Need a green writer?

(Guess which one is in need of a job more!)

Well if you do need a green writer then hire me to do it! Even if you don't need a writer specifically on green topics, I can still write for you. I've had beaucoup and beaucoup (lots and lots) of experience. Have an idea but don't know how to go about writing about it? Ask me! I can totally help you work out your writing dilemmas! I've been a writer for many years and an editor for nearly as long. So please, won't you take me on?

~Am~

Lu-n-Am Bonding Time!

(Source.)

Lu and yours truly (Am) are only minutes away from leaving for Charleston! We haven't had a trip together in a hella long time and so we're both super-excited to get away for awhile and relax. We're going with both of our loved ones and another friend. That makes a total of five and we're car-pooling all the way to the beach (four hours away for me!). It will be a very comfy trip! ;)

We'll be back in four days with pics and stories to tell!

~Am~

Website of the Week

Hello Lu n' Am readers,

We have just received an e-mail from a representative of Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awarness Center, an organization recognized as the web's leading organization for relevant and authoritative information regarding asbestos and health complications associated with asbestos exposure.

The MAA Center regards high environmental and green presence as a critical part of their movement and promotes the use of sustainable green products, awareness of past buildings and preventative steps in avoiding asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.

Be sure to check out their website as well as their blog in order to gain further knowledge on these important environmental and health issues.

Also, we are hopeful and excited about the possibility of a guest post from the public outreach assistant of the MAA Center, and we are very honored to be able to relay such valuable information to our readers.

Please be sure to check out these links:

- http://www.maacenter.org/

- http://www.maacenter.org/blog/


Hope you guys have a wonderful week and that your fourth of July celebration was a fantabulous one!

-Lucie

VegWare

In preparation for you 4th of July festivities, I wanted to let you know about about a company that makes compostable and biodegrable tableware and cutlery, known as Vegware. It

-Is made from natural starch and fibers.
-Will not melt in hot liquids like some biodegrable products & can withstand high temperatures.

There are other neat facts about the Vegware line of products that you can find out about by going to their website. And tomorrow, when you're hanging out with your friends and family, celebrating the country and eating and drinking the day and night away, if you're using disposable items, think about using compostable and biodegradable items, like Vegware.

~Am~

Making a difference on vacation

(Via flickr.)

I will be going, in a few short days, to the beach with a couple of friends. While there, I'm going to do my darnedest to be as eco-friendly as possible. Here are some things that I'm going to do to reduce my waste on the trip:

-Use personal water bottle instead of purchasing water bottles
-Use personal coffee cup instead of using the horrible non-recycle to-go cups
-Bring tote bags for shopping instead of using plastic store bags
-Use container from home for left overs instead of styrofoam containers
-Pick up trash that isn't mine on the beaches I visit

~Am~

Earth Day!

Oh yes - it's our day! The day we wait for every year: Earth Day! Ok, it's not today - but tomorrow and we're excited!

(From we heart it.)

Here in Asheville, NC we consider ourselves to be pretty Earth and eco friendly, and we have a joyous time on Earth Day. We have celebrations before, on, and after Earth Day.

To see what goes down in the A-Ville for Earth Day, look below:
-MountainXpress
-Other celebrations

What does your city do for this glorious day? We'd love to know!

~Am

Wow, guys

Sorry. We haven't posted since the 2nd of April. We're truly sorry. We've been slacking. We've been tired. We've been...well we've been living our lives.

(From we_heart_it.)

Lu's been...finishing up her semester. This isn't her last one, but almost. She'll be graduating in December.

Am's been...trying to establish a writing career via various freelancing sites and doing some writing for whoever will take her.

All the while, we've been trying to stay green. It's pretty successful most of the time. We try to do our best.

What have you been doing?
~Am

Testing my Green Thumb

I am very excited because I have just planted for the very first time, little lavender seedlings, chives, parsley, and sweet basil. I am new at this, and also super impatient & excited to see the first hints of a live plant growing in my apt. (-I will be devastated if they never grow :(
I will be making cute little labels for each pot, and probably be naming them (I know...strange). Our little money tree is Edward, he is strong and healthy despite his recent battle with plant cancer (rotting trunk)... I think we were overfeeding him.

If this works out, I am hoping to start a mini garden on my very wee patio.

The am also very excited about the cute natural fiber pots I stumbled upon. The brand is called Ecomaxx and these cute and colorful little pots are made from natural plant fiber materials (bamboo fiber, rice straw, wheat straw, and corn stalk) meaning they are 100% biodegradable.
They were also 0.99$...and cheap is always a plus.
Lucie= excited

Be a Green Irene

Here's an interesting concept that I stumbled upon the other day: being a green consultant. Not that the idea of being a green consultant is absurd (I actually consider myself somewhat of a green consultant), but that there's a program called Be a Green Irene, which teaches people how to be a green consultant.

"The Opportunity To Be An Eco-Consultant in Your Community We invite you to learn about our intriguing new opportunity in the BOOMING new Green Economy. Our Eco-Consultants are independent business women and men who work from their own home or office and are distributors of our Eco-consulting services and an array of green products."

"The amount of information about going green is overwhelming and often conflicting. As a local Green Irene Eco-Consultant, supported by the resources of Green Irene LLC, you can become the knowledgeable green friend your friends have been wishing for. You will have all the tools and information necessary to move your clients toward a healthier, greener life."

What do you think about this? It seems legit but...I don't know. I think I like the concept of it though. What are your thoughts?
~Am~

a green potluck

So yesterday was my 24th my bday and, boy, was it ever a blast! We'd tried to make it as green as possible. Our efforts included:

-Organic Chips & Dip from our fav. grocery store Greenlife
-Handmade Pizzas made from organic flour
-No use of plastic plates/cups or flatware (we happen to have a surplus of the glass & silver kind, respectively).
-Carpooling of guests.
-Local beer for the drinking from the awesome microbrewery Highland Brewing Co.

It was a last minute event, so I think we did pretty well doing our best to be environmentally aware in the party plans. What other green activities do you do when planning a party?

(A sampling of my handmade pizzas.)

To read more about the joyous activities from last night, check out the Roller Girl post, here.
~Am~

Seven Star Events

Need to throw a huge, huge, huge event but want it to be green and safer for the earth? Then call on Seven Star Events. Based in Asheville, Seven Star Events has "provided turn-key green event services for festivals, trade and consumer expositions, conferences, concerts, and mobile tours."


I actually met the VP of Business Development, Joseph B. Malki, in 2007 when I applied for a job with them. Everyone was super nice, and I loved the house they were stationed in. Plus, I adored the line of shoes by the door - it reminded a lot of college for some reason.

They also have internships, which help students learn the ropes in event planning in a sustainable and environmentally-healthy way. I am super interested in them because of all of these factors and I'd really love to get an internship with them. I want to work for a company that is passionate and caring about our Earth and I think they are a pretty good choice, don't you?

To find out more info about Seven Star Events, check them out here.
~Am~

movie rentals

Here's a debate that takes into consideration a variety of factors: where to rent movies. Such factors to take into consideration are, of course, money, environmental impact, convenience and economic impact (not the same thing as money).

(Source.)

The places I frequent to rent movies are:

Redbox
Rosebud Video
Ingles
UNCA library
Public library

Other places I could rent movies from:

Blockbuster
Other chain movie stores
Other local/non-chain stores
Netflix

Or I could just watch movies online via a variety of movie-watching sites (for free and not-free)...like Netflix, Itunes, YouTube and SurfTheChannel.

What do you think is the most eco-friendly & affordable place to rent movies? Your local rental place or an online site? What's the best thing to do when you're aching for a good cinematic experience?
~Am~

charity:water

Here at Lu-n-Am, we have the wonderful opportunity to discover and support many new causes - whether it's supporting a new up and coming artist or supporting an environmental project. Our latest and greatest new find is charity:water. An international charity and cause, charity:water:

"is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. We give 100% of the money raised to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. Just $20 can give one person in a developing nation clean water for 20 years."

In supporting and fund raising efforts, the twitter community is holding an international festival - termed a twestival. In cities all over the world twestivals are coming together to raise money for safe drinking water. Like the cities Paris, Tel Aviv and San Fransisco (and many others!), Asheville is holding a twestival.

The twestival in Asheville will be held at the Windows on the Park on Feburary 12 from 6-11pm. And all it takes is a $10 donation to get in. There will also be yummy food and beer from local businesses to dig into while there.

Two video shoots are also being held today at Pritchard Park with people pledging money to charity:water. All you have to do is show up with a little moolah ($5) & pledge to donate the money! The shoots will be held at 11:30am and 3pm today and will be broadcasted on youtube to spread the word.

The closest twestival in the area is being held in Charlotte, so if you're dying to attend and you're in the area or if your city isn't holding a twestival of their own, come check out the twestival in Asheville! Also check out the ipledge that's happening today and make your donation to charity: water!
~Am~

swishing

During a discussion with my eco-minded friend who lives in England, she shared with me a trend that is all the rage in the UK amongst those who are living a sustainable lifestyle - swishing.

Courtesy of swishing.org

Swishing is the ultimate in reducing, reusing and recycling. Essentially swishing is a gathering of girlfriends in an upbeat, party-like atmosphere with the purpose of clothes swapping. Attendees arrive with one good quality item of their clothing or an accessory they no longer want/wear and leave with a new item from the pool of items brought by their friends. It's a win-win! You end up with a new piece to add to your wardrobe, without having to spend anything, and you have managed to put your old clothes to good use!

The website swishing.org has great information on upcoming swishing events - unfortunately, it seems the parties listed are exclusive to the United Kingdom. I couldn't find swishing in the US but I did find a great resource here in the US that takes swishing even one step further! Swap O Rama by Wendy Tremayne organizes events throughout the US. (I was surprised to see that an event had taken place right here in Knoxville!) Not only does a swap o rama encourage an exchange of clothing, these events have sewing machines and DIY stations where you can revamp your newly acquired item. A fashion show concludes the event!

In 2009, I challenge Lu, Am, myself and all of our readers to host an event! The possibilities are endless - wedding themed swishes, children's clothing swishes, etc! It's easier than you think. Swishing.org gives details on how to host an event including an invitation template. You may contact Wendy Tremayne via email to solicit her expertise in hosting a Swap O Rama event.

If you have participated in an event like this or are planning on accepting our challenge, please let us hear from you! We'd love to post pictures!

Cheers, Kimberly

reusing your holiday papers

What does one do when the holidays are over and you are swimming in a sea of wrapping paper, gift bags and cards? Throw them away? Gasp, no! You reuse them!

(Photo via the bluegirlxo.)

I found this fab article on Crafting a Green World about reusing your holiday refuse. One of my favorite ideas is using the old paper to incorporate in sewing projects. Since I received a spiffy sewing machine for Christmas, I'm really excited to give this a try!



Any other ideas from the peanut gallery? Please - share it!


~Am~

the little things

As our Christmas festivities come to a close, I would like to muse over the little green things that were implemented into my holiday celebration this year. All of these I am very happy about and am so thrilled to have been able to implement them so easily.

Wrapping paper/products-I used some old paper my mother gave me last year to wrap my presents. I then took construction paper and decorated the packages. I also printed super cute tags and stuck those on.

Decorations-I actually created some decorations this year and with a little help from some tuturials I flew right along making cute snow-like flakes, which I hung from my ceiling. These decorations we so simple, even my boyfriend made some with ease and enthusiasm. And of course, when I visited Lu and her lovely mom (La Martha Stewart of France) I saw how the love of handmade decorations had filled their home. There were snowflakes hanging from ceilings, little handmade trees with our names on them and candy cane stands.

(Bag by Lucienne.)

(Tea box by Lucienne, aussi.)

Gifts-Oh man, how I love handmade/homemade gifts, and did I ever hit the handmade jackpot this year! Our very own Martha Stewart of France made me and the beau a beaucoup of gifts! I received a friggin gorgeous bag (one of the many Madame Stewart has been making this season), a jewelry box, and a tea box. All handmade! And from the Lu I got, of course, my favorite thing to get from an artist, a painting! I had raved about this Nancy Drew idea for a painting that she had mentioned and, well, lucky me, I got me a Nancy Drew collaged painting! Score one for the home team.

Next year, or rather this year, I hope to make even more green and sustainable additions to my holiday celebrations.

~Am~

earth friendly family fun!

We hope everyone is having a very happy Christmas! Whilst we are still enjoying this festive season, I had to take time out to recommend two more great green book finds - i love dirt! and Eco Friendly Families.

The first selection includes 52 activities/suggestions to introduce your children to the beauty of the natural world. I love that this book is divided into the four seasons. The activities are geared toward stimulating such things as 'stewardship and caring toward living things', 'curiosity and exploration', and 'awareness of weather patterns' amongst many other subject areas. Though the book may initially seem a bit simplistic, I love that it gives prompts to parents to get the "environmental juices" flowing. I look forward to diving in with my two girls.

I haven't had a chance to examine Eco Friendly Families very closely yet but I look forward to learning more ways to involve the girls in our ongoing quest to embrace a green lifestyle.

I would love to hear from our readers...do you have any activities which inspire the next generation of greenies?