SFF Loves Beauty | Beauty Energy
Wanting glowy skin and more energy I read The Beauty Detox Solution. This book does a great job of explaining the digestive system and how it works. Really backs up what we hear all the time - eating the way most Americans do now, is not sustainable and not healthy. Your body spends most of it’s energy on digestion over anything else - sounds crazy, doesn’t it. If you’ve ever wanted to take a nap after a meal, then you know where the energy was going. Not to your beauty! I’ve been cutting meat out of my diet for a while now, but this...
Read MoreSSF Loves Food | Bring Popsicles Back!
Yes, it’s January and it’s pretty darn cold outside, but we’ve been seeing popsicles everywhere. They started up last summer, and I’m sure the trend will continue on into summer 2013. This particular “cocktail popsicle” image really caught my eye on the Reclaiming Provincial Blog, not only because of the French 75 connection, but the color of these popsicles is amazing…looks like frosted glass, and futuristic, yet old fashioned. Great idea for a Grammy Party on February 10. Get your Sustainable Style , dress up and plan your own...
Read MoreSSF Loves Mobility | Recycling Your Old Tech
Having recently purchased a new 13″ MacBook Air (love it!), I talked to my “reverse mentor“, my brother Adam @Adam2k about what I could do with my old vintage white 2006 Mac. Here’s the scoop… You have options, and can make some extra cash on not just your old Mac, but your old Blackberry, iPhone, iPod and more. If it’s in really good shape and is a new model, Craigslist is still your best bet. Otherwise, check out either Gazelle or through Apple use PowerOn for an apple gift card. Power On will also send you a postage paid envelope to recycle any...
Read MoreSSF Loves Food | Seafood Health
Ever since I saw Jean Michel Cousteau (Jacques Cousteau’s son) speak at IIDA’s GreenWorld conference in Seattle, WA in 2003, I’ve kept a safe fish to eat list. Jean-Michel asked us to sign his contract which stated that we would not serve any fish at the event that was on the endangered species list, is over fished, or high in toxins. The list was at least 3 pages long, and that one small move of adding the list to his contract educated a lot of us very quickly. This infographic from One World One Ocean explains the whole fish and toxin chain really clearly,...
Read MoreSSF Loves Food | Sustainable Meat
This might sound a little creepy, but it’s not. I just read the most interesting article in Meatpaper magazine today. The magazine graphics are super clean, that’s what made me pick it up; otherwise I’ve been moving away from meat, except for the occasional steak. A few sustainable ranchers have been working on making a smaller carbon footprint and more organic meat, but it falls apart at the slaughterhouse - until now. Mobile Processing Units (MPUs) are being developed which go direct to the ranch. This makes the processes a little less stressful on the...
Read MorePlaydate that Ride!
Playdate is a company with some great ideas….cool bikes. They will take your bike and spice it up (pimp your ride), custom build a new one for you or you can buy one from their upcoming line to be launched in fall 2011. Not only are there some pretty awesome colorful and unique bikes, but a portion of the proceeds will go towards GOODWORKGROUP a charity that will include a bike building program for kids. Maybe it’s time to update your ride in NYC. - Christine Vandover, SSF New York City
Read MoreThick Wonderful Wool Rugs
Spotted these beautiful rugs at a past ICFF event, and recently ran across them again. Some remind me of the country wool braided my mother used have in our home in Virignia, only these are a much more artful and dramatic version. You can see the influence of Dana Barnes southeast upbringing in the work at Souled Objects. And then there are these beautifully detailed rugs with gathering that reference a fashion influence, and remind me of the simplicity of Dutch design. All you need is one of these rugs and one piece of furniture in a room and you are done; a beautiful...
Read MorePaula Hayes Crystal Garden
I’m a huge fan of the artistic terrariums of Paula Hayes, and actually trying to work one of her terrariums into a current interior design project. Today I discovered her “crystal gardens“. What a beauty of rocks, mineral and glimmer. Wonderful way to connect with the natural environment, but without the maintenance of plants. - Christine Vandover, SSF New York City
Read MoreEspalier
For Easter took a trek to nature, greenery is always a good de-stressor, to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The gardens were blooming with tulips, cherry blossoms, etc, however I was facinated by my discovery - ESPALIER (es-PAL-yey en francais). A style of planting by controlling plant growth by pruning and tying branches so they grow in flat planes. So beautiful! So stylish! Both modern, graphic, and ancient its from the 1500′s. The european monks started it all when they wanted to grow it tight places. How perfect for a small urban garden, all you need is a wall and select a...
Read MoreSimple items as objects of beauty
Discovered a beautiful shop,DARR, in Brooklyn on Atlantic Ave. Ordinary natural objects were wrapped in beautiful displays: japanese twine, yarns, tall steel cans, vintage. The artful displays are worth seeing, and makes me thing creatively about ordinary objects I have at home that can become art. - Christine Vandover NYC
Read MoreWind-Powered Website
