A couple of years ago, I went on a surf trip to Costa Rica with friends. We were all dedicated to the waves – typically, we were in bed by eight and up by 4:30 to be in the ocean at first light. We shared a comfortable, air conditioned bungalow and our days quickly became routined. Get up, eat, surf, nap in hammock, surf, make dinner, go to bed.

One afternoon, when the swell was too big in the open ocean for manageable surf, my best girlfriend and hippy surf buddy, Nellyda, …

The month of June has become synonymous with wedding celebrations, as most couples choose summertime as the sunny, idyllic backdrop to say their “I dos.” So now is a great time to discuss the fact that a wedding can be meaningful and magnificent regardless of the number of attendees or money spent. Speaking from first hand experience, my husband and I eloped six years ago in Santa Barbara, Calif., and by doing so, we saved a lot of cash, not to mention, our wedding day was as green as it gets. …

It’s amazing how many people are going to be a part of EcoSalon Shops!

Zhena’s Gypsy Tea is one, and I’m so glad they are, for several reasons.

One, I can’t wait to enjoy the fruity notes of Gypsy’s hot and cold tea samples that will be shared at the event.

Two, I love their story.

In 2000, founder Zhena Muzyka’s son, Sage, was born with a severe birth defect. Zhena had no health coverage to manage Sage’s mountain of medical bills, and she was struggling to make ends meet. But she was …

One of the more fun things about JulieApple’s website is the fact you can drag fabric swatches on base bag styles and see what it would look like – making you feel like an actual designer.

Julie says inspiration for her bags and prints have always come from a collective inspiration. “This meant going into the streets and looking at everyone in their daily bustle, then sketching into the night, on planes and on trains, and sometimes in the corner of my room while my babies, …

I’ve been eating eggs on almost everything and anything lately. I’ll cook up a pot of beans just to have around and find myself heating them up and eating them with a fried egg on top and whatever leftover greens I have for a quick, filling meal. Brown rice and lentils also make a nice bed for a yolky, delicious egg. When you break the egg it coats everything in its own rich sauce, which tastes especially good if you use pastured eggs. I get my pastured eggs from my …

In my teen years, my father and I used to take “dad and daughter” road trips; which included explorations through wild parts of the west. His goal was to encourage my love of the outdoors and experiential learning, as well as ensure he enjoyed a great spring break as well. So this year when he asked if I wanted to resurrect the tradition, I said yes. I needed some time outside, so we headed for the Southwest.

Sustaining a green lifestyle isn’t just about the daily choices that you make – recycling, …

New York City’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) recently welcomed their first 12 designers to the CFDA Fashion Incubator located in New York City’s historic Garment District.

CFDA president Diane Von Furstenberg led the designers on a tour of their new home just last week.
The first 12 designers are: Alice Ritter; Bibhu Mohapatra; Rachel Dooley of Gemma Redux; Grant Krajecki of Grey Ant; Waris Ahluwalia from House of Waris; Joel Diaz from Jolibe; …

Can a towel make kitchen decor pop or delight at high tea? Yes, if that linen was spun from Hammocks & High Tea – an ecologically sound company rooted in the sensibilities of owner, Karen Young, who says she was inspired by her grandmother (below) and her fusion of Scottish-Portuguese heritage.

“I spent my childhood in South America, surrounded by an incredible combination of British architecture, history and Caribbean influences – hand carved wood statues, ornate architecture, cobblestone streets and exotic flora and animals were a daily part of life …