Date a Green Guy

Simple Take On Hi: The White Stuff

Today, I received my white-on-white Take On Hi's, and boy am I excited to show off these kicks tomorrow at the office, where hopefully I'll start a new trend. Say yes to high tops with eco-certified leather uppers! And if you're planning on attending the artisan and local merchant event, Unique LA, be sure to stop by the Your Daily Thread table, where I'll be showing off these eco-fied, stylie kicks. 

Green Up Your Date Life ... With Me

Are Green Guys More Chivalrous? 

No, I'm not soliciting for dates (as if!) but I will be writing all about eco dating in the coming months. Be sure to sign up for free daily emails at Your Daily Thread to read relationship posts like the one below. Or read it at YDT. 

City's Best Los Angeles: My Interview with Tracy Helper

Recently, I've been writing with AOL's City Best for the L.A. edition. I've been tasked with writing on green living in Los Angeles. I interviewed Tracy Hepler of Your Daily Thread -- not only is she a good friend I've come to know through working in green living, but she's also got some of the best eco-etiquette I've seen around the city. From her compost, DIY vegetables to tin cans she's always carrying to avoid contributing to the plastic bottle fiasco, she's got top-notch manners when it comes to being good to the planet. Here is my recent interview with her.  

Santa Barbara and Sustainable Traveling

If the idea of traveling has left you feeling more worried about leaving a larger carbon footprint and impact on the eco system, fret not. Santa Barbara is right in our state (not jet fuel needed!) and offers a lot of eats, sights and stays that work in conjunction with nature, while leaving you with a grander appreciation of what our California coast really has to offer. 


I just came back from visiting what many have started calling "The American Riviera" and wrote up a sustainable travel guide to Santa Barbara. Your Daily Thread just came out with my article, you can read it here or click below. 

Green Living on Your Daily Thread

In addition to running EcoEtique, I'm a regular contributor for eco curious site, Your Daily Thread, where I write on green living and the like. It's one of the most thorough and well-researched sources for going green in the city. Sign up to receive the Your Daily Thread daily email-delivered news on their homepage. Do it now! And check out the rest of our amazing team here. 

Everyone Loves Getting Mail ...

Unless, of course, your lovely correspondence is blemished with giant "1.30 % APR," "NO FEES" or "What Would You Do With A Platinum Credit Card?" In today's article on Your Daily Thread, "Return to Sender: How to Nix Junk Mail" I discuss the art of banishing junk mail.  

Santa Barbara's Eco Respite

The opportunity to visit Santa Barbara came my way based on a variety of elements that came together. Tracy wasn't able to go due to work, I was recently working from home and therefore able to work according to my very open schedule and ... it just happened that El Capitan Canyon got in touch with our eco website, Your Daily Thread. 

While I happily open myself up to new experiences as they come along -- one of the forefront reasons I love journalism/writing so much -- so when the chance to visit a brand-new, beautiful and coastal city, among other places, including a wine country in central California, how could I possibly say no?

Here are some pictures I took from my Blackberry. 

And the work space.

 

YDT Gets Some Camera Love

The Your Daily Thread team had a great opp to get professionally photographed by John Lauren Photography in July. Had a blast playing dress up with fellow ladies and spending the day getting primped and pressed, while drinking green tea. Here are some images from the shoot, including my new head shot. 

Vertical Gardening Interview

If you have an opportunity, check out my first video with your daily thread on vertical gardening here in Los Angeles. You can read the full story here.

Prickly Love

If you’re like me and other green thumb-challenged folks, you’ve killed (i.e. overwatered, underwatered, sunburned, or neglected till death ensued) your share of once-living-breathing plants. We get it; you want to fill your home with impressive flowers and foliage. Unfortunately, a number of plants can require a lot of general maintenance, which many of us can’t – or, let’s be frank, refuse – to offer. But rather than, er, planting the blame on yourself for your orchids dying before seeing their first birthday, take a cue from floral designer Kelly Harris of Succulent LOVE.

Harris started her company from what she calls, “embracing an obsession.” The two-time Unique L.A. designer couldn’t get enough of the hardy, yet modernly elegant succulents and began her venture as purveyor of the little plants following her Palm Springs wedding. Her wedding, which featured an ensemble of textures, colors and arrangements of the native desert beauts, was later featured in Knot Magazine. Everything from the bouquet, centerpieces (later doubling as favors) to décor was inspired from succulents.

“I really loved designing with them and got some great responses after the wedding,” says Harris. “I decided to turn my time playing in the dirt into a business.”

Known to thrive under even the most neglectful plant owner, succulents do best with infrequent watering and when left to bask in the sun. Moreover many succulents, including Agave utahensis, Yucca whipplei and Opuntia phaeacantha (Mojave prickly pear) are local to California and sustainable since they require less of a resource like water and fertilizer. 

The SucculentLOVE collection arrangements are planted in vessels, fish bowls, crates, mason jars and her newly available beastie ceramic models. “The beastie planter was a collaboration with Jen Kuroki of Jen E ceramics,” says Harris. “We teamed up and will be offering new designs in the coming months as well.  The beastie is currently available, but as each one is made by hand there is a bit of a waiting list before your beastie can come home with you.” 

SucculentLOVE offers personal orders, events and weddings and is available onlineand at Firefly at Abbot Kinney.  Spaced on Mother’s Day? It’s still not too late toorder mommy dearest her fav succulent or cacti combination.

Not sure how to tend to your new prickly love? Check out Kelly’s personal tips on how to care for succulents. 

Be sure to read this article and other green living tips at your daily thread. 

Come Undone: ReKnit Redesigns Sustainability, One Thread at a Time

Here's a recent story I did on an incredibly resourceful and creative mother-and-son duo. You can also read it here on your daily thread. 

Many of us have, at some point, been challenged with what to do with an outdated or unwanted sweater. We’re talking about the one that’s brandished with a pattern only the cast from Saved By the Bell would wear. Maybe someone special gifted you with something, er, not so special. Options are limited. Donning it is ruled out. You can’t leave it in your closet, dresser … pile of clothes on the floor collecting dust mites, and you can’t chuck it (definitely an eco-no no with our overwhelmed landfills. If you have time, you can always drop it off at your nearest Goodwill. What are your options when it comes to disregarded duds? 

Send it to ReKnit, a a Boston-based project started by graphic designer Haik Avanian and his mom. For $30, Avanian’s mom will unravel all the fugliness from your sweater and repurpose it into something new and rack worthy.

Or shall we say accessory-drawer worthy?

Each month, visitors can vote on the next item to be made. Sweatbands anyone? Starting in February, she’ll be reknitting accessories in the form of two different styles of cut-off gloves. Order soon, since ReKnit limits orders to the first 30 (he only has one mom, after all). Find shipping labels to send off your sweaters here.

“The idea is definitely to have seasonal items so that they're useful for the current month,” says Avanian.

“Reknitting has always been a part of my family and culture,” he says. “We've always been as resourceful as possible, in both tough and economic times.”

He hopes their yarn-y project will offer inspiration to others who might be thinking of resalvaging yarn or other fabric from old clothes (“It's really not that difficult of a skill to learn”). “I definitely think that there's room for repurposing in the world of fashion. People are slowing becoming aware of this option now out of necessity.”

“We're hoping people see the potential in re-using clothing made from yarn, and maybe start similar projects within their families and communities,” he says. “It's a small habit, but many of these small habits can add up to a whole sustainable lifestyle over time.”

Visit them on Twitter to vote on what you’d like to see in March. Current runner-ups include a hat, iPod case, socks and … sweatbands.

Some New Threads

If you have not already, check out Your Daily Thread, it's an excellent source for eco-focused news, events and shopping, and where I am also a contributor. Since the abrupt (and tragic) shift of Ideal Bite from its own website to the merging with family.com, I've found YDT a great place to search green living tips in Los Angeles.