Eco Valentine, Take 2! Enamore Lingerie

I'm, yup, totally enamored with Enamore lingerie's throwback beauty and ridiculously fab names like "Mon Cherie Bralette and Knickers." I imagine wearing one of these slinky numbers is bound to make a girl feel like the star of her very own old Hollywood movie... hopefully, minus the cameras. (The Internet, people! Don't invite it to your Valentine's Day.)

I almost don't want to tell you what these pieces are made with for fear it will taint their luxe-ness in your eyes. Let's just say, in a different form, some people wouldn't mind smoking an Enamore bra or two.

My fave pieces from the line are above and below, all available at Eco-Conscience.com.

Eco Valentine's Day: Green is the New Red!

El Dia de los Romance is nearly upon us. How will you share the love? Maybe with some very pretty, certified fair trade, organic chocolates from Organic Style? No? How about those flowers-that-give-back bouquets I told you about last month?

Company Limelight: Ortolan Organic Linens

I have fallen head-over-heels for just about everything that the new Ortolan linens company has to offer. All of Ortolan's gorgeous home linens are made of 100% organic cotton and packaged with 100% recycled materials; even their pillows are filled with Kapok, a sustainable, natural fiber. I love the vintage, sometimes Art Deco-y vibe of their bedding, napkins, and tea towels. And the color combo of unbleached cotton with that surprisingly sophisticated shade of melon on the above napkin? Perfecto.

Key to a Perfect Dinner Party: Rosanna Tableware

Having had a very fun dinner party this weekend, I suppose I have entertaining on the brain. Pretty, unfussy glasses and dishes add so much to an evening spent tableside, and when I spotted some of the Rosanna pieces on Design*Sponge last week, I knew I had to share them here too. Rosanna's gorgeous Madre Terra and Cin Cin! pieces above and directly below are handmade of recycled glass.


And a portion of the proceeds of the fabulous Mondo collection seen below will go to Doctors Without Borders, an organization that provides emergency medical care to those affected by wars and disasters.

Fab Friday Find: The Little Winter White Dress

Beeeeeyootiful! There is something unbelievably ladylike about a winter white dress in a timeless cut, no? This Emily Katz number, made of soy and lycra blend jersey and available for $148 at online eco-boutique BTC Elements, would be a perfect dress for that awkward Friday office-to-night-on-the-town transition. I'd love to see it punched up with a pair of plum-colored heels or funkified with a chunky belt and bangles. So many options! And PS, it's also available in black!

Sustainable Paradise: Playa Viva, Mexico

Ever have one of those mornings when you wish you were waking up in an oceanfront tree house in a sustainable community in Mexico? No? I never did either until I read about the real estate/resort development Playa Viva (renderings above and below) while doing some research for a green travel article.

Located 30 minutes south of Zihuatanejo on Mexico's Pacific Coast, 160 of Playa Viva's 200 acres have been set aside as a nature preserve and turtle sanctuary. For about $139,000 you can buy 1/10 ownership (4 weeks of use/year) of a thatched-roof casita/tree house made of locally salvaged wood. Even the furniture is made of leftover construction wood. Solar energy will supply 100% of the development's energy needs (which, considering the casitas have neither air conditioning nor TVs, should be relatively low). The development will donate 1% of all revenue back to the community and is beginning an organic farming program that will create jobs for local farmers.

For those of us who don't think fractional ownership of a tree house in Mexico is in the cards, the development plans to open a boutique hotel on the property in 2010.

Check out my article over at HeliumReport for more info on Playa Viva and the Villages of Loreto Bay, another sustainable development being built in Mexico.

Object of My Affection: Design Within Reach's Cork Stool

Though it's made of cork, there's something about the color and texture of this stool from Design Within Reach that has a wonderfully earthy vibe. Plus, it strikes me as remarkably versatile: it would be a fabulous, unexpected design element in a sophisticated living room as easily as it would be a fun and funky addition to a child's bedroom. And since it's made of cork - a renewable resource, by the way - it's the perfect spot to pin children's artwork, photographs, or upcoming event invitations.

A Farewell to Pangaya

Sadly, online eco-boutique Pangaya is in the midst of closing up shop. The only good news to cull from this is the savings (80% off!) to be had as the site winds down. Better hurry -- stock is dwindling quickly and who knows how long items like the above Stewart & Brown Knitted Trumpet Skirt will last.

Object of My Affection: Kobo Candle

I adore the way an elegant-smelling candle can change the entire atmosphere of a room and minimize the olfactory impact of doggers. The next candles on my list to try? Kobo Botanical Collection Candles available at SproutHome.com. They have stylish packaging, domestically made soy wax, and enviro-safe cotton wicks. The "Golden Mimosa" scent -- mimosa, peach, and white magnolia -- sounds divine!

Take Me Away: Rancho La Puerta

Y'know how Dante wrote about the rings of Hell? I think there might be rings of Heaven as well, and if so, I'd say Rancho La Puerta in Mexico looks to be at about Heavenly Ring #3. Named one of Travel & Leisure's "Top 15 Destination Spas" and "Top 5 Destination Spas for Value," Rancho La Puerta is set amid 30,000 acres of mountains, meadows, and gardens. In fact, much of the resort's "Mexican spa" cuisine comes from it's own 6-acre organic garden, and you can learn how to whip up those healthy plates of sustainably-grown goodness at the resort's new cooking school, La Cocina Que Canta.

Want to cook your way around the world? Check out my post/slideshow on luxe culinary vacations over at StyleHive.com.

You Can Never Have Too Many...

Jeans. Ooooooh, jeans.

Ernest Sewn Greencaste organic cotton jeans, available at Barneys (via Sprig).

Object of My Affection: Gaiam Fleece Hoodie

One of my (many) new year's resolutions is to go to yoga more frequently. With one of SF's premier yoga studios, YogaTree, mere blocks away, I really have no excuse. Still, I think an uber-warm and comfy-looking Gaiam fleece hoodie, magically made of recycled soda bottles, would be perfect motivation for the to-and-fro yoga stroll. I dig the charcoal one. How 'bout you?

Company Limelight: Engage Green

A fan of small, dual-purpose household items ever since my NYC-apartment dwelling days, I was really excited to stumble across Engage Green's traymats on Ecofabulous. These clever trays (perfect for holding doodads, whatsits, and all manner of miscellany) unsnap to become sweet little placemats! Genius! Even better? They're made of recycled paper and available in an array of super cute patterns.

I'm also totally digging Engage Green's cork and organic cotton/hemp bag shown below.

The Brazilian: Environment Furniture Edition

Environment Furniture utilizes reclaimed Peroba wood from the supermodel breeding grounds also known as Brazil, crafting lumber from derelict barns and dwellings into stunning, sleek pieces like the above Santos bed (queen, $3195). The mix of rustic and refined is purely modern, and the rich shade of wood gives the pieces a heady aura of luxury.

More faves from the collection below...

Girls Night Out: Doie Juniper Dress

Well, hello, Friday!

The ladies and I are having a little girls-on-the-town night tonight and of course I'm already wondering what outfit I'll be able to whip together from the depths of my closet. You know what would be perfect? The casual-chic Doie Juniper dress pictured above. It's made of biodegradable bamboo jersey (not that you'd ever throw it away) and available at the delightful ec0-tobi site. How perfect is the little sleeve detail and oh-so-flattering gathering around the neckline? Sigh...

Object of My Affection: SCRAPILE Lights

I have this all-too-tempting daydream in which a constellation of design-forward lights twinkle artfully in my stairwell. The daydream used to involve a colorful mobile, but ever since I discovered these SCRAPILE beauties, I'm leaning toward lights.

A collaboration between designers Bart Bettencourt and Carlos Salgado, SCRAPILE repurposes discarded pieces of wood from New York's woodworking industry into sleekly designed furniture and home accessories. Check out their site for all the info you'll need to buy me 5-7 lights (in all fairness, I'll cover the electrician's bill).

And, naturally, I'll swap out the bulbs for Compact Fluorescents.

Designer Limelight: jack&marjorie (Wants YOU!)

I hereby award jack&marjorie bags with the Silver Medal for best use of military uniforms. (Please don't fault the designers for coming in second - a pack of salivating women long ago gave the Gold Medal to the costumers responsible for Top Gun).

jack&marjorie turns military surplus materials into unique bags that perfectly toe the line between bespoke, modern, and pretty. If Katharine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn had collaborated on a line of bags, I'm guessing they'd have come up with arm candy as complex and beautiful as these.

My fave is the Snowberry bag pictured above and available at jack&marjorie's etsy shop. Check their site for locations to purchase other bags from the line.

Company Limelight: naturalLEE

It gives me a delightfully warm and fuzzy feeling to learn that established companies are going green, so you can imagine the sparkle in my eye when I noticed an ad for naturalLEE in the latest issue of domino. Now savvy LEE furniture shoppers can choose the naturalLEE package, including certified sustainable wood frames, water-based finishes, soy-based cushions, and organic and natural fibers.

Not only is LEE launching the earth-friendly naturalLEE upholstered furniture line, but they've also announced they'll plant a tree each time a piece is purchased. One tree might not sound like much, but just imagine if all furniture companies agreed to a similar program!

This Just In: Your Pup Needs a Greenrrroof!

Ever wonder if your dog appreciates good design? Yeah, me neither.

Irregardless of King Oberon and Cole's thoughts on the matter, I'm loving these green-roofed dog houses/artworks made by Stephanie Rubin of Sustainable Pet Design. Each one is custom built using Forest Stewardship Certified wood, non-toxic paints, beeswax waterproofing, and vegetation native to the region where the pup-client lives.

Benefits of the greenrrroof? It naturally filters water runoff that can be used to keep your pup hydration-happy. It acts as insulation against cold and hot weather. It attracts butterflies, looks pretty, and smells delightful. And repels fleas. 'Nuff said.



(Apologies that technical difficulties - AKA a storm chowing down on our internet service - kept this from appearing on Friday.)

Object of My Affection: Kelly B Bamboo Fleece Jacket

Danger! Has there ever been a more stylish sweatshirt than this Kelly B number made of bamboo fleece? I'm a little afraid that if I buy it I might never wear anything else.

Urban Woods: Best Bed of 2008

I know what you're thinking. It's a little early in the new year for "Best of" predictions, right? Well, I'm sorry, but it was a wonderfully fun holiday - a little too fun if you catch my drift - and all I really want to do is go back to sleep. I've got beds on the brain in a major way.

Luckily, Urban Woods makes such gorgeous green beds that I can drool all bleary-eyed over them for several slow-moving hours this morning and still call it work. I'm pretty sure I drooled longest over the posh Sunset bed pictured above, but the Doheney and Trousdale beds pictured below received their fair shake of wistful adoration as well. All of Urban Woods furniture is made by hand in LA using wood salvaged from local building tear downs.

Here's to sweet dreams in 2008!