Some Beach, Somewhere

I love the way art and novels can get you lost in other worlds and alternative spaces in your mind, it makes the everyday a vacation. Now, I don’t make my desktop wallpaper sandy beach destinations because when I think of a vacation that’s not what comes to my mind, However today is the exception.  I am feeling inspired by unplanned road trips that find you sleeping in your car or waking up in the sand which is why I love this picture.

I love…

• the way it is not sunny but over-casted
• the way I believe it smells
• that the sky and the water are green rather than blue and although its in Cuba, I feel like I could find this space on almost any beach in the world
• how the green colors make the concrete look orange and rusty
• that no one is at the beach (that I can see), there is something special about having a public place all to yourself even if its only for ten minutes or even if you have to get up at 4am to make it happen
• the way this picture makes me feel today

Taking A Shine to Shiner

Joe Manus, an Atlanta based eco-friendly home furnishings designer, contacted abby’s road this week to share some of his work and I am thrilled to do the same- Nothing speaks to my heart like green chairs! His collection is almost hyper-masculine, but it lends itself to a very eclectic and handsome look.

Tough, dark, and proudly damanged, Joe’s label- Shiner, can be found here.

Top 9 of 2009

A new year always brings a countdown of some variety, right!?

Here are my Top 9 Green Efforts of 2009 (in no particular order)…

1. Recycling bin in the bathroom. It’s amazing how much toiletry packaging shouldn’t be thrown away!

2. Reusable coffee-sleeve.  Bring your own cup-sleeve for coffee on the fly. I finally found a use for my old tennis wristbands. Major chains like Starbucks and Caribou sell these now.

3. Reusable totes. I’ve mentioned this before. I like to keep mine in my car or folded up in my purse so that I never forget it.

4. Dryer-less. I line dry all of my clothes now. This is by far the hardest change I have had to adapt to this year. Pros: colors are bright & fabrics less worn. Cons: no fabric softener makes for stiff clothing & waiting until the last minute is not longer an option!

5. Recycled art. I started this project months ago, primarily out of boredom, and it has grown to cover my entire hallway. Found on Design Sponge. I get tons of compliments on it. Someone even asked me if I could make them one.

6. Natural cleaning products. I love Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products- they smell so good! They come in scents of lemon verbena, basil, lavender, geranium, baby blossom, and Iowa pine.

7. Reusable water bottles. The larger ones are hard to clean- I recommend a baby bottle brush.

8. (CSA) Community Supported Agriculture. This has exposed me to vegetables I never knew existed, plus it’s making me healthier! My new favorite veggie has to be fennel- it tastes like licorice but its savory and wonderful. Google “CSA” and your city for an organization near you.

9. Unplug everything. I have become a little anal-retentive when it comes to unplugging my electronics now, but that and using florescent light bulbs has brought my electricity bill down to about $13 a month.