What's to come

Morning all! Sorry it's been a while since my last post but I've been crazy busy.... I got married. Now that things are calming down and All the ideas that have been on the back burner of my my brain are now coming to the surface. So needless to say I'm writing up a storm. So, here's some of what you can expect in the coming weeks and extended future from this blog.

My green wedding wrap up will be about 2 weeks away because I want to include some of our amazing pictures. It was a wonderful day which will be covered in 2 more posts.

During, my wedding weekend a very special friend of mine went beyond the call of duty to help make my day perfect. She has a lot of dietary challenges so as a thank you gift i'm writing a gluten free vegan cookbook for her. On the 2nd Monday of each month I will now be posting a gluten free vegan recipe, some from this book, to celebrate meat free Mondays. Additionally, you can expect one additional vegetarian recipe as well as at least one seasonal recipe reflecting what I'm currently noshing on/what is currently inspiring me.

Other upcoming features will be some fitness tips and meditations. But first up, I'm feeling very inspired by my honeymoon (I'm currently writing this post from beautiful Waikiki beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. My travel experience with my new hubby has inspired me to write a few things on green travel, as well as local eating while on vacation. I also am writing my travel guide to Oahu, so if any of you make it here you'll have some ideas of where to go.

Well, that's the news for now, keep your eyes peeled over the next few days for my traveling green article and a recipe or two on yummy Hawaiian cuisine. I'm off to spend the day heading to some of the places Tony Bourdain visited on his last trip here. I promise lots of photos & tidbits. Aloha!

Treat yourself to a Spa Day.....at Home

I don't know about you, but this spring so far is a little bit stressful for me. I am so ready for the warm weather to arrive.  After overindulging during the winter on comfort food we're thinking about how to get the extra weight off before spring/ summer bathing suit season arrives.....Not to mention cleaning up our living spaces because of all the dust the winter dry air creates & the extra stuff we've acquired over the holiday season. Add a wedding about a month and a half away to the mix and I could really use some "me time".


In an ideal world, we should all be able to take a spa day, but realistically that usually costs a lot more money than most of us can afford. ( I'd love to head down  the road to the Hershey spa once a month for a chocolate facial but I'd need to win the lottery first). Here are some ideas to combat stress by taking a mini spa vacation at home.  These ideas are not only good for the planet,  and relaxing for you, but also good for your budget.

For a calming start to your at-home-spa session, dim the lights, light a fragrant candle, and let your mind wander while you soak in the tub.

You already know that it's good practice to exfoliate your face with a gentle scrub at least once a week, but don't overlook your body. Then scrub off all that pesky dry skin using  a good salt scrub (mine's NYR Organic Frankincense & Mandarin body polish).

For a homemade salt scrub mix: 1 cup sea salt, 6Tbsp vegetable oil with 8 drops of each  the following blend of essential oils:lavender , vetiver & ylang ylang.

A quick rinse off and then use a good body lotion, like NYR Organic Calendula & Oat body lotion.

Make sure to have some good meditation music playing in your home to get the true spa experience and take you away from all the stress & worries surrounding you at home.

Next up, slip into a comfy robe, and slippers…….. then onto the facial.  First, wash your face with your favorite cleanser. Then, treat yourself to a face mask.  If you’re channeling you’re inner (and more thrifty) Martha Stewart you can totally make your own with ingredients you have in your pantry. Here is one of my favorites:

Avo Beta Cream Masque
This combination of ingredients will improve your skin's texture, dimminish age spots & rebuild collagen when used regularly. It also helps to tighten your pores. Mix the following:
1/4 cup heavy cream, 1 carrot that has been cooked & mashed , 1 avocado (peeled, pitted & mashed), 2 Tbsp honey & 1 beaten egg.

Spread the mixture over your face & neck. Relax for 15 minutes. rinse with cold water. The thicker the consistency, the more intense it will feel on your skin.
Bonus: An avocado pit makes a natural massage tool. Rub & roll it against your skin to soothe tired muscles.

OR, if you want to use something that’s already made for you,  I can’t recommend NYR Organic products enough.  Here are a few good choices depending on your skin type:

Fighting Signs of Aging? Check out the Rejuvenating Frankincense Firming Mask

For Normal Skin try the Rose Formula Antioxidant Facial Mask.  If you have Dry Skin the Nourishing Orange Flower Facial Mask is the perfect fit for you.  I have combination skin so I like the Palmarosa Purifying Facial Mask and Honey Orange Facial scrub.  These are also great choices for those of you with oily skin. Super Sensitive?  Try the White Tea Enriching Facial Mask.

After applying your mask, slap some cucumber slices on your eyes and lay back for about 10-15 minutes. Remove the mask, and apply a toner. Then, be sure to moisturize.

About now,  you should probably be feeling a bit peckish, so treat yourself to a nice spa lunch. Here is one of my favorite spa themed lunches which I tend to prep ahead of time, so I can truly relax during my spa experience.  This recipe is courtesy of food & wine magazine: Red Lentil Salad with Feta & Beets

After lunch I curl up with a good book until the family comes home and I have to return to the muggle world. I hope you enjoy your home spa days as much as I do. Make sure to treat yourself at least once a month.

Interested in trying out the luxurious products from NYR Organic Yourself? You can buy them here:

https://us.nyrorganic.com/shop/MichelleKing

Green Spring Cleaning

The weather is turning warm and I can finally open the windows & air out the apartment. we've been clearing out & cleaning room by room.  Both my partner & I find that we are much more relaxed when our home is a more open space, free of clutter.  I got slightly distracted while straightening our office/guest room this morning by this wonderful article on spring clenaing on the gaiam website. I think you'll find it helpful, I sure did! A guide to green spring cleaning

Really feeling inspired? Check out one of my older posts about how to make your own natural cleaning products.  Homemade Houshold CleanersHappy Spring cleaning!

How to Brew a Greener Cup of Coffee

Morning All! I was feeling rather slugglish this morning and whilst drinking my coffee I found this great article. Hope you enjoy!



How to Brew a Greener Cup of Coffee

Start Your Morning Off Right, part two

I have had a serious case of the winter blahs, which struck right after that tease of several 70 degree days a few weeks back. The hardest part for me has been getting up early in the morning, while my honey is still extra snuggly and snoozing away in our comfy bed.  I've learned that if I don't have a good breakfast the day really drags and I lack motivation. I posted an article last year, Keep Your Energy Levels up With Protein, which had some breakfast ideas. These recipes are great.....when you have a bit more time on your hands. I still make them on the days when I head to work later or its my day off.  These days I'm rather short on time,  so I had to come up with something better. Enter Wegman's magazine.

Those of you who know me personally know I love Wegman's for their local produce and huge natural market section. Not to mention I dream of living in their cheese section, a dangerous place I assure you if you're  a foodie.   I always read their magazine recipe suggestions and was never really all that wowed until this month. Why? Because they solved my breakfast dilemma.  On page 45 of their Winter 2011 issue is a recipe that they call Super Sunrise Start. Its a recipe that contains everything that I need to get my day going: protein in the form of nuts & yogurt and whole grains from their Sunrise Blend Grains ( a combination of Wheat Bulgar, Buckwheat groats, Colusari Heirloom Red Rice, brown flax seed and whole grain quinoa flakes.) And I even get to enjoy all kinds of yummy fruit (which to me is like tasting the spring sunshine).

Here is the recipe, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

You'll need:
1 1/4 cups Organic Vanilla Yogurt
1 pkg (7 oz) Food You Feel Good About Sunrise Blend with Quinoa Flakes (Grocery Dept)
1 cup Fat Free Milk
1 cup sliced strawberries, preferably organic
1 cup organic red grapes
1 cup organic blueberries
1 organic Granny Smith Apple
1 Banana, sliced
2 Tbsp favorite honey, I like mine from Strites Orchard, right around the corner
1 cup of your favorite nuts, walnuts, pecans & almonds all do nicely

The recipe serves 8 so I cut it in half and make a new batch of the yogurt & grain mix every few days.If you notice I marked the fruit listed as organic, its because these particular fruits are some of the ones highest in pesticide levels at the grocery store.

Directions:

1. Evening before serving: Combine yogurt and Sunrise Blend in mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
    
2. To serve: Add  a splash of  milk, sliced or chopped fruit, and honey to grain mix. Combine well. Portion into bowls and sprinkle individual servings with nuts. 

Mixture can be stored, without fruit and nuts, in refrigerator up to 3 days. Just add fruit and nuts when serving.

I make up the fruit salad the day before as well so in the morning all I have to do is mix together the grain mixture with the fruit and top with a drizzle of honey. It takes less than a minute to do. 

This is a great way to enjoy a power packed breakfast when you're short on time. 

The Green Aisle: What to Wear

Lets start with the bridal party: The guys are easy, renting is about as green as you can go (if you want your party to wear formal wear), provided that no one has to go very far to pick up their tux.

My flower girl is obsessed with princesses, so her dress will double as a dress up outfit once the wedding is over. 

For the  other girls things  were a bit trickier.  Ideally we would have loved to go with organic fabrics, but after doing some research these dresses were way out of my friends' budgets. If you have the money to blow and want a more traditional cocktail look, Alfred Angelo had a very cute line of organic silk & cotton dresses Simply Alfred Angelo.

There's nothing worse than spending a ton of money on a brides maid dress and then see it taking up space in your closet because there is no way you'd ever wear it again.  We had considered sundresses but decided we wanted a more formal look. Renting a dress is a very green option, but for the money, my girls wanted something of their own.

So we opted for the next best option, we found dresses that my friends would wear again and they cost less than $100. We picked out several styles the girls liked, that flattered everyone and gave them two color choices. This way everyone got something they liked, was flattering and they would definitely wear again.



As far as my dress goes, it was tricky. I wanted something in an eco friendly fabric that was still comfortable & stylish.  There are some wonderful designers out there such as Olivia Luca, who offer a lot of earth friendlier fabrics but they were out of my budget and weren't style wise what I was looking for. A lot of the organic dresses I saw made of cotton were a little too casual for what I was looking for. After all, I still wanted to look like Ginger Rogers when I dance on my big day.  I decided on a compromise.  I ended up getting an elegant gown, but I can very easily shorten it to turn it into a formal dress to wear again and again. It also was within a very reasonable price point.  ( I can't see blowing several thousand dollars on a dress when i could use that money to buy solar panels or soemthing more responsible).  I absolutely love my dress, I feel like a Greek goddess in it, so that is a realistic expectation. (Pictures will follow on the big day wrap up post).

With all the information about the nastiness of the diamond trade I really was concerned about my engagement ring. There are some wonderful jewelry artisans on etsy. I also love the rings & jewelry on the Brilliant Earth website, which uses cruelty free diamonds and uses recycled gold and platinum. I will say these tend to be on the expensive side.  My fiance actually surprised me with my engagement ring. He  found one that was previously owned from a local jeweler and its totally unique. I never told him what I liked and he found the perfect ring. He's awesome ... what can I say?!

For all of our other accessories, I am a huge fan of Etsy. There are a ton of amazing artisans who make all kinds of jewelry, handbags, shoe clips, even veils.  You can include eco-friendly in your item searchand you'd be amazed at the thousands of products available. Our shoes will be ones that we'll get use out of as well. I bought myself a new pair of ballroom dance shoes (which I needed anyway). They are super cute and very comfortable. I'm decorating them with some shoe clips that were made from sustainable materials that will tie into our purple and green orchid theme.

I also found some great dresses to wear for the bridal shower, the bachelorette night, and rehearsal dinner made from organic fabrics such as cotton & bamboo. Here are a few companies that do that well: EcoSkin, Mountains of the Moon, Greenloop and I especially love the wrap from AngelRox which is made of bamboo, so its super soft and can be manipulated in several ways.

So, as you can see its not as hard to dress responsibly as you'd think. Yes there is a huge market in organic fabric dresses and and specialty shoes that you will pay a bit more for. If that's not an option, there are still  plenty of alternatives out there that are still responsible choices. Who says you can't have it all?!

Up next on the Green Aisle: Favors & Bridal Party Gifts

The Green Aisle: Location, Location, Location!

Sorry for the several month delay there folks, all this wedding planning has me running between several states without a lot of time on our hands. During this interlude my fiancee and I actually got to attend a few weddings and it only reaffirmed our decision to keep our wedding green & simple as possible.

Don't get me wrong, our friends' weddings were gorgeous and meticulously planned to the tiniest detail. We just confirmed that, in order to suit our personalities, our wedding needed to be on the simpler side and a green one.  Finding the right spot to hold one's wedding is a pretty daunting task. Its pretty much the first decision you have to make when planning a wedding.  After all, you can't really make any other decisions about the wedding or get your invites done until you know where the party is going to be.  Luckily for me, I had somewhere in mind and my fiancee agreed.

Its hard to be in control of how much a wedding has on the environment, unless you're in control of almost everything.....So we chose to get married outside, in a family friend's backyard, overlooking a river off the Chesapeake Bay.  Yes it will be beautiful, but there are several advantages & disadvantages to having an outdoor wedding, especially a green one.

With the exception of the weather, you are in complete control of all details, including  how much energy and resources you use. This was HUGE in my book. The downside to this is you need to do a lot more planning  and spend quite a bit more money for things that usually would already be included at a traditional indoor site.
In my opinion,  the extra expense and time it takes to plan is worth it, but this may not be true for everyone.

We are having our ceremony on a small deck and the reception is nearby under a tent. As much as I'd love to be tent free, we needed to plan for any inclement weather that may come up. Luckily I can still feel like I'm dancing under the trees because we found a local rental company that has clear topped tents.  (I should mention, if I haven't previously, I am attempting to keep as many of vendors as local to the site as possible to reduce our carbon footprint, as well as help the local economy).  I love the fact that we are surrounded by lots of lush green trees so we're not only reminding our guests about being eco-conscious......the beauty of nature all around them hopefully will help them think about their impact as they celebrate our special day with us.

Lighting will be provided mostly by the sun since our wedding is at 5pm and the sun doesn't usually go down this time of year until about 9.  This will help with reducing our energy usage. Once it does get dark the twinkle lights and lanterns we're using are LED's which use less energy. A large majority of them are also solar powered. If you're buying these yourself instead of renting them, some great deals can be found on ebay and your local home improvement store. (you can hit the post holiday sales at Lowe's and other stores & save a ton of money).

One concern that my mother brought up that I didn't think about before was bathrooms. Our guest list numbers have gone up quite a bit since my dad started inviting all his pals. We were able to rent a deluxe restroom trailer. We will be using a generator to power it and the DJ. Now we are trying to find a generator that runs on green fuel, or we may have to buy some carbon offset certificates. I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

A lot of the other details for the reception site, such as decor and flowers are in future posts.  Next green aisle topic is what to wear- how to find what you want, still stay green as possible & not spend a fortune. Until then, be good to yourselves and the planet!