Tools and Materials:
• Heart garland template
• Card stock or construction paper
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Glue stick

Directions:
1. Create a heart-shaped template, or print out the heart garland template, and place it on a stack of 4 sheets of card stock. Staple the center of the hearts and cut out the shapes.
2. Make a 1-inch vertical cut at the pointed end of a heart; cut heart to about 1 inch wide all the way around the inside. Make two 1/2-inch horizontal cuts from the center of the point of the heart. Repeat with other hearts.
3. Link two hearts through the cuts at the points; glue and trim the cut ends to create a point. Continue the process until all the hearts linked.

When making this eco-friendly craft for kids you could have children cut out hearts inspired by the pattern for a more homemade look. For a classroom it would be cute if every child made one heart for the garland and decorated it, this would add color and personality to this sustainable craft.  If you have a certain area where you want to place the garland, like on a long wall or in a doorway, measure the space first so you have an idea of how long the garland needs to be.

This is the perfect eco-friendly craft for kids to make well before Valentine’s Day when the weather is inclement. Another reason this heart garland craft is eco-friendly, aside from the fact that you are repurposing items in your home, is that you can store it and reuse it the next year. If you fold the garland carefully and place it in a bag you can then stow it away with your other holiday decorations. Remember that children should never be left unsupervised when crafting. For younger children you may want to pre-cut the hearts and just have them decorate them, as scissors may not be safe for them to use. This is a fun, and sustainable way to decorate for Valentine’s Day. Have fun and happy crafting.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

Image Credit: realclearsports.com

The Super Bowl XLVI: A Super Renewable Opportunity. Did you know that the NFL purchases renewable energy credits in Super Bowl host cities to offset energy consumption? That’s right, they offset the massive energy use and support renewable energy.  In fact, the NFL has been going green for a while now but they neglect to brag about their green initiatives when they should be loud and proud.  The NFL’s top two teams are league leaders in renewable energy and energy efficiency. ”The Patriots and Giants are leading the way to victory on the gridiron and off the grid. In late 2011, both teams joined the ranks of the Eagles, Redskins, and Cardinals, among others, in pursuing clean ways to power their stadiums.  The Giants share their home field, MetLife Stadium (host of the future 2014 Super Bowl), with the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The stadium’s location was built with access to public transportation in mind and the stadium itself was constructed with an eye toward preserving the surrounding meadowlands. Even the seats are made from recycled materials!”  And the New England Patriots “launched their own renewable energy campaign, promising to install one megawatt of solar power between Gillette Stadium and the surrounding entertainment center, Patriot Place. The installation, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 800 metric tons, will make the Patriots the league leader in renewable energy offsets.”  I’d say that’s a green touchdown. 

Leonardo DiCaprio Launches Charity Coffee Brand.  That’s right, DiCaprio has aligned with coffee roaster La Colombe Torrefaction for a high-end sustainable coffee line called Lyon.  100% of the net profits from Lyon will benefit environmental charities through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. “Raising awareness on the most pressing environmental issues of our time is more important than ever,” said Leonardo DiCaprio. “I am thrilled to be a part of this new project with La Colombe that will help aid the shift to a truly sustainable future for the planet and its inhabitants.” LYON will be sold in Williams Sonoma, select Whole Foods locations and La Colombe cafes.

Wind power blowing up in California. The LA Times reported that according to the California Wind Energy Association “wind energy now supplies about 5% of California’s total electricity needs, or enough to power more than 400,000 households.”  A lot of that was installed in the Tehachapi area of Kern County, with additional large projects in Solano, Contra Costa and Riverside counties as well.  “The total amount of wind energy installations in 2011 created a banner year for wind generation in California and is helping to drive California closer to reaching its goal of 33% renewable energy,” said Nancy Rader, executive director of the California Wind Energy Association.

And that’s it for this edition; stay tuned for more green news.

February 2, 2012
_____________________________________________________________________________
Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

eco-friendly shoes from the Marcia Patmos for Manolo Blahnik collection (Image Credit: Courtesy Photo)

The collection will be available for sale this spring. What makes the line eco-friendly is that is will be made entirely from discarded tilapia skins, raffia and cork.

This collection is Blahnik’s first foray into environmentally friendly luxury apparel. He and Patmos have created two styles for their mini collection one is a “double strap, open-toe flat and [the other is a] strappy, high-heeled sandal in color combinations of electric blue, black, nude and yellow.” Both styles will be available at Blahnik’s retail stores for $895.

Patmos said to Women’s Wear Daily “I am always researching sustainable materials and developments. I love the idea of tilapia skin because it is a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise be discarded, but it’s actually a beautiful material perfect for small leather goods.”

Creating an eco-friendly and sustainable product line, even if it is only a capsule collection, demonstrates the direction that luxury brands are heading in. Consumers are becoming more concerned with sustainability and are using the power of their pocketbooks to get the products they desire. That is why this line is so important, it is indicative of the larger trends happening in retail today.

Blahnik’s shoes are most definitely a luxury item; however, you can feel better about the shoe splurge if the product is made from sustainable materials. Recently, Blahnik’s line has been eclipsed by the famous red soled Christian Louboutin shoes, perhaps this forward thinking line will be what puts him back on top. So, now you can be an eco-chic fashionista come spring 2012.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

Image Credit: wwe.com

The partnership between Post Fruity Pebbles and Cena is the result of a comment made by actor and former wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. At Wrestle Mania XXVIII The Rock said that Cena’s outfit resembled a bowl of the colorful cereal. The outcome of Cena embracing the nickname is a collectable cereal box featuring the wrestler. Each Cena cereal box contains an instant-win promotion. The grand prize is a VIP meet-and-greet session with the popular wrestler. The boxes will be available from January through March in the United States.

The campaign will hopefully bring awareness to two issues that are close to Cena, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and anti-bullying foundation be a STAR (watch the PSA below). The Make-A-Wish Foundation helps grant the wishes of children who are suffering from life-threatening illness. Cena has worked the Make-A-Wish Foundation for years as he has donated his time and helped make wishes come true for children in need.

The anti-bullying component of their CSR initiative is to help support the ‘be a STAR alliance’. “Be a STAR is an anti-bullying alliance co-founded by The Creative Coalition and WWE.” Organizations that have partnered with be a STAR include: GLAAD and Champions Against Bullying. Be A STAR asks children to take an online pledge to help prevent bullying, stop buying that is going on, and help support those who are bullied. By having children take the pledge they may be more committed to helping others and stopping this epidemic.

About the campaign Cena said, “I am proud that the partnership also spreads awareness about the life-changing wishes granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and ‘be a STAR’s’ anti-bullying message of showing tolerance and respect.”

As mentioned above part of the grand prize of the instant-win contest is a meet-and-greet with Cena; however, there is more to the prize. The grand prize winner will also receive transportation to and from a WWE live event, and a “Rise Above Hate” T-shirt signed by Cena in support of the ‘be a STAR’ anti-bullying message. The first prizewinner will be given an autographed “be a STAR” t-shirt.  The second prizewinner will be awarded one of the exclusive “be a STAR” t-shirts. “To enter, look inside the specially marked boxes featuring Cena for a special code to submit on PebblesPlay.com/Cena.”

This is an excellent CSR initiative for both Cena and Post Fruity Pebbles. Post Fruity Pebbles’ key demographic is parents, as the cereal appeals mainly to children. The prizes being offered and having Cena on the box will draw in both new and repeat customers. Parents will approve of the cereal because it supports an important cause. Consumers are becoming savvier and using the power of their pocket books to help support causes they believe in and to effect change in the world. As conscious consumerism grows in popularity, CSR initiatives like this one will become more important to help stand apart from the competition. In the end two worthy causes are getting the notoriety they deserve and Post Fruity Pebbles is able to draw in new consumers.

Watch the ‘Be a Star’ PSA:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Baked Jalapeno Poppers (Image Credit: foodnetwork.com)

Appetizer: Emeril Lagasse’s Baked Jalapeno Poppers

Ingredients
• 12 fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise, stems, seeds and membranes removed
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, or less, to taste
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 8 teaspoons Essence, recipe follows
• 1 cup panko crumbs, or fine dry breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside.
In a bowl, cream together the cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, cumin, and cayenne.
In a small bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, and 2 teaspoons of the Essence. In a shallow dish, combine the panko crumbs and remaining 4 teaspoons of Essence. In a third dish, combine the flour and remaining 2 teaspoons of Essence. Spread 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture into the middle of each jalapeno half. One at a time, dredge in the flour, dip into the egg mixture, then dredge in the panko crumbs, pressing to coat. If necessary, repeat the process. Place the coated peppers, cut side up, on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the filling is runny and the crust is golden, about 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and serve immediately with cold beer.

Yield: 24 pieces

*Essence (Emeril’s Creole Seasoning):
• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

Yield: about 2/3 cup

Appetizer: Guy Fieri’s French Onion Dip

Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 Vidalia onions, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rings
• 2 large shallots, sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rings
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups sour cream
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• Chives, finely chopped, for garnish
• Potato chips, for serving

Directions
In a large saute pan, heat the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown and caramelized. Add the shallots and saute for 8 to 10 more minutes, until the onions and shallots are dark brown. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes, then chop the onion mixture into 1/4-inch pieces. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

In a bowl, mix the sour cream, mayonnaise, celery salt, Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Fold in the onion mixture. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight. Garnish with chives and serve with potato chips.

Yield: 3 ½ cups

Main: Nadia G Bitchin’ Kitchen Potato Pizza

Ingredients:

Dough
• 10 ounces warm water
• 1 teaspoon yeast
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon raw sugar
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon leaf lard
Toppings
• 2 unit russet potatoes
• 1 unit Vidalia onion
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• unit Sea salt
• unit Freshly cracked pepper

Directions:

Dough
In a medium bowl, mix yeast with warm water and let sit for 5 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, sugar, salt, and whisk. Set aside. In a large bowl mix all-purpose and whole-wheat flour. Make a hole in the middle and pour in yeast mixture. Slowly hand-mix flour until all liquid is absorbed. If too wet, add more flour, 1/4 cup at a time. Sprinkle clean work station with flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Coat large ceramic bowl with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Place dough in ceramic bowl, and flip over to coat in oil. Cover top of dough with plastic wrap and cover bowl with dishtowel. Let rise for two hours, until dough has doubled in size. Punch down dough and let rise for another hour.

Toppings
Using mandolin, slice russets and onions. Roughly chop rosemary.

Preheat oven to 475F. Grease pizza pan with leaf lard. Mold dough into shape of pan. Brush on olive oil. Place pizza on bottom rack for 5 minutes, to pre-crisp crust. Add 2 layers of potatoes in scallop style. Add onions, salt, pepper and olive oil. Sprinkle with fresh rosemary and drizzle with olive oil. Place on middle rack and cook for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven. Immediately remove from pan and cut into rectangles.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Dessert: Ina Garten’s Outrageous Brownies

Ingredients
• 1 pound unsalted butter
• 1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 6 extra-large eggs
• 3 tablespoons instant coffee granules
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 12 x 18 x 1-inch baking sheet. Melt together the butter, 1 pound of chocolate chips, and the unsweetened chocolate in a medium bowl over simmering water. Allow to cool slightly. In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee granules, vanilla, and sugar. Stir the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature.

In a medium bowl, sift together 1 cup of flour, the baking powder, and salt. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and 12 ounces of chocolate chips in a medium bowl with 1/4 cup of flour, then add them to the chocolate batter. Pour into the baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes, then rap the baking sheet against the oven shelf to force the air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Bake for about 15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake! Allow to cool thoroughly, refrigerate, and cut into 20 large squares.
Yield: 20 large brownies

With the pizza, if you are not comfortable making your own dough, although it is easy, you can simply purchase one at a local bakery. If you have other desserts or want to stretch the brownies without making a second batch, simply cut smaller pieces. Complete this football fans dream meal with a large green tossed salad and maybe some crudités. No matter if you are a Giants or Patriots fan this meal is sure to be a winner. Enjoy!

To learn more about going meatless one day a week, please visit the Meatless Monday website.  Check back every Monday for Planet Forward’s featured Meatless Monday recipe.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

This eco-friendly children’s for Toddler Skeeball craft comes by way of allcrafts.net. Now Let’s get crafting.

Toddler Skeeball eco-friendly craft for kids (Image Credit: allcrafts.net)

Supplies Needed:

• 1 big box (diaper boxes work great)
• 3 (24oz) cottage cheese containers or any other similar containers you have
• utility knife
• small balls/plastic eggs
• printer to print the numbers/letters

Directions:

1. Place the 3 containers on the top of a box and draw a circle around the base.
2. Then use a utility knife and cut the holes that you just marked, but cut them just a little bigger so that you can push the containers in about halfway.
3. Print out the numbers/letters, cut them out and tape to the inside of the containers and put them in the holes you cut in the box.
4. Lean the box up against a wall at a slight angle so that if a ball is in a cup it will stay in and not roll out.
5. Now is the fun part for your toddler. Let him/her place or throw some small balls or plastic eggs into the cups.

This eco-friendly skeeball craft is a fun family activity because everyone can play and you can keep score to see who got the most points after 10 throws. The numbers you placed in the cups will help young kids learn their numbers because you can ask them which number cup their ball went into. If you want older children to be a part of this craft, have them decorate the box after you cut out the holes for the cups and before you place them inside. They can cover the box in images they cut out for magazines, or pieces of construction paper. If you cover the box in a plain paper you can let them draw or paint on the box.

Remember, that only adults should use the utility knife and that children should always be supervised when crafting.  You can use soft balls, or even small beanbags to throw in the cups, anything you have on hand that will fit in the cups works well. This is an entertaining eco-friendly craft for kids that is useful at playtime and a great way to spend an afternoon. Plus it allows you to turn things that would otherwise be recycled into a great green craft and enjoyable family game. Have fun.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

Throw Rug weaved from Plastic Bags (Image credit: huffingtonpost.com alamy)

This one is crafty.  Reuse Plastic Bags: 12 DIY Upcycle Tips.  Plastic bags often clog our landfills so we thought it was appropriate to explore ways to reduce waste. This list of 12 Do-It-Yourself Upcycle tips from the Huffington Post allows you to reuse plastic bags and turn them into fun crafts, toys, art or use them for food storage and baking.  Beyond the obvious ways to reuse your plastic bags like lining your waste baskets, you can do fun projects to transform and upcycle your plastic bags into something unique.  The list includes making a soccer ball from plastic bags, weaving a throw rug, designing a tote bag and more .  Planet Forward would also like to add a 13th to this upcycling list with our popular craft for recycling plastic bags to make jewellery beads.

Ex-BP worker files whistleblower suit over cleanup.  A whistleblower lawsuit has been filed against BP by a former employee who claimed “he was fired for airing concerns about the cleanup of Mississippi’s shoreline after the Gulf oil spill.”  The suit was filed last Friday in New Orleans by August Walter, who claims that “one of his BP bosses manipulated data on shoreline cleanup and didn’t give the Coast Guard “the true status” of what substances needed to be cleaned.”  Walter helped develop the cleanup plans after the 2010 BP oil spill (Deepwater Horizon) and he contends that he was fired in retribution for complaints that BP wasn’t adhering to environmental regulations and was “picking and choosing what oil to pick up.”

Alternative fuels smartphone apps are available for Android providing a GPS guide to the closest alternative energy refuelling stations for any travel route.

“The Alternative Fuels apps include:
• the ‘Alternative Energy Fuelling Directory’ which provides essential information for identifying and locating fuelling/charging stations
• ‘Where to get Biodiesel’, for those users driving vehicles that burn diesel fuels that want to go green
• ‘Where to get NGV’, for those users driving vehicles running on CNG, LNG, or LPG
• ‘My Plug-In Directory’, for users driving vehicles that only re-fuel from electric charging stations

Fuels the apps can help you locate:
• ethanol and methanol
• compressed natural gas (CNG)
• electric fuelling stations
• hydrogen
• liquefied natural gas (LNG)
• biodiesel

The apps will allow users to find the most convenient fuelling stations/charging points, search for alternative fuel stations by zip code, get driving directions, website addresses, facility hours and facility phone numbers.”  With these apps it’s easy to drive and service your green car.

And that’s it for this edition; stay tuned for more green news.

January 26, 2012
_____________________________________________________________________________
Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

Charlie Sheen poses with police officers and National Guard soldiers in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (May 2011 Photo/Alan Blinder)

Things seemed to have shifted for Sheen and he appears to be back on track. Not only has he managed to keep his name off the gossip blogs, but has begun this year a little differently by donating $25,000 to aid with tornado relief in Alabama.

Sheen had visited the area after the April 27 twisters, which took nearly 300 lives, and he promised to help. His grand fundraising suggestions included a relief show and arranging a celebrity baseball game, with the goal being to raise $25,000. Unfortunately, these plans never came to fruition, and many believed he had forgotten about his promise. This was just more fuel to the tabloid fodder that was Sheen’s life in 2011.

However, Sheen turned out to be a man of his word and made the donation as promised. He made this contribution to the Alabama tornado relief fund without fanfare through the aid website he set up. In the end he personally gave $15,000 and the other $10,000 came by way of donations to the site. “He said he wanted to raise $25,000, and he made good on that,” said Bob Maron, one of Sheen‘s managers.

This is a good example of social responsibility and how people can grow and change. Sheen has begun to calm down and act more like a responsible adult rather than the frenzied playboy persona he lived up to last year. One of the best parts about Sheen’s donation was the way that this brought media attention back to the tornado victims. This donation, though it was done discreetly, made headlines. Sheen’s contribution to the victims will hopefully spur other notable figures and everyday people to help. With disaster relief, aid comes directly after an event, but given the twenty-four hour news cycle, stories are often pushed to the backburner and forgotten about. So kudos to Sheen for not only making good on his promise, but for bringing the spotlight back to this needy cause.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

(Image Credit: bridgidcoulterdesign.com)

Coulter is a house flipper and also runs a boutique design studio, which is adjacent to her retail storefront. In her Santa Monica store, Bridgid Coulter Design, she features her signature line of textiles, pillows, eco candles and custom furniture; as well as other home accessories.  Her longtime beau, Don Cheadle, is an UNEP Ambassador for the Environment, so being eco-friendly is something close to the couple’s heart.

The bungalow, originally built in 1953, was brought down to stud, and the debris was handled in a responsible and earth friendly manner. The eco design elements are evident in the great room (a combined living and dining room space) where all the light fixtures are made from recycled glass. The lights are also on dimmers, which not only allows you to add atmosphere to the room, but also helps control the heat in the room as well. The room also boasts an eco-designed fireplace, which runs on ethanol fuel. Ethanol is a clean burning fuel and the fireplace does not need ventilation to run. The fireplace is portable, so you could conceivably decide to move it into one of the bedroom easily.

The kitchen is outfitted with stainless steel Energy Star appliances. All the countertops are made of recycled glass, and the cabinets were made from FSC certified wood using green glue. Another feature of the house is that there is a water filtration system in the kitchen which eliminates the need for bottled water, a simple glass or reusable bottle can be filled from the tap.

The home office is filled with antique items. When you don’t buy brand new, you are reducing waste and decreasing the carbon cost of the items in your home. The new window shades were made locally in Los Angeles of all natural fiber. Coulter suggests buying local as it cuts down on shipping which further reduces the carbon footprint of the home.

The bedrooms are filled with repurposed furniture including an upcycled end table made of out old rubber tires. It’s unique pieces like this that add visual interest to a room while embracing green living ideals.  The bathrooms tiles and sinks are made from recycled materials. The toilet has a fun eco feature because it’s dual flush, which means you choose from option one or two to use less water as the situation requires. Outside they planted greenery native to dessert temperatures, which means less watering. In LA, you would have to water frequently to keep greenery alive given the heat, so this is also a cost saving measure. Another great feature that the outside of the house boasts is the raised garden platforms, which were made out of the pallets that the siding was delivered in.

This million-dollar home is a shining example of a green home where a family can create many treasured memories. Kudos to Bridgid Coulter for green living designs at their best.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !

Welcome back to the Planet Forward blog for another delicious Meatless Monday recipe. As a part of our commitment to leading a more sustainable lifestyle, we have pledged to be part of the Meatless Monday movement. By abstaining from eating meat once a week you can enjoy both ecological and health benefits. Today, we will be celebrating the Chinese New Year. For those that don’t know, 4709 is the year of the dragon and in honor of that we’re making a popular take-out dish. On the menu tonight is spinach and mushroom lo mein from the Martha Stewart kitchens at Everyday Food. Let’s get cooking.

Spinach and Mushroom Lo Mein (Image Credit: marthastewart.com)

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces lo mein noodles
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup cremini or button mushrooms, trimmed, halved if large
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3 cups tightly packed spinach leaves (4 ounces), torn
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Directions:

1. In a medium pot of boiling water, cook noodles according to package instructions.
2. Drain noodles and place in a bowl of cold water.
3. In a medium nonstick skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 4 minutes. Add scallion, ginger, and garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Drain noodles and add to skillet along with spinach. Toss until spinach wilts and noodles are warmed through. Add soy sauce and sesame oil and toss to combine.

This recipe for spinach and mushroom lo mein yields one serving, but can be adjusted easily to feed a crowd. This dish will reheat well, just like its take-out counterpart does. If you are looking for a gluten-free version of this recipe, use rice noodles and swap tamari for soy sauce.

When celebrating Chinese New Year there are certain foods that bring luck in the coming year. Eating long noodles means you will have a long life. If you have oranges for dessert they symbolize wealth and luck in the coming year. Serving sweets will be sweetness into your life for the next year. These simple traditions help connect you to Chinese customs and make for a more authentic New Year celebration. To add to this festive offering, serve with vegetarian spring rolls and maybe even purchase some fortune cookies for dessert. The best part about this meal is that you know and control every ingredient. Gung Hay Fat Choy!

To learn more about improving your sustainable lifestyle, please visit the Meatless Monday website and pledge your support.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW   !