My Eco Style

Hemp- The Miracle Material

girlamy — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:56:41 +0000

I believe there is a lot of misinformation and prejudice against one of our planets most abundant and safest material- hemp. As green is officially becoming the new black, more and more consumers are looking into sustainable, natural fibers to have in their homes and closets. And it is a widely accepted truth that products made from hemp fibers are among the greenest of the bunch.
Hemp products are typically well made, sustainable and are usually sold using fair trade practices. Products made from hemp offer an ideal alternative to fabrics produced using harmful chemicals and practices. Hemp also produces more fiber per acre than trees, and can be renewed two to three times per year!
Hemp is the most durable of natural fibers and one of the safest natural resources to maintain. Growing and harvesting hemp does not require any environmentally damaging chemicals or pesticides. Hemp is one of the easiest crops to grow and does not deplete the natural resources in the soil. It needs very little water and grows is most regions.
Bearing this in mind, I was happy to find a line of chic hemp bags that were imported using fair trade practices and utilize this miracle fiber. Topanien Global Gifts sells a line of hemp bags that are earth friendly, durable and fashionable. The bags range from spacious to over the shoulder bags and sling bags to small travel bags. My favorite bags from this line sport a youthful & chic bohemian “Ohm” or “Peace” symbol.
As a bonus, the bags are imported from Guatemala using fair trade practices that allow the artists to make a fair living wage while enjoying humane work conditions. I am thrilled to see more and more retailers making a conscious effort to provide better choices to consumers.

Just a Few More Days to Vote in World Challenge 08

girlamy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:37:43 +0000

World Challenge 08 is a one of a kind competition presented by BBC and Newsweek in association with Shell. The competition is aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level. Voters choose the business they feel is making the biggest difference and shows the most innovation and the winner will receive a grant of USD $20 000 to put back into their project/business, and two runners up will each receive USD $10 000. Voters have until November 22 to cast their vote.

My friends at The Leakey Collection (pictured above) are among those being honored with this nomination. If they are selected, they will use the prize money to build a hydroelectric dam to reduce the use of fuel in the remote areas of Kenya and allowing the Maasai to thrive for generations to come. Visit their page to vote and see their story piece produced by BBC.

Organic Fashion at Mudshark Streetwear

girlamy — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:59:02 +0000

Obviously (by the title of this blog) I am fascinated by the movement from top fashion designers to create gorgeous garments and accessories using sustainable and environmentally sound materials. I am thrilled this is not just a trend- but a permanent fixture in the fashion community. Every so often I discover little gems that I like to share (and sometimes wear if I am lucky). I was excited to come across Mudshark Streetwear, an online retailer featuring the best & up and coming Canadian designers with a wonderful selection of Independent and Eco Fashion at a reasonable price.

I absolutely love the look of this Elroy Apparel Sequoia Dress (pictured above). The dress is fully lined and made from fabric that is a mixture of soy, organic cotton and a touch of spandex jersey knit for that comfy T Shirt feel. The design is an open round neck dress with large front pockets set in seams, rouched center front, and back waists and hems for a bubbled look. It is fully lined.

Check out this sleek & hot backless Elroy Apparel Idesia Dress. It ties at back waist for a perfect fit. And the best part: the fabric is 100 percent bamboo jersey knit. I love the simple elegance of this peice and the tie back would make this a flattering fit on just about anybody.

How to Brown Bag It Without the Brown Bag….Lunchsense

girlamy — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:41:05 +0000

So tough economic times means more of us should be brown bagging it to work and school, right? I am all for this movement, but want to ‘brown bag it’ without having to actually carry a brown or (worse yet-a plastic) bag. A friend of mine recently turned me on to these lunch boxes she discovered for online that are designed to be the solution to the endless, tedious task of packing lunches for yourself or your children.

I believe this item is a must have because of its incredible quality and durability. One lunchbox lasts for YEARS- not a school year, but many school years. No more wasting money and resources by contanstly buying plastic baggies, paper bags, and cheap vinyl lunchboxes that fall apart in a matter of months (and let’s face it- will get that gross lunchbox “funk”).

The special Lock & Lock containers that comes with each Lunchsense lunchbox are awesome. They do not leak, they open and close easily, they go from freezer to fridge to microwave with ease. I love packing a lunch without having to frantically search for container lids!

The Lunchsense lunchboxes are simple, durable, easy to clean and multi-functional. Each box folds out and becomes a convienent and sanitatary placemat. They are popular with moms because they are lead-free, vinyl-free, and have dishwasher safe, BPA-free containers that fit perfectly into the box. They also include a rigid, leakproof ice pack (how cool is that?).

Leakey Collection Living Green CNN

girlamy — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:41:09 +0000

Sarah Snow discusses fair trade and eco friendly accessories in this CNN segment! More info at http://www.leakeylife.com

Think Pink- Fighting for the Cure

girlamy — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:25:50 +0000

Most of you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In some way, all of us have been touched by this disease. Perhaps you or a loved one has battled this cancer; perhaps you have been personally moved by the millions of stories of hope and survival. I am inspired by the number of women around the world who have pledged to fight this disease.

I have been a fan of The Leakey Collection for some time because they truly believe in the power of ‘women helping women’. Their jewelry pieces have brought awareness to both local and international causes for years. To honor the fight against breast cancer, they have created a special line of Zulugrass necklaces, earrings and bracelets namedKuponya. Kuponya means ‘to heal’ in Kiswahii. The multi strand pieces are popular because they can adjust from a long necklace to a choker with a pull on the satin cord. The pieces are lightweight, comfortable and are a dazzling shade of pink. These versatile pieces are handmade by the Maasai women in Kenya from hand cut grass beads dyed with low-impact, colorfast dyes. 5% of the sales from the Kuponya pieces go back to breast cancer research an additional 5% goes back to the Women’s Health Initiative in Kenya. Not only does it help the local community of Kenya, but it helps women across the globe!

This Fall, if you are looking for a way to honor yourself or your loved one who has been touched by breast cancer, consider a Kuponya piece from Zulugrass as a gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. This is truly is ‘women helping women’ at its best.

Tuna Alternative for Health Conscious People

girlamy — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:50:41 +0000

I am a self admitted tuna addict- but during my pregnancy last year, I became a little alarmed about the news I was hearing about mercury levels in my tuna and how it could affect my baby. I had always thought I doing something good for my body- but my doctor cautioned me about eating too much tuna and advised me to keep it to a maximum 1-2 servings per week and to avoid Albacore Tuna (I was probably eating 4-5 servings a week).

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services & the US Environmental Protection Agency, “some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child’s developing nervous system. The risks from mercury in fish and shellfish depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are advising women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.”

Ok, so what is an expecting or nursing mom who wants their tuna salad to do? While in Oregon last week, I sampled Oregon’s Choice Albacore Tuna. I had heard their fishing methods target younger fish from abundant stock that contain significant lower levels of mercury. I will say their albacore tuna is the freshest and best tasting canned tuna I have found anywhere. But putting that aside, they are family owned and utilize sustainable fishing methods. Their hook and line Albacore fishery is now certified as eco-friendly by the Marine Stewardship Council (www.msc.org) via the American Albacore Fishing Association.

According to Oregon’s Choice; the longer the fish has been in the ocean, the more time it has to accumulate mercury. The fish they catch have not had the time to accumulate mercury as compared to the large amounts of mercury found in the large old fish favored by major canners. The younger fish swim closer to the surface of the water, which is where they fish; while the older fish swim closer to the ocean floor. More information about very low levels of mercury in Albacore can be found at the American Albacore Fishermens Association.

Here are a couple some other good reasons to try their Albacore Tuna:

There are 2450 mg. of Omega-3 Fatty Acids per 55 gram serving of our albacore tuna as opposed to leading commercial tuna companies that have Omega-3 content of 450 mg. per 55 gram serving.

The fish are harvested using hook and line methods that result in little or no bycatch. No nets are used in their dolphin-free fishery.

If you live on the West Coast, there are a number of food stores that carry their tuna. However, you can also order from their W ebsite. The 6 oz. can of the Gourmet Albacore Tuna Lightly Salted is just over $4 plus shipping (but you actually get 6 full oz of tuna unlike the main commercial tuna companies) and you buy them in cases of 12 or 24.

I recommend you try this recipe from the site that was emailed to them from a happy customer:

CALIFORNIA TUNA SALAD

1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons honey

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon liquid red pepper seasoning

1 ripe avocado

2 cans Oregon’s Choice Gourmet Albacore Albacore tuna, drained

1 sweet red pepper, cored, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch squares

1/2 of 8-oz. can sliced water chestnuts

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Whisk together lime rind and juice, olive oil, honey, cumin, salt and red pepper seasoning in medium size bowl until blended. Pit and peel avocado; cube. Add to dressing; toss to prevent discoloring. Flake tuna into bowl with the avocado and dressing. Add red pepper, water chestnuts and cilantro to tuna; toss to combine. Serve chilled over bed of lettuce or use as a sandwich filling.

For The Bike Lovers Out There- Discover bicycle art made in Moab, Utah

girlamy — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:10:01 +0000

I feel fortunate that I live only minutes away from one of the most amazing bike paths in the southeast- The Silver Comet Trail in Smyrna, GA. It used to be a train route to Alabama, now it is miles and miles and miles of endless blissful scenic riding. At any given time, this regional treasure is filled with joggers, walkers, people with dogs, strollers, and rollerbladers. However, I have found that this path is particularly appealing to serious bike riders from all over. I have noticed that these bike enthusiasts are a unique culture of people; like most other recreational athletes- they stick together and are passionate about their sport.

A couple thousand miles away, in Moab Utah– there is a fabulous store called Earth Studio that understands these bike enthusiasts and the love they have for cycling. They have developed an entire line of bicycle themed interior and garden art. Most of it is made of metal and handcrafted- the collection also includes art made from recycled materials from bicycles. These bicycle sculptures are fun and whimsical, as a person who loves to ride her bike- I recommend this beautiful sculpture to anyone who feels any level of passion for this activity.

WHO KNEW?! Buying a Smaller (and affordable) Home is also a Good Eco Choice.

girlamy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:22:08 +0000

Living in the South- we like to make a statement by doing things up in a big way. Big weddings, big parties, big highways, sprawled out communities, big stores, big cars, big TVs, and big houses seemed to have been the trend for the past decade. I wonder if the underlying mantra for us Southerners is “Bigger is Better”.

When my husband and I decided to purchase our home in the Atlanta area in 2005; we had to make some big choices about what we needed in a home. Although I wanted something that resembled my Barbie Dream House I fell in love with a child- we both knew without a big savings account this would be impossible. Living in Atlanta you quickly learn that having a big commute can also be a big drag; so we decided we wanted to buy a home as close to the city as possible.

Upon hearing our price range, our realtor did everything he could to steer us way way way out into the burbs- I mean the suburbs of the suburbs of the suburbs. You know what I am talking about; the developed planned communities with huge homes (we call McMansions), pools, tennis, sidewalks, peace quiet. These communities were perfect in every way- except they were a million miles from everything and there were just 2 of us. Why on earth would we buy a house that could comfortably house the Brady Bunch? Our realtor assured us we could contemplate our awful commute into the city in our enormous oversized bathtub with jet sprays. As tempted as we were, we stood firm. I gave our realtor a map with a circled radius of where he could show us homes. Otherwise; it would be a waste of time.

Our search went for months- and we finally found our little house. A 1960’s 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath brick ranch with an updated kitchen in the middle of Smryna, a community just outside of Atlanta. Our friends thought we were crazy- our house was in the middle of the most unhip neighborhood we could find. The thing is though, WE COULD AFFORD IT. Yes the house is small- but we have just the right amount of space for us and our 3 cats…we were even able to add a dog and a baby to the mix; and here we are 3 years later, still comfortable in our space. Our energy bills are manageable, our commute is not bad, and we are not wasting resources, space and money. I am now hearing my peers who decided to move into homes that were a little too big for them complain about the soaring energy and fuel costs they are now paying. Some are even contemplating putting their oversized homes on the market during a very very tough time.

I admit; I often will catch myself driving through much nicer neighborhoods than the one I live in, with beautifully designed homes and gardens, sighing and saying to myself- “What if”…but I remind myself of how our plain little brick home suits us and allows us to live within our means and be conservative with fuel and energy. As the mortgage crisis is unwinding before our eyes, I hope others will see what we saw in the smaller homes. There is value in simplicity.

Egggcellent & Healthy Recipe

girlamy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:19:56 +0000

I love eggs. I love omlets, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, eggs over medium, eggs with toast, eggs by themselves, deviled eggs, hardboiled eggs, soft boiled eggs, egg salad, you name it. These days (thanks in part to the South Beach Diet) I have been feeling the need to make my breakfast dishes using egg whites. But in my quest to be a mindful consumer, I try to only purchase eggs with a “Free Range” label on them since the term “Cage Free” can be deceptive; see http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1027/p15s01-lifo.html. I know it is a seemingly small matter and I am not saving the world one hen at a time; but it makes me feel slightly better about my purchase to support a business that allows hens to live in a more natural setting. I have to say that I really like Eggology’s approach. They are one of the only companies I know of that produces natural egg white products using humane and environmentally sustainable practices. And I am glad to see a lot of people are catching on to this, lots of restaraunts and hotel chains are using these products such as The Four Seasons, Marriott, and Hyatt hotels. I got the recipe below from their site- this recipe is quite good and simple. And if Frittanta is not your thing, try the Asparagus and Herb omlet recipe outlined in the video above by Dani Spies. Hope you enjoy- and EAT YOUR EGGS (just try to be aware where they came from).

Airy Asparagus and Potato Frittata

Servings: 4

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 cup	Eggology egg whites
1 lb	asparagus
1 potato	large, peeled and thinly sliced
1 onion	chopped
1/2 cup	nonfat milk
1/4 cup	grated Paremsan cheese, divided
1/4 teaspoon	baking powder
1/2 teaspoon	salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the potato in saucepan and cover with water by 3 inches. Cover the pan and bring to boil over high heat; boil for about 5 minutes.
Add the asparagus and boil for 2 more minutes.
Drain and set aside to cool.
In a bowl, combine the Eggology egg whites, three tablespoons of the Parmesan Cheese, milk, baking powder and salt. Mix in the potato and asparagus.
Heat an oven-proof nonstick pan, spray with nonstick spray and add the chopped onion.
Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the egg white mixture and reduce the heat to medium.
Cover and cook for about 10 minutes (until almost set).
Uncover the skillet and sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese.
Transfer to the oven to cook for about 5 minutes (until browned).
Invert onto a plate and cut into wedges prior to serving.