Seasonally-Chic: Eco Parties

Tis the season of parties, parties, parties, and - as much as I wish I could end that sentence right there - that means it's also the season of waste, waste, waste. In fact, according to the EPA, household waste increases 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Kinda scary, isn't it?

Maybe you're planning to throw the type of intimate yet lavish affair that allow you to use your own lovely plates, glasses, and cloth napkins. Or maybe not. This post is for the maybe nots - those festive shindiggers among you who believe a party isn't a party unless an invite (plus one) has been extended to every name in your cell phone. You, and your many, many guests, might just need - gasp - disposable tableware.

Good news! I've done some serious investigating into the dark and scary world of disposable party gear and it turns out there's a pale green light shining even there.

For example, the adorable teal and brown houndstooth cocktail napkins above? Biodegradable, chlorine-free, and made with water-based dyes!

Ditto the topstitch brown guest towels below.


Then there's Preserve tableware made from 100% recycled and recyclable plastic.


Or the elegant, biodegradable Bambu Veneerware made of 100% unbleached, organically grown bamboo.

And this funky biodegradable option.


For more green party ideas, check out this recent NY Times article, The Year of Eco Decorating.

Wee Ones Wednesday: Organic Cotton Hoodie Towels

You know how there are some adults out there still obsessed with feetie pajamas? No? Er, me neither.

My personal obsession is more focused on hooded baby towels. They look so darn comfy! Which could explain why I'm almost guaranteed to bring a towel hoodie to any baby shower I attend. And, naturally, organic cotton is the way to go.

I like:

1. Above, Kate Quinn's organic hoodie towel available online at Piccolini.

2. Below, Piccolini's own organic hoodie towel.
3. Below, Giggle's organic hoodie towel.
4. Below, Coyuchi's organic hoodie towel.

Object of My Affection: Inhabit Kelp Pillow

I'll admit it: I'm a little obsessed with pillows. I just love how new pillows can revamp old bedding, make a classic couch look modern, and bring a punch of color to an otherwise neutral palate. Plus, pillows are relatively inexpensive compared with most home items, making for guilt-free purchases that can be switched up depending on the season or your ever-shifting whims. Lately, I've been crushing on Inhabit's Kelp pillow which has a crisp, graphic (yet nature-inspired) pattern and is made with 100% recycled polyester.

Designer Limelight: Passenger Pigeon

Passenger Pigeon has a cute name and even cuter clothes made with organic and sustainable materials. In addition to an online store, their website contains wonderfully succinct explanations of the environmentally friendly materials used in the line. I'll paste some of those descriptions below, but first let's look at some of my fave Passenger Pigeon items.

1. Up top, the very work-to-drinks-friendly Vireo top made of lyocel.

2. Up top, organic cotton laptop bag in disguise as funky orange clutch.

3. Below, the uber-comfy looking Lark wrap dress in bamboo/cotton blend.

4. Below, the modern organic wool (and organic cotton-lined) Kinglet coat.




Eco-friendly materials info, care of Passenger Pigeon:

Organic Cotton:
"Up to fifty percent of worldwide insecticidal use and ten percent of the world's pesticides are required for the production of conventional cotton, despite the fact that the industry represents only three percent of annual international agricultural output. Many of these pesticides are known carcinogens, and have been found in watersheds, livestock, dairy products, as well as in the human body. Because organic cotton production is pesticide free, it is safer for farmers, for wildlife, and for you, the consumer. Although the organic cotton industry represents a very small percentage of overall cotton production, its growth has been consistently rising over the past couple decades, as individuals and companies alike become more aware of the benefits provided by organic products."

Hemp:
"Due to industrial hemp's inherent resilience to pests, it does not require any pesticide, insecticidal or herbicidal use. Not only is this fibre incredibly resilient to pests, it is also very versatile, and therefore can be used for many different applications. Hemp can emulate plastic, as well as be used for paper production and textiles. Though a cousin to marijuana, industrial hemp (cannabis sativa) contains so little THC that smoking brings about no more than a headache. Unfortunately, this plant has been stigmatized by both government and state, for if it were to enter the (American) marketplace, it would severely threaten the cotton and chemical industry."

Tencel:
"Made from the natural cellulose found in wood pulp as well as produced in a non-chemical manner, this fibre is economical in its use of energy and natural resources, and is fully biodegradable."

Seasonally Chic: Plates With Purpose

Thanksgiving is not only a great time to reflect on the joy and prosperity in your own life, it's also the perfect time to consider giving back to the community. Plates With Purpose, made by the Riverside Design Group, are a phenomenal way to give back in style. Fifteen percent of the proceeds of these sweet plates - handcrafted from post-industrial, pre-consumer recycled glass - is donated to six non-profit organizations ranging from Habitat for Humanity to a food bank to an AIDS outreach group. 5" by 10" rectangular plate, $36, available here.

Hope everyone has a wonderful, tater-filled Thanksgiving! Meet ya back here on Monday!

Joaquin Phoenix Is for the Birds

I'm sharing this Joaquin Phoenix/PETA Thanksgiving video for 2 reasons:

1. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! What's not to love about mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and veggie stuffing??

2. There's something incredibly, albeit unintentionally, funny about watching Joaquin try to look like a happy grocery store shopper. I'm guessing this video was a lot harder for him to make than Walk the Line. Honestly, how hard is it for smokey-eyed, tortured Joaquin to look drunk and disorderly? This wholesome video, on the other hand, really proves Joaquin's range.

If Joaquin doesn't ruffle your feathers, here's Pam Anderson spreading the Tofurkey love in a Vegas homeless shelter.

(Image courtesy of Jill Ann Spaulding/FilmMagic.com)

VegCooking has some great vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes. But if a holiday without meat just isn't a holiday at all in your book, consider skipping the inhumanely-raised and slaughtered Butterball and investing in a free range turkey from a local farm or Whole Foods.

Saving the World, One Snuggle at a Time: Unison Organic Throws

If you ask me, a home cannot have too many throw blankets. Throws signify coziness, comfort, and luxurious Sunday afternoon naps. Plus, they inspire snuggling, without which life would be less worth living. I'm particularly digging these honey and rose organic cotton flannel blankets from Unison. There's something very modern yet preppy about them.


Bonus: With more throws around, you can can lower your thermostat - saving the environment and moola! And you know what you can do with more money? Buy more throws! And then you can lower the heat even more. And save more money. And buy more throws! I'll stop now.

Everything Is Illuminated: Legna Pod Votives

I am loving these Legna Pod Votives (available at DesignPublic). Not wanting to waste perfectly good materials, Joe Futschik of jefdesigns creates these chic little votives with the byproducts of the Legna lamp. The votives come attached in sets or as single, standalone pieces. I bet they'd look amazing clustered down the spine of that railroad tie dining table I featured in September.

Seasonally Chic: The Beauty Gift that Keeps Giving

I recently read in domino that Dr. Hauschka, one of the leading organic skincare companies, is donating 25% of the sales of its face, body, and aromatherapy bath kits to Heifer International, a nonprofit dedicated to ending world hunger and poverty and building sustainable communities. Since I'm already a fan of Dr. Hauschka - with its biodynamically and organically grown ingredients, natural preservatives, eco-conscious packaging, and zero animal testing policy - this partnership with Heifer is deelish icing on an already very sweet cake.

The body ($20) and bath ($16) kits - basically samplers - strike me as wonderful holiday gifts for friends, co-workers, family members, or that world traveler in your life (travel-sized bottles!). Donate money to a great cause, pamper loved ones, spread the word about organic products, encourage travel... what more could you ask from one small gift?

Object of My Affection: Bamboo Wine Rack

Finding a stylish, green wine storage solution seemed like a daunting task until I ran across this lovely A-frame rack designed by Molly Kinney for Zanisa. Made with warmly-hued bamboo, a sustainable material, its clean, graceful lines are reminiscent of an Asian pagoda. The rack holds up to 9 bottles of your favorite vino.

One-Stop Shop: Modify

Few things in life provide the simple, delicious satisfaction that is one-stop shopping. Modify, a new online green boutique, comes through with yumminess in spades. As a breakfast treat to myself, I selected my own virtual outfit from Modify's impressive wares.

Here's what I'm wearing (in my mind):

1. Sworn Virgins' Ingrid Dress (above) made of 95% bamboo.

2. Aoki Billy Rinse Jeans (below) made of 98% organic cotton.

3. Anna Johansson's recycled aluminum earrings (below).

4. Recycled leather clutch from aGainNYC (below).

**Enter "Launch" for BIG savings at checkout!**

Fab Friday Find: Marius Fabre Soap

Any product that can add an element of swank to the excruciatingly banal act of doing laundry deserves major props. I have the strong sense that using Marius Fabre's "Savon de Marseille" laundry soap flakes, which are featured in this month's domino, would elevate laundering to some mysteriously chic Parisian level. Hell, I just used the word laundering. I haven't even touched the stuff and I'm already a smidge classier.

The soap flakes are made from olive oil and are 100% biodegradable. I'm going to order some, pull my hair into an effortless chignon, throw on a white peasant dress, and shake out sheets in the backyard until my cheeks get that flushed and sun-kissed glow. You'll hardly recognize me, I'll be so je nai se quois-y.

Pack My Bags: Mexico & Bali!

When DailyCandy recently sent out an email with discounts to not one, but two amazing health resorts, I knew I had to share the wealth.

The first is Amansala (pictured above and below) in Tulum, Mexico. It's a small, no TVs, lights-only-after-dark kinda resort, best known for its Bikini Boot Camp. They serve low-calorie meals of local fish and produce, and there are yoga and pilates classes, walks, meditation, and spa treatments galore.

Mention DailyCandy and get 25% off stays between Nov. 17-23, 23-29, and Dec. 11-17!





The other DailyCandy special is for Como Shambala Estate in Bali. I'm sorry I wasn't able to pull images, but you'll have to go check the site out for yourself because it looks ridiculously beautiful. The Estate is a jungle health retreat with yoga, pilates, qi gong, guided hikes, meditation, cooking demonstrations, nutritionists, and some truly amazing villas. I'm guessing it's the kind of place you could go for a week and return to reality full of enough peace and serenity to last you the rest of the year.

Mention DailyCandy and the New Beginnings offer and get 20% off the five-day program.

Mention me (and how much you'd love to read my full review of both places if only they'd give me a press trip) and I'll give you 100% off the cost of reading this blog! Yup, that's right! Just for you, this blog will be free!

On an unrelated note, my heart goes out to the striking writers of the WGA. I, for one, think a week without the wit and smarts of The Office would be a very dark week indeed. In a show of support, here's a great video from some writers of The Office, straight from the picket line...

Variations on a Theme: Recycled Aluminum

I spotted these great recycled aluminum "bark" vases from VivaTerra some time ago, and since then have come across several other snazzy recycled aluminum products I thought I'd share. Though I love the VivaTerra vases above, I'm undecided about the candlesticks. They're a little Tim Burton-y for me. I have this feeling that if I put them on my dining table, I'd keep expecting them to scramble away the moment I turned my back. This might be a good time to divulge that I watched that scene with the brooms from The Sorcerer's Apprentice/Fantasia a lot as a child.

Ahem. Childhood memories aside, these recycled aluminum tiles would look amazing in a bathroom:

And these recycled aluminum chairs from DWR have a sleek industrial edge:

And I'm pretty enamored with the recycled aluminum benches, bamboo vases, fruit bowl, gelato spoon, herb ID stakes, and house numbers from AZCAST. (Sorry for the teensy images.)

Object of My Affection: Tartan Flat

There's something so fabulous about looking low-key yet chic at brunch. Maybe it's because I came of style age (read: early 20s) in New York at the height of the Sex and the City era, but I consider stylish brunch attire to be a key component of any respectable wardrobe. That said, I'm a sleepy brunch attendee, the kind who brings caffeine with her in case there's any sort of wait, so I'm a big fan of simple, comfy morning style with one surprising, yet easy punch to elevate a look from Gap to Glam.

These "vegan" tartan flats could be my next brunch style punch. I'd pair them with dark jeans, a soft, black shrug, and big sunglasses. Simple, soft, and stylish...that's my kind of Sunday.

Designer Limelight: Alma Allen

As a writer, I think one of the reasons I'm drawn to eco-friendly furniture is that there seems to be a great story behind every piece. Take, for example, these fabulous Claro tables/stools from furniture-maker and sculptor Alma Allen. Apparently, there are entire orchards of walnut trees - I don't know why this surprises me, but it does - from which walnuts are harvested. Eventually, when a tree stops bearing nuts, it is cut down to make room for a new tree. Cue Alma Allen, who swoops in and makes these bulbous Claro tables/stools from the discarded lumber. I love how they're both smooth and rugged; they'd be just as perfect in a modern, minimalist home as they wood in a ski cabin or ranch.

Claro? Claro que si!



Wouldn't it be cool to plant one of these cute succulents in a crevice?