting other causes. Along with mixers, Uncommon Ground has educational programs and the company partners with local business to bring more awareness to the “green” way of living. So next time you are going out for a drink, or maybe two, pick organic alcohol and help preserve our environment.
Aug
18
Verde Photo Shoot!It’s been a while since we had an update to some of the product photos and we thought it would be fun to get some more action shots of our bamboo rugs and throw pillows in the home. Some will make the cut and some won’t, but we thought we’d give you a little teaser of what’s soon to be added to the main site. Here we have a very artistic shot of our natural tone bamboo rug with a beautiful pink flower on top:
Next you’ll see the perfect place to set your pet’s food and drink bowls. Dinner and easy cleanup!
Maybe not the most convenient place for a guitar, but who cares, it looks cool!
Switching gears a little, we’ve got a lovely rosette throw pillow accenting a girly bed:
Perhaps on a leather couch?
And finally another artistic shot of a small collection of organic throw pillows displayed across the wood floor:
We hope you keep an eye out for updates on these and more images as the month progresses and other shots make the cut!
Companies and people are gathering in cities all over America to promote an eco friendly life style. Green festivals allow attendees to browse different green products and hear new and innovative ideas from various companies and guest speakers. Although this event is an educational one it does not take away from the festive atmosphere. People who attend these festivals do not only enjoy tips and hands on experience with eco friendly products but are also able to taste fresh, organically grown food from the numerous restaurants and listen to live music. The Green Festivals have something for everyone, from kids to adults from fashionable women to rugged men. The Green Festival first began ten years ago and has been growing and improving ever since. Today the number of attendees reaches one million! This event incorporates many aspects of sustainable living, environmental, social and economic problems and solutions. To see more about these festivals, check out the link below. Green Festival (San Francisco)
Apr
3
Taste The Difference
A few years ago it was fairly difficult to find organic food in supermarkets and even harder to find restaurants that served organic meals. Nowadays there are whole stores devoted to just green/organic produce and restaurants are offering more diverse food choices made from all natural products. But are organic labeled foods really organic? There is now emerging a new way to experience fresh grown, organic food and it’s called Biodynamic dining. Biodynamic dining is completely chemical free way to prepare all the food served at the restaurant. The vegetables and fruits are grown without using any harmful pesticides. The final product also does not contain any additives that are not found in nature. To add to this, some restaurants also have their own gardens where they grow most of the produce that they use. The meat comes from animals that are living on biodynamic farms. This whole process ensures that the people, eating at biodynamic restaurants, receive fresh, completely organic and high quality food. Biodynamic dining first starts with biodynamic farms where the chefs get most of their produce. The farmers begin this process even before the seeds are planted. To improve soil quality they use the manure from their animals as a natural fertilizer. Once the seeds are planted, each individual seed is cared for. There are two factors that separate organic farming from biodynamic farming. Biodynamic farms use horses to cultivate the land, instead of tractors, to ensure that no chemicals are absorbed by the soil and the food is harvested and grown according to the different lunar cycles. Many people say they can distinctly taste the difference between regularly grown food and food grown on biodynamic farms. This type of dedication to the land, and to every plant is what makes biodynamic farming such a unique and not widely practiced process. To experience this exceptionally grown food for yourself, try these restaurants. Bon Appétit! 1. Manresa in Los Gatos California 2. Aziza in San Francisco 3. Terre à Terre in Brighton, UK 4. D-Tox-Me in Adelaide, Australia
Mar
11
An Eco Sanctuary
Popularity of green living is growing fast. We keep seeing information on it on TV, the radio, even in our favorite stores but many people are not nearly as educated on this subject as they need to be. The Eden Project in Cornwall, United Kingdom is doing a big part to educate people about our environment. The Eden Project is an attraction that includes projects, programs, shows and events. It also has the world’s largest green house. Inside, the huge golf ball like enclosures, you are exposed to surreal and mystic beauty of various exotic biomes, unique figures made from soil and countless visual effects. It is almost like you are being transported to a different world and a different era. Aside from showing people the true beauty of our world, Eden Project also makes it its primary goal to teach young students about ways they can help the environment. They offer workshops to educate kids on the subjects of biodiversity, ecology, botany, etc. These workshops take place inside the Eden project and therefore provide an education that will be hard to forget. The Eden Project also gives back to their community by including homeless people and prisoners in their projects. Prisoners learn how to garden and grow their own food but they also acquire skills like marketing, construction, sales, etc. Homeless people have an opportunity to gain valuable and practical experience that they can apply in future jobs. Eden Projectis hard to describe to its full extent. It incorporates many factors that not only help our environment, educate people and give back to the community but train young kids so they continue and progress the eco-friendly movement. So if you are ever in the UK make sure to visit this unbelievable place! Check out these amazing homes made from reclaimed materials! Truly beautiful and unique. What to you think? One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure: From the New York Times
Dec
12
Green Christmas…Rent-A-TreeIf you celebrate Christmas, the Christmas tree is usually a big deal. Which is more eco-friendly–plastic or real trees? What to do with the real tree once the holiday is over? The Living Christmas company in California, near L.A., is renting out live, potted trees that customers can decorate and keep in their homes for the holidays, and then return to the company once their celebrations are over. The company then stores them and cares for the trees for the rest of the year, and the tree is again available for rent the next Christmas. They also deliver and pick up the tree for you!
This is all well and good, but what if you don’t live somewhere where this service is provided? You can always consider buying a Christmas tree and caring for it all year round, or making your own creation with trimmings and branches. |
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