Create an Eco-Retreat for Less With the West Elm Green Line
In the March/April issue of Spa (on newsstands now), we show you how to transform your bathroom into a relaxing, spa-like retreat. Hint: natural textures like wood and stone play a key role.
To create the look while being earth-friendly, check out West Elm Green, the retailer’s eco-conscious home decor line. All of these products (designated online by a tree icon) are either responsibly produced, certified organic, recycled, rapidly renewable, or non-toxic. West Elm also explains these labels in a PDF you can download.
Most of the collection is on sale this week, making it the perfect time to transform your bathroom, bedroom, or entire home into a sanctuary Mother Nature would love.
—Victor Maze, art director
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The Benefits of Turmeric
My husband Matthew and I have an unspoken household rule: he does 95 percent of the cooking, and I eat whatever he makes. This rule has not only made for a successful marriage, it’s also made eating at home a culinary adventure.
Unlike me, Matthew loves to cook — and he’s always up for a food experiment. Last year, we stocked up on nori, bamboo sushi rollers, and Japanese condiments to switch to a macrobiotic diet. When we moved to the Bay Area, all the wonderful local produce inspired a more locavore menu. Then, three weeks ago, we turned vegan. (Well, almost vegan, since I still occasionally succumb to my weakness for fried chicken.)
This foray into almost-veganism has opened my eyes to the many delicious things you can do with tofu. For instance, this morning, Matthew made scrambled tofu (instead of eggs) with mock breakfast sausage. His meals always come with a mini presentation, so in-between bites I learned that the key ingredient to this scramble is turmeric. The Asian spice not only adds a kick to the dish, it also has long list of health benefits — it’s an anti-inflammatory, aids in fat metabolism, and has been proven to help prevent the spread of cancer in mice, among other positive effects.
If tofu in the morning is not for you, try a pinch of turmeric instead of salt on your eggs to add some healthy flavor.
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotoosvanrobin/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
—Maria Wakem, senior editor
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Biodynamic Wines from Truett Hurst Winery
With holiday parties and New Year’s plans in full swing, the perfect pairing for any party is a great bottle of wine. Make it a biodynamic wine, and do better for yourself and the environment.
I recently visited Truett Hurst winery in Healdsburg, California’s Dry Creek Valley, and was blown away by the beauty of the property, as well as their biodynamic farming principals. Here you will find an indoor tasting area with two tasting bars and lounge area, an outdoor lounging/picnic patio (made of eco-friendly materials!), and peaceful, creek-side seating where you can enjoy a glass of wine and watch the fish swim by. There are even goats and sheep on the property (part of the biodynamic principals).
Of course, besides the beautiful property, the main focus is wine! My personal favorite is the Dessert Wine; it’s honestly one of the best I’ve ever had.
They have a great Zinfandel Rose that is perfect for pairing with lighter dishes and meats like seafood, turkey, and chicken, and an amazing selection of reds—their specialty.
Truett Hurst wines can be purchased online, or stop by their tasting room and try them for yourself!
For other holiday drink recommendations, check out Natalie’s picks on Day 5 of our holiday gift guide.
—Veronica Sooley, photo editor
Photographs by Veronica Sooley
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Holiday Cooking Tip: Stop Using Non-Stick Pans
During the holidays there’s a lot of entertaining going on, and a lot of cooking. It’s one of the best things about the season.
But did you know that cooking with non-stick pans (especially at a high-heat) can release perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) into the air you’re breathing? It’s true. And PFCs are not good for you, your family, your guests, or your pets.
That’s why the Environmental Working Goup is encouraging people to skip the non-stick this holiday season. Good alternatives to non-stick are cast-iron and stainless steel. But if you can’t switch out your pots and pans just yet, they’ve even got some tips on how to cook more safely with non-stick.
Get more info on PFCs and non-stick pans here, and then try some of these delicious and easy recipes for healthy holiday entertaining.
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rene-germany/ / CC BY 2.0
—Stephanie Kinnear, web editor
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The Wishing Wall from Uncommon Goods
I am inspired by this Wishing Wall from Uncommon Goods. It would be great as a wedding, baby, or graduation present (as the site suggests), but I like the idea of having it be a part of everyday life.
You could write yourself motivational notes that you open daily to help you stay on a diet, or you could jot down a mini diary entry every night and reread them all on New Year’s. Or what if you listed your frustrations on a sheet each day to help let them go?
If cardboard and bright colors aren’t your thing, you could cut vellum into strips and place the notes (either folded or rolled) in an apothecary jar for a more sophisticated take on the concept.
Image: Uncommon Goods
—Natalie Ridsdale, managing editor
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What’s Your Neighborhood’s Walk Score?
During a recent apartment search, I came across a real estate ad boasting a particular building’s Walk Score of 97 out of 100. The link led me to walkscore.com, a website that rates cities, neighborhoods, and even specific addresses based on how easily you can get around on foot. Proximity to stores, restaurants, schools, movie theaters, parks, and even bars is taken into account.
This is a great resource for city dwellers like me, who often walk not for exercise or environmentalism, but out of sheer necessity.
I sold my last car in 2002 and have spent the last seven years bouncing from Chicago to New York City to San Francisco—three of the site’s top cities. When apartment-hunting, I’ve discovered that having a 24-hour pharmacy or carry-out sushi joint right around the corner can make a ho-hum listing seem like a gem.
Even if you don’t live in the most pedestrian-friendly area, this site can help find the best neighborhood near you. For instance, Jacksonville, FL, ranks low on the list of walkability, but its San Marco neighborhood scores a respectable 80 on average, and parts of this neighborhood score as high as 94. According to the site, the area takes inspiration from the Piazza di San Marco in Venice, Italy, and its short blocks and abundant pathways help make it a walker’s oasis.
Sounds like a step in the right direction!
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/edgarzuniga/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
—Victor Maze, art director
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Makeup Storage Goes Vintage
I need everything to be neat and organized, so I store my makeup in a small clear plastic toolbox, but this post from Apartment Therapy takes the idea one chic step further by going vintage.
There are some beautiful wood options on online auction sites, but I also appreciate the industrial, my-skin-is-serious-business vibe that galvanized boxes give.
Either way, you get something both beautiful and functional—and what could be better than that?
How do you store your makeup?
Image: Apartment Therapy
—Natalie Ridsdale, managing editor
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Porridge’s Cotton Throws
I have been a fan of Porridge’s whimsical clothing and fabulous prints since I first saw them at Anthropologie, but didn’t realize they had a home line until I came across these throw blankets recently.
The blankets carry on the clothing line’s tradition of original and quirky printed fabric.
But the best part about the throws, and the reason I wanted to share them, is that they are made from 100% recycled cotton yarns!
There are six designs to choose from—three are available exclusively at Anthropologie, and the other three are available exclusively at Porridge online.
So go ahead, buy one for yourself and another for a friend and feel great about your green purchase!
—Veronica Sooley, photo editor
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Special Delivery – Spud! Grocery Service
I always thought online grocery shopping was a bit ridiculous. How busy do you have to be not to have time to go to the store? Now I am that busy and so I am thrilled to have discovered Spud! a new type of online grocery service.
Specializing in organic, natural, and local products, Spud! has everything I’d ever want to go to the store for and more—from bulk spices to grass-fed beef to natural bathroom cleaner—and they deliver it to my door every Friday, without fail.
The great thing is that I don’t need to be there to let them in and guess what? All that convenience actually costs less (far less) than what I had been paying at the grocery store around the corner from my house.
Spud! has also calculated that, because it buys from local producers, has a warehouse instead of a store, and delivers to multiple people per route, it saves hundreds of tonnes of CO2 every year. The service is currently available in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland in the U.S., as well as Mainland British Columbia, Greater Victoria, Vancouver Island, and Calgary in Canada, and Spud! plans to continue to add new delivery areas over the next two years.
—Amy Westervelt, senior editor
