Farewells, Buddha Bellies & Tips for a Greener Home
GD Mizar & GD Jamie
Happy 2013! After a short holiday break, we are back in the studio – wooohoooo!
Listen to this week’s Green Divas Radio Show podcast or have fun reading the highlights below! 😉
GD Farewell – Back in 1991, I started a magazine about sustainable living called, Relevant Times, which after two separate versions (the last from 2006 – 2008) would evolve into the Green Divas. My then husband (yes, he became an ex, but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing, right?), Jon Rousseau was an integral part of that first version of the magazine back in the early 1990’s. The best of that union being our beautiful daughter, sweet Green Diva Mary, who made the cover of the magazine when she was only 6 months old.
Always remaining close to Jon’s family, Jon’s brother Scott ended up in the studio goofing around with the Green Divas and eventually became Green Dude Scott.
It is with a heavy heart the Green Diva family grieves the loss of Jon to a wicked and unforgiving cancer this past week. RIP Jon D. Rousseau 11.17.62 – 12.30.13.
Here’s a fun pic of the original Relevant Times crew back in 1991 (please ignore the hair and the shoulder pads!)
Tracy Coan, Liz Mills, GD Meg, Cinda Carnevale, Jon Rousseau
Foodie Fun – It felt weird and oddly timed, but I also celebrated my first wedding anniversary on New Year’s Eve (even though I’ve been with my honey Wayne for over 15 years). We enjoyed a special meal Adara Restaurant in Montclair, NJ. It was food as science meets art, meets foodie heaven. The chef describes it as modernist. I say it is an extraordinary culinary experience not to be missed. We were indulged in a 7 course vegetarian tasting that included a couple of mocktails (non-alcoholic treats), one that involved a lit/smoking piece of cinnamon stick, and one that was described as a “deconstructed cracker jack.” I can’t stop obsessing about the nitrous oxide aerated soup that featured a nitrogen-fried roquefort mousse, and the creative presentation of the “buddha belly,” which involved a glass plate with a hole in it with a bowl full of smoking herbs for the aromatic effect.
GD Correspondent: Laima Adomatis Brown, Alabama
Our GD Correspondent this week was Laima Adomatis Brown from Gulf Shores, Alabama. GD Laima is an artist who specializes in Eco-Art and Jewelry – Artweeds.com. She discussed an interesting trend in shipping container architecture. In Alabama, there is a new restaurant called The Gulf, which is made entirely of renovated shipping containers. This industrial style architecture is spreading all over the country and is has potential as a great and eco-friendly idea.
Green Diva Jamie’s Trip to Israel
Our in-house Jewish consultant, Green Diva Jamie had the opportunity to travel to Israel for 10 days during the holiday break. She explored the country from the luscious green North to the sandy dessert South.
During her visit she learned all about Israel’s clean-tech initiatives. Israel is one of the leading countries on solar energy and research. Most Israelis use electric cars – primarily because getting gas is challenging. Israel is also a very water conscience country. Since the beginning of their independence in 1948, they have had difficulties obtaining clean drinking water. Although water is more accessible now, the country has not forgotten those early years. GD Jamie reported that to this day there are polite signs in all bathrooms asking people to remember to not abuse the water and all toilets are equipped with two different flushers for “number 1” and “number 2.”
Green Diva Mizar’s DIY: Light My Fire
GD Mizar, our resident repurposing queen, gave us a great project to help keep those home fires burning during those cold January nights. Go to GD Mizar’s instructions for easy, non-toxic, DIY fire starters to get the recipe, or listen to the fun 5-min podcast of GD Mizar how to these fail-safe fire starters!
Feature Interview: Jennifer Boyd
Jennifer Boyd of Boyd Wellness called in this week to offer some thoughtful and easy ways to create a healthier environment at home. Jennifer is a PA (physician’s assistant) and nutritionist whose primary goal is to teach people how to live a more sustainable, healthy and holistic life.
Tips for a Healthier Home Environment
Green Water: Recycling and reusing water in the home
Keep pitchers by the sink to capture half consumed glasses of water or excess water from cooking pots. You can then use the water to water the house plants, which are great for cleaning the indoor air. Also, keep buckets in the shower to capture wasted splash water. If it takes awhile for your water to get hot leave the bucket in the shower before you get in to collect the water to save.
Wifi timer
Reduce your exposure to EMFs in the house by putting your wifi router on a timer so it shuts off at night for more restorative sleep while saving money.
The Flip it Game for Kids
Jennifer sends her kids on a timed mission to race through the house turning off electrical switches or unplugging energy vampires as much is possible before the timer goes off. The one with the highest amount of switches off gets marbles in their reward jar. This is a fun way for the kids to get involved and learn about energy conservation.
Blankets
You can buy organic cotton or down blankets on sale after the holidays and lay them on your favorite couches and chairs so the kids can cuddle up easily and you can keep the thermostat turned down.
Go shoe-free in 2013!
Put a welcoming sign at your front door that proclaims your home as a shoe-free zone, and ask EVERYONE to leave their shoes at the door. This Asian custom dramatically reduces the amount of toxins, dirt and chemicals that get dragged into your home environment. Those chemicals bioaccumulate over time contributing to asthma and allergies and Illness.
Medicine cabinet cleanse
Stop buying first aid products made from petrochemicals. Try some natural remedies instead like colloidal silver and calendula and arnica creams. Keep Bach’s Rescue Remedy on hand for the bumps and scrapes that make your little gurus wail.
Plastic container uses
Recycle plastic containers from take out food and produce by using them to organize toys in the play area or for gardening supplies. Use glass instead to store leftover food. Ball jars are fabulous and inexpensive for leftover foods.
For more great ideas for home and health check out Jennifer’s website: Boydwellness.com
Get the Green Living Ideas book in softcover or PDF for as low as $2.99!
About the Author
The Green Divas The Green Divas share low-stress ways to live a deeper shade of green through a weekly radio show, podcasts, videos and blog posts. Working with talented partners and credible sources like myEARTH360 the Green Divas produce content on a variety of topics relating to a healthy green lifestyle. Visit The Green Divas website to learn more, and check out The Green Divas on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter too!
Related Posts
5 Modern Trends to Consider in Your Kitchen Design →
Choosing The Right Windows For Your Home →
How to Master the Green Garden →
