Exquisite :: Conscious Style and Living

Where, Oh Where is Kristen?

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:17:08 -0800

In her edible garden.

Check out the photos over at my Flickr account.

San Francisco Green Festival

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:50:43 -0800

Well, it has been two years since I was last at the SF Green Festival and that was one hell of a weekend. So seeing as I am flying up from LA LA land for the fun and inspiration, drop me an email if you plan on attending. Hopefully I will see you there!

Can We Create A Sustainable Island Community?

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:41:47 -0800

As you may recall, and if not just scroll down the page a bit to April 12th 2006, a year ago I wrote about how life took over and writing fell by the wayside. Well, here we are a year later and another update.

Much has happened, last Earth Day I was approached by the Catalina Island Conservancy to work with them, and what was part time turned full time as we investigate how to create a more sustainable island community. While my time is no longer my own, it is thrilling to see how how positive change can be realized on a measurable scale.

Perhaps it is living on an island, providing a finite boundary, that gives me a strong sense of solitude and possibility. Of course, there are the challenges associated with living in a town of only 4,000 people... everyone knows your business, being squished into only two square miles people can get a little stir crazy and resources are limited. So far this year we have had a meager 2 inches of rain and are careening towards water rationing. The simple act of washing your car too frequently (if at all) can turn into a town grudge match. But I prefer to see the opportunities that our unique conditions provide us.

Both major land owners on the island (the Conservancy holding 88% and the Catalina Island Company holding ~11%) as well as the City of Avalon are interested in exploring the possibility of becoming a model sustainable community. Our annual tourism of over 1 million visitors would give sustainable living great exposure.

So what is the first step? Creating greater awareness of the issues at hand and engaging the community and stake-holders in a dialogue. While this is going on at several levels, this past winter I was having dinner with a few friends who live in the rural interior of the island and afterwards we sat down to watch An Inconvenient Truth in the comfort of their living-room. As the end credits were rolling we looked at each other and said "The town should see this." Considering Avalon only has a one screen, one movie a week theatre AIT never made it here during its normal release cycle. With the help of the Theatre canceling its regular show and donating the facilities for the evening, on February 13th we were able to bring An Inconvenient Truth to the community for free, and many of the over 400 attendees stayed afterwards for a lively discussion on how global warming could impact our little island. I remember the look on one audience member's face when the proverbial light-bulb went on and she said "So this means most of Avalon may end up underwater?" Talk about motivation.

So why write about this today almost two months later? Well, I woke up to an email this morning containing an article published half a world away, in England's newspaper The Independent, about our screening of AIT and the challenges we face. Sometimes, conversations held in the quiet of your home really do make ripples that spread further than you can anticipate.

You can find the article here.

Earth Day on the Island

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 22:58:04 -0800

Want to learn more about sustainable living? Come and join us tomorrow, Saturday April 22nd, for Earth Day celebrated on Catalina Island.

The Catalina Island Conservancy has organized a special Earth Day event coinciding with the grand opening of the new Nature Center at Avalon Canyon. Enjoy an afternoon full of activities, music, organic food and Biota's innovative water.

Can't make it to an Earth Day event but you still want to learn more? Get your daily dose with Heather and Jen's Ideal Bite green living tips and a weekly dose of the finest in conscious style and living with Exquisite's email updates.

Photo - In March of 2004, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the native Catalina Island Fox as “Endangered.” To learn more about how you can help save this unique species, found only on Catalina Island, please visit: The Catalina Island Conservancy.

Choice Organic Teas - Why Choose Organic Tea?

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 16:22:11 -0800

Did you know that the very first wash tea leaves receive is in your cup? Yep, that means conventionally farmed cups of tea are swimming with pesticides. Being a die hard tea lover myself, this year I made the switch to drinking only organic tea and I have to say, I am enjoying the excuse to try new brands and varieties.

One of my favorite discoveries is Choice Organic Tea, a tough one to beat not only in taste and variety, but also for responsible business practices. A pioneer in Fair Trade Tea, more than half of Choice Organic Teas' offerings are Fair Trade Certified supporting fair wages, respectable living and working conditions, and a worker-managed premium that supports community development. If you are thinking all of this compassion drives the price up, you may be surprised that Choice compares very well at $3.25 - $4.70 a box and is available online and nationwide at grocers like Wholefoods and Wild Oats.

Not sure which variety to try? Pick your old favorite or try something new, sipping tea can easily be compared to tasting fine wines, both have incredible variety and nuance. For a head start, here are a few words to add to your tea tasting vocabulary (Courtesy of Choice Organic Teas):

Astringent - A puckering, almost sour feeling in the mouth.
Brothy - A comforting, savory quality.

Busy - Too much going on. Specific flavors overpower or dominate the tea.

Citrusy - A fruity quality, like lemons or oranges. This is just how the tea tastes; no flavoring has been added.

Complex - Multiple flavors that come across at once. Like a well-crafted symphony, they are balanced and don't clash with one another.

Floral - Smells and tastes strikingly like flowers. Might include orchids, lilacs, or roses. This is just how the tea tastes; no flavoring has been added.

Malty - Combination of flavor and body similar to malt syrup or chocolate malt.

Toothy - We use it for teas that have a more assertive body or strength.

As spring is finally showing itself here in Southern California I will be sipping my iced oolong tea on the porch, looking out over the beach and smiling knowing I am helping to create positive change. Which of the varieties will you try?

Au Natural, Oh Le Creme Spa!

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 01:20:37 -0800

Whisk yourself away to Paris this weekend with a trip to San Francisco's delightfully charming Le Creme Spa.

Located in Pacific Heights, this serene yet trendy nail spa uses natural ingredients including fresh flowers, herbs and essential oils to promote natural beauty. One of their signature treatments "La Bonne Vie", available as both a manicure or pedicure, starts with a soothing milk soak of rose petals and lavender essential oil, follows with an exfoliating lavender salt scrub and culminates in a relaxing massage.

So put your feet up, settle into one of the cozy overstuffed treatment chairs and enjoy a wonderful departure from the acrylic and artificially scented masses. Prices range from $10 - $60

How Common is Conscious Style?

Thu, 16 Feb 2006 18:49:47 -0800

Well, things have been pretty quite here on the blog for the last few weeks as I am deep in the trenches working on several new designs to be released this spring. I would bet that a lot of the designers reading this blog can relate to the process of hyper-focusing on a design only to realize that sometimes you just have to get away from the desk and smell the roses. So, when I find myself in need of a break AND visual inspiration I can usually be found soaking in the displays while sipping a cup of organic earl grey tea at our local cafe and boutique C.C. Gallagher, or as the locals call it "C.C.'s."

Known for their impeccable sense of style I am always guaranteed a unique find and yesterday was no exception as I literally stumbled over a drop dead gorgeous tote by the Australian designer Helen Kaminski. Neither C.C.'s or Helen Kaminski are purely focused on conscious materials and living, yet as I examined the bag I was pleased to discover it was beautifully styled and made from raffia (a fast growing and sustainable material) and finished with natural dyes and leather accents.

My near spill across the lovely totes and floor got me thinking about all the interesting places I have been seeing examples of conscious style lately. I found Komodo in an upscale Long Beach boutique a few weeks ago and bamboo in its many forms is the latest love child of both the sustainably minded and mainstream alike. Even Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond are carrying bamboo bath towels and accessories.

Am I complaining? No, just the opposite, I am thrilled. As conscious style becomes more "design led" the barriers to mainstream adoption break down. All of a sudden the product is judged on its own merit rather than being a marginalized political or social statement.

So what unexpected places have you seen conscious style and products lately? Your local market, a boutique, the mall, or even your Aunt's house... let's hear about it!

7 Days, But Who's Counting?

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 01:14:06 -0800

Even though I eschew Valentine's Day I must admit my favorite present last year was a rather lovely potted orchid. The person doing the giving knew of my passion for orchids and gave thoughtfully although one of my other passions, namely chocolate, was woefully omitted.

So, this year I will officially go on record as advocating organic flowers and organic chocolate. Either can make a thoughtful and sustainable gift, but trust me... don't forget the truffles. And while chocolate certainly shouldn't outlast the suitor, the orchid is still going strong.

Exquisite in Your Inbox

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 21:20:01 -0800

Ladies and gentleman, you may have noticed the latest addition to the site... Exquisite, in your inbox.

So what does this mean for you? Well, now you have three ways to keep up on the latest in conscious style:

1.) Visit the site

2.) Read the feed (RSS/XML)

3.) Just enter your email address and each time I add a new post it will be delivered right to your inbox. Your information will never be shared or sold and the best part is you get to sit back, relax and enjoy!

(RSS readers click here)

One, Two, Three for the Birds

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 13:26:01 -0800

I am absolutely smitten with Modern Birdhouse's designs. Honoring the architectural pioneers and participants in the post-WWII Case Study Houses program the three styles available, named after J.R. Davidson, Richard Neutra, and Ralph Rapson, convey a modern aesthetic and quality craftsmanship. Each is hand-made from sustainably harvested teak certified by Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood, uses sandblasted aluminum for the roofs and stainless steel fasteners.

So, instead of shooing away the cute yet annoying little birdies who have been nesting in the eves and waking me up at the crack of dawn every morning (and for those of you who know me you know I am not a morning person!) I will save up my pennies and give them their very own house well away from the window over my bed. Stylish and sustainable houses = happy birds and happy people.

Off to nap...

via the Sustainable Style Foundation

Conscious Fashion Show in San Diego

Sat, 21 Jan 2006 06:51:30 -0800

If you happen to be in SoCal today head on over to the Festival of Life at Quail Botanical Gardens in San Diego and pull up a chair for the Eco Fashion Show. Showcasing designs from Edun, Loomstate, Deborah Lindquist, as well as other notables it should be an inspiring event.

Unfortunately, I am going to miss it as I already have plans to head up to Santa Monica and go conscious fashion shopping with not only Avery Kramer, the indomitable producer of Making it Green (an upcoming TV show, yes folks you know a teaser when you see one), but also the sassy Siel of Green LA Girl. So if you do make it to the show snap some pics and let me know how it was!

Photos courtesy of Linda Loudermilk's Couture and Spring 2006 collections.

Welcome to the New Year

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 00:56:08 -0800

Welcome to 2006 and the new additions to KristenAndersen.com! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to the coming year as much as I am.

While putting together the new section Kristen Recommends I was once again reminded how inspiring this past year's conscious design and style has been. With passionate young designers pushing the limits of new materials and products becoming more accessible by the day, 2006 holds much promise. Better yet, I am thrilled to see consciously designed products and environments move into the mainstream.

Stay informed and inspired by reading my blog Exquisite: Conscious Style for Everyday Living and yes, my long term readers will notice the blog's new name! I feel it is important to shake things up a bit and move away from using the word sustainable as it just doesn't communicate the aesthetically driven, innovative designers and products I have been showcasing. "Exquisite" is shaping up to be a wonderful meeting place and resource for anyone looking to stay informed or just learn more about conscious style and living.

On the subject of resources, take a peek at my new Kristen Recommends section for some of the best examples of conscious designers and companies. Stay tuned as they will be regularly updated or better yet, let me know what you think!

1 Day : Happy Holidays

Sat, 24 Dec 2005 22:03:34 -0800

It is time to slow down, take a deep breath and remember what your family and friends mean to you. Yes, this is a season rife with consumerism and while that often bothers me I remind myself that conscious choice, in the things we buy and the way we live our lives, can make a measurable difference.

Happy holidays to all, I will see you again in the New Year with a fresh upgrade to the site. Stay tuned and have a wonderful week.

-Kristen

2 Days : Give the Gift of Choice

Sat, 24 Dec 2005 21:00:07 -0800

This post comes to you a bit late as I have been busy with my own Christmas preparations. Remind me next year to do a gift guide that ends around the 20th!

So if you are still stumped as to what to get that special someone I have one last suggestion for you. Consider giving the gift of choice in the form of an emailed gift certificate. Perfect as a last minute gift option you are giving someone the ability to choose their own sustainable style.

Gaiam, in conjunction with Real Goods, offers an absolutely massive selection of sustainable lifestyle products. But if you know someone who needs new threads take a peek at GreenLoop. They carry a wide variety of styles from well known sustainable clothing designers like Ciel and Loomstate. Home or body, sustainable style is getting more exciting and accessible by the day.

3 Days : Send Organic Flowers

Thu, 22 Dec 2005 23:58:00 -0800

For most companies today was the cut off day for last minute shipping, but don't worry I still have a few stylish and sustainable gift suggestions for you.

Have you ever thought of sending flowers during the winter holidays? It is a wonderful way of letting someone know they are in your thoughts and brightening an otherwise cold or grey winter day. Organic Bouquet offers a huge selection of certified organic flowers as well as organic chocolates and gifts. You can still place an order and select either Friday or Saturday delivery options. Prices range from $19.95 - $145.95