Weekend Re-Cap

I  had a wonderful weekend! We had so much fun at last weekend's Green Market, we decided to kick this weekend off with a return trip, but this time, we brought the whole gang (ie. boyfriend's family in tow).

The weekend also included:

• finishing up some beading projects, including a birthday present for Mom
• lunch at the ocean front
• car washing
• tea with Marci Zaroff
• concocting lavender/cashew/coconut ice cream with blueberry sauce
• writing thank-you notes

And OF COURSE the weekend concluded with the Oscars :-)

Herbs for sale at the market

A Dr. Suess Tree

From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

~Dr. Seuss

Upward facing pine needles, star shaped tree-top towering over houses; There’s something about this funny tree that makes me feel like I’m in a Dr. Seuss book.

 

"Catch! calls the Once-ler.
He lets something fall.
It's a Truffula Seed.
It's the last one of all!
You're in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.
Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax
and all of his friends
may come back."

~ Dr. Suess, The Lorax (who speaks for the trees)

Eco Clothing Rant

Made from 26 nylon baseball jackets

These pictures of Gary Harvey's recycled clothing designs are fun and inspiring, but not very wearable in the day-to-day grind. Why is eco-clothing so dang hard to find in a store? 

When eco-clothing is in a store it’s either made by a brand that doesn’t advertise their  “do-gooderness” and so, you only know what you are buying if you’ve previously done research or it’s super hippy dippy.

I love Jonano, Blue Canoe, Bgreen, Pants to Poverty; I just wish the clothes were more accessible.

Note: I did buy some Jonano pants at Whole Foods – go figure!

Made from 42 pairs of Levi's 501s

  

Made by attaching 30 copies of the Financial Times to a corset 

Serendipitous Weekend

 My weekend included a Green Market, Indian food, play time with puppies, yoga, walking, ocean, and ice cream...what did yours include?

Sinfully delicious "walk-around" cone of Cider Donuts at the Green Market

Flowers!

Bread bakers, thank you for the rosemary foccacia

                                

Pasta - check out the label of the middle bin in the back row "dark chocolate."         I had a sample, yum, just cook and add butter ;-)

Coconut juice man doin' his thang with a machete

Thank you coconut juice man with your machete

 On the way back to the car after the Green Market (wish I didn't have to drive there, but it wasn't THAT close), I stumbled through India Fest. I'm so glad I did, because I'd been craving Indian food for weeks. I had a delicious lunch!

                

Walking in the sand on a Sunday evening, a beautiful end to a wonderful weekend.

 

Happiness and Healing

Happiness exists in telling the truth and saying the truth, and in giving away what you want the most. When we give to the world what we desire the most, we heal inside ourselves.   

~ Eve Ensler

I just watched a TED TALK by Eve Ensler, the creator of the Vagina Monologues. She speaks eloquently through stories like a natural performer, but also with an earthy realness.  I’ve wanted to watch the Vagina Monologues for a few years now, but have yet to get an opportunity.

Watch or listen to her talk: http://on.ted.com/8vb8

Find out more about Eve and the Vagina monologues: http://www.vday.org/home

Gift Making

I love giving gifts. I love making things. I love making things to give to people. Making things is fun, because I get to open my heart and un-leash some creativity. It’s also a great way to learn from and share time with friends.  Last holiday season, the most recent holiday season, I experimented with making bath and beauty projects. They're a great gift any time of the year and I plan on making more and trying new recipes. Here's what I made this winter:

• Felted soap 
• Body balm
• Bath salts
• Re-purposed candles 
• Comfrey salve

Felted soap: I learned how to make felted soap from my boyfriend’s mom. She saw them in Anthropologie (one of my favorite shops!) and went home and figured out how to make them. You Tube is also a great reference for anyone wanting to give it a go.

Body balm and bath salts: I figured these two out on my own after doing lots of online research. Though, the labeling was in collaboration with three girlfriends.

Re-purposed candles: Making re-purposed candles was last years’ Christmas project with my only friend who shares my enthusiasm for Christmas AND making things.

Comfrey salve: I used comfrey from my own backyard that steeped in olive oil for 4 weeks before being made into salve. My friend who has done several outdoor survival and tracking trainings helped me out with this project.

                                          

Felted soap

                                           

 Balms, salve, and candles prettily packaged

Bath salts in bags, balms, and candles packaged and on their stands at my work station

Try making some home made goodies for yourself; I really like the formate and recipes on this site: http://www.makeyourcosmetics.com/

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope your heart is filled with an abundance of love today and every day!!

 My Valentine gave me flowers and I...

              ...made a vegetarian breakfast for my Valentine.

The puppies got Valentines too: heart shaped treats, pink for the lady Bailey, and blue for Bono the boy.

 And, it's not Valentine's day without some chocolate! Home baked fudgey brownies, yummmmm!