bon iver wash deluxe

the piano is just swaying in the breeze

prodigal summer

“This is how moths speak to each other. They tell their love across the fields by scent. There is no mouth, the wrong words are impossible, either a mate is there or he is not, and if so the pair will find each other in the dark.”

-Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer

Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favorite authors of all time.  In Prodigal Summer she brings the reader alive by opening their eyes to the intricate, beautiful and sensual world of nature which the characters, and all of us, are embedded within.  One of my most fun and purposeful reads yet...

"It is not the language of painters but the language of nature to which one needs to listen."

-Vincent van Gough

the reason Recycle comes last...

There’s a reason that ‘recycling’ comes last in the mantra: Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle.

"Recycling is what we do when we're out of options to avoid, repair, or reuse the product first. That's why I am so impressed with Patagonia for starting its Common Threads Initiative with the real solution: Reduce. Don't buy what we don't need. Repair: Fix stuff that still has life in it. Reuse: Share. Then, only when you've exhausted those options, recycle."

– Annie Leonard, author of The Story of Stuff

Take the pledge here to reduce your environmental footprint.

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

-Albert Einstein

Artwork by David Bellemere

think before you buy

Why would a company put this on an ad... on Black Friday in the New York Times?

My favorite outdoor company, Patagonia, has taken a pledge to their Common Threads Initiative to urge consumers, even their own, to think before they buy. They have taken it on as their duty.  "Buy nice or buy twice," is what my dad always told me.  Today new meaning is being found in this phrase.

For the whole ad, article by Patagonia, and to learn about being a responsible consumer, click here.  Thanks again Patagonia for pushing us to the next step towards a sustainable consumer by a sustainable company.

Much Love.

UPCYCLE by MapleXO

I bought some bangles when I lived in Tempe, AZ at the 1st Friday art fair a couple years ago by a brand called "BROKESTREET"  They upcycle old skateboard decks into totally rad jewelry.

Now I've discovered a brand based out of my home town, Portland, OR, called MapleXO.  Lindsey Jo, the creator, has really made the concept into a full scale business! 

Check out their bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, money clips, pendants, belt buckles, cuff links and even iPhone cases. I love the door-knocker earrings (the biggest earrings they make) and their new line- MXO: Raw

The skateboard bangles in AZ were what first caught my eye.

Upcycled into sick crystal gems- love it.

Better than them stacking up in a landfill :)

Thanks to MapleXO.com for the pics of your rockin goods.

singapore

 On Thursday I left work early and headed to the Bangkok Int'l Airport via the Airport Link sky train.  I was off to Singapore and so excited to see not only a new city but one full of amazing urban planning with beautiful use of green space and an amazing public transportation system.

Plus, I hoped to stumble upon some sustainable headed fashion ;)

With nothing but a small backpack for the weekend, I walked off the plane and almost right onto MRT.  I took it strait to the hostel where Colin had already paid for my bed that night.  Turns out the hostel was a green backpacker lodge, the Tree In Lodge, ran by two awesome outdoor activists, packers, climbers and cyclists.  Good job, Colin!

keepin' up-to-date on greeness in the media

Deck the halls with sustainable reminders...

The Common Room

Connections to nature information on every door.

The next day was meetings for work followed by an awesome jazz bar off a little street called Haji Lane.  The street was lined with little store front shops of sino-portugese architectural columns and arches.  I knew I'd have to come back the next day when they were open....

What a lovely day on Haji Lane

Sure enough I found some great fashion. Many were imports from Korea who's fashion is off the charts!

There were even a bicycle boutiques and shops. I love the idea of paring a fashion boutique with other interests like sustainable transportation that is so much fun.  There's no denying that the bicycle subculture continues to develop with fashion forward fixed gears and commuter fashion lines with functional form and hooks/ loops on clothing.

Check out the Levi's commuter line here.

PS- Specialized recycling bins and trash cans everywhere. It illegal to liter in Singapore, and if you're caught, they put you in a orange jumpsuit for community service picking up everyone else s trash, whether your a rich tycoon or not!

Bamboo clothes shop!  Uber soft and comfy for yoga and casual wear.

After crawling around Haji Lane, we hopped on a bus that took us strait to MacRitchie Park.  Its a park connected to a wild life reserve with a 12 kilo hike.  Just what we needed.

We saw so many animals and old growth trees... looking up and them as well as down...

Looking down at the rainforest canopy from the suspension bridge.

The suspension bridge was the peak of the hike! It was built to observe the ecosystem found in the canopies as well as for hikers to get a rare live view of the forest from the top.

MacRitchie Suspension Bridge

On the trails you stumbled upon footprints with quotes from the best environmental stewards...

Sunset on the reservoir. What a great way to end the trip.

Thanks for the great hike, Singapore.

virgin coconut oil

I've heard natural health experts claim that true virgin, cold pressed coconut oil is one of the best things for your skin and hair.  Nature's finest emollient, it is soothing to dry and sun burnt skin, acts as an antibacterial, hydrates hair, stylizes facial hair (like the curly-cue mustache my old roomy Brando uses it for) and message oil (even safe for internal use).

I have also heard that it is very hard to get TRUE virgin cold pressed coconut oil in the U.S. and that there are limited suppliers of the real thing that ship it across the globe from Southeast Asia.  Well, now I'm in Thailand and I keep seeing it everywhere!

My latest find . . .

Smile Way Coconut Oil- made in Thailand

It comes in a glass bottle (which I always prefer over plastic because it can be recycled infinitely) and it only cost 100 THB, which is about $3.00.

If you know how to tell if it is ligit or not, post to inform the rest of us!

the body shop splurge

Living in rustling, bustling city of Bangkok for the past 5months really makes me aware of all the toxicity swimming around in the airaround me.

My splurge: The Body Shop, which can be found pretty muchanywhere around the world.  It makes metingle knowing that all the packaging is recycled plastic.  Recently, they have begun offering their“Earth Lover’s” line which uses no sulphates, alcohols, preservatives or parabens (in other words OIL!)

I consider aluminum-free deoderant a must. Anything with heavy metals helps to off-set your bodies natural PH level pulling it to the acidic side.  The acidic body is susceptible to disease while an alkaline body cannot get, or remain, sick. (According to naturopathic healing science)

They also seek out the best fair trade ingredients to help support rural communities around the world.

 

These are some of my favorites from my recent splurge inattempt to escape some of the toxins going into my skin.

 From left to right: Earth Lover Shampoo and Conditioner in Rainforest Moisture (Go for the Moisture Shine or Moisture Balance if your hair gets oily easily), Cocoa Butter Lipcare Stick is so tasty, Olive Oil Bar Soap, Grapeseed Glossing Serum (for frizzies- smells AMAZING), DeoDry Dry-Effect Deoderant Cool & Zesty Stick (Aluminum Free is a MUST), delipscious Tinted Lip Conditioner in Berry Crush, Cheek Colour and Strawberry soap samples that got thrown in for free :)

 

vintage never looked so good

Discovering vintage treasures to rock is sustainable in itself.  Instead of your purchase supporting something newly produced and all the energy that went into it, you can reuse the quality vintage items and have fun finding them too!

This piece was sold by Free People's Vintage Loves.  The dress tells the story of a young lady who started Gun Sax Revival prairie dresses in the 60s.  Her company is known today as the more luxurious Jessica McClintock. Who knew?

These lovely layers make me wanna get my feet dirty in a grassy field.
Thank you Free People for the photo, and seeking out some of the most beautiful recovered vintage <3 and of course, making it readily available to us.

Be inspired by vintage!