Skateboard. Stool?

These are a wee bit pricey, but I just thought the idea was super creative. Recycled skateboards made into stools. genius
http://www.deckstool.com/

Hope everyone had a good weekend!
-Lu

lu's art show!

Today is the day! And what a day it is. Today is our little Lu's first art show! And we are all so proud of her. That's why we insisted on taking out this time today to write about our lovely Lu and all of her green accomplishments!

(A sampling of Lu's art work from her first show at Gallery 1010 in Knoxville.)

Since we've started the blog, the lovely Lu has:
-Thrown out of her toxic beauty products & replaced them with healthy, safe, green beauty products.
-Made, with the help of La Martha Stewart de France, many handmade journals & notebooks.
-Purchased thrift items and turned them into beautiful pieces of furniture.
-Discovered new ways to turn old things into pretty storage items.
-Left a vacation spot cleaner, greener and healthier than it was before she arrived.
-Created handmade shopping bags to replace the use of nasty plastic bags.
-Found new & exciting ways to use cardboard in our daily lives.

So three big cheers for Lu! Hip-hip-hooray! Hip-hip-hooray! Hip-hip-hooray!
Love you much, Lu!
~Am~

omfg

Sorry guys, it's been a week. Yes, a whole week since any of us has written an entry. Our profoundest apologies. So let's get on with the business of the day: blogging!

I'm of the belief that to make our world a green and sustainable world we are going to have to make this way of life accessible and affordable to EVERYONE. This is the only way. If everyone can access it and afford it, then everyone can do it and will want to do it.

This brings me to solar power. Right now, solar power is one of the most expensive forms of alternative energy. It literally costs tens of thousands of get the sources and to convert. Yet, I find it to be one of the most promising alternatives. So for solar power, we are going to have to find new and cheaper ways to make this energy source work for everybody.

(A D-I-Y solar power kit.)

This leads me to the discovery of a $600 D-I-Y solar power kit. This little kit will give you enough power to use some objects around your home (for instance, in one week it will give you enough energy to power your laptop for 40 hours.). Don't get me wrong, $600 isn't really cheap to me. Trust me, this post-graduate girl will not be getting one for herself anytime soon. But it's a start. And for many families and small businesses, this kit could make the perfect start! Plus, I'm a firm believer that every little thing counts...and many little things add up to one big thing!
~Am~

The Freecycle Network

Thanks roomie!
My roommate Lisbeth told me about this wonderful website.

http://www.freecycle.org/

Their Mission= "To build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community."

and what a good one it is.

Gifting being the key word. Everything is free.
I mean this is like a free thrift store online! Oh, thrift stores...how we love thee.
So next time you're thinking of throwing away an apliance, clothing, cds, crafts, frames, books...you name the item (someone out there probably wants/needs it)....you're remodeling your house don't know what to do with the old furniture? Don't throw it away!


Chances are they have one in your community. I looked up several smaller towns in my region and they all had a freecycle network.
This nonprofit movement is genius so be sure to check it out and participate within your community!

-Lu

Figs & Ginger

I'm sitting in a dark valley and listening to the sound of rain on the roof of my cave. And while this visual is...comforting, disturbing, relaxing...I wanted to talk about a neat little local jewelry shop. I've mentioned it earlier, but I thought I'd elaborate further.

The cute little jewelry shop I speak of is called Figs & Ginger. And if the name wasn't cute enough for you, get a load of their irresistibly charming and whimsical jewelry:

(Super cute, right?)

Figs & Ginger is an "eco-friendly metal-smithing inspired by forests." It's located just a few minutes outside of Asheville and is serious about living and working a green and sustainable life. They use recycled and reclaimed silver and gold in their pieces, are building a passive solar studio, using earth friendly jewelry tools and products, use all eco-friendly paper products, recycle everything, drive mopeds and use green packaging.

I think I'm in love with them. Or at least in love with what they do. And love that they are doing right in my own neighborhood - er - area.
~Am~

responsible traveling

(Eep! Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, erupting. I've seen this! And I want to see it again! - Pic from guano.)

I've had a hankering lately to travel, although I'm in no way financially able. So in lieu of my dreamed travels, I wanted to talk about traveling responsibly. By traveling responsibly I mean (definition via Go Green Travel Green):

-Thinking about your impact on the environment (both the physical and social environment) when you travel.
-Doing your part to minimize your impact on the environment – so that tourism in your destination can be maintained in the long run.
-Understanding eco-friendly choices you can make.
-Making eco-friendly choices when they are options.
-Doing your research to be a responsible traveler.
-Saving money by making low-impact choices.

In this day and age it's absolutely vital that you travel responsibly. How far you go and how you get there is, no matter what, going to have an impact on the environment. Traveling by airplane has by far the worst affect on our environment. And the further you travel away from your home the more potential harm you will incur. But there are ways to cut down on this damage.

For instance, "voluntourism tours" are avaiable. These tours are where you volunteer in the area you are seeing so that you can do something good for the community you are visiting. Or, instead of paying someone to do it for you, you could just look into what local organizations are located in the particular area and contact the person in charge to set up some time where you could help them.

For accommodations, you could stay at a local (mom n' pop) hotel or do a home stay with a local family. It's important that you try to support the local businesses and economy and shop at places that has their profits go directly to the area, instead of shopping at big, commercial stores that you can find anywhere else in the U.S.

Here's some more resources you should check out if you are concerned about traveling responsibly on your next vayk!
-Responsible Travel
-Eco-Travel Logue
-And check out Go Green Travel Green's blog. It's super-informative and fun to read!

Happy travels!
~Am~

The Target Post

Instead of being a diligent student, I was browsing the Target website.And I am very impressed with their eco-friendly section. (although I still think if it has the word recycled, eco-friendly, or green in the description, the prices seem to be magically higher). <---- This makes absolutely no sense to me, if it's recycled and good for the planet shouldn't it be cheaper and more affordable? 2 Eco-Friendly Target finds we all need:
Reusable Batteries: Peeps, we have the resources and technology to make batteries that will last you a long time...this means these babies are environmentally friendly and a source of renewable energy (cutting the production of single use alkaline batteries), more sustainable, and in the end saving you some money. -----> = a good buy For more information and top quality rechargeable batteries this is a great site.(greenbatteries.com)
Water Purification Filter- You can't go wrong with these. Knoxville water isn't so tasty...and who knows what it contains. Water bottles and jugs equals a big no no. So just filter it. It costs some money to replace the filters every few months, but buying plastic water bottles and jugs on a weekly basis quickly surpasses that amount.


Some cute eco-friendly Target finds (I really want but can't afford at this time) :( :
Totes Eco Umbrella- These are made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles!They should sell these in amusement parks, everyone is always scrambling to buy umbrellas and ponchos when they feel a few drops of rain.
Lipper International Bamboo Tea Box
I love tea, and this little bamboo box is adorable.
pb Bamboo Travel Eye Mask: I am all about some eye masks. My roommate and I even had a "competition" to see who had the comfiest eye mask. We are hooked. Anyways, I wonder if bamboo fabric is soft and comfy?


I think that is enough procrastination on my part for one day. ;) Anyways, check out the eco-friendly section at target. They have cute things. again, some of these are way way overpriced and often times not really "needed".
but..hey, whats wrong with a little shopping every now and then. *shrugs*

-Lu

peas and carrots

Found this super-super cute website,called peas and carrots. It's a cute recycled-craft blog. The blogger seems like a particularly young lady, and which leads me to saying that for her age she is such an awesome and amazing crafter. Especially since she's one who uses reused and recycled products in/as her craft pieces.

Some of my favorite pieces of her's are cute earrings and necklaces made from old beer and bottle caps and "fused" plastic pins made from old plastic bags.

(Flower pins made by peas and carrots.)

It's all pure sweetness. She's an inspiration. I, actually, have a butt-ton of bottle caps waiting around for me to turn them into something cute and useful. And peas and carrots has shown me the way!

(Bottle cap necklaces at the Bel Air Festival for the Arts.)

~Am~

On a side note: My good friend and great blogger Sensiblekitty has recently gotten an internship at the raddest local jewelry-making joint, ever - figs and ginger. I want to wish her congrats and good luck in her new venture - she always finds the sweetest places to work for!