What we’re committing to in the new year. 

Although we believe that every day is the chance to make a change – resolutions, as we all know, tend to get broken – the annual transition in the new year does give us a clean slate. It’s a time of reflection and renewal, the chance to move forward with better intentions, more energy and a new creative spirit.

To celebrate this transition, we gathered New Year’s tips from the EcoSalon team. They’re not resolutions, simply thoughts on living, loving and breathing better in the coming year.

Here’s what we came up with:

My rules to live by in 2012: Unkink whatever’s tight, be on time every time, write words people want to read, refuse to date bad kissers, wear high heels and don’t go foolin’ folks. –Sara Ost

Don’t make your New Year’s resolution about you. Before last year, my resolutions had always fallen in the self-improvement vein: “exercise more,” “eat healthier,” and “quit biting my nails” (16 years and counting!). Last year, I decided to make just one resolution, and it wasn’t about me. I resolved to be more conscious about how my spending habits affect other people and the environment. Over the last year, the resolution has snowballed, resulting in less consumption, more environmental awareness, better eating habits, and ultimately a career change, move to Southeast Asia, and new small business. This year was one of fundamental growth, and it started by thinking less about my world and more about the world around me. –Jessica Marati

I’m going into 2012 with an open heart and by open heart I mean, if I see you and I like you I’m going to tell you how wonderful you are. And if I don’t like you, I’m going to shut my mouth. –Amy DuFault

This tip is really from my father: Every day when you wake up you have a choice – you can choose to be in a bad mood and make it a bad day or you can choose to be in a good mood and make it a good day. Always choose happiness. It’s so simple, and if you give it you will get it. –Johanna Björk

Make a point of stopping for a moment every day, however busy or stressed you are: take 10 minutes to sit down with a cup of something and R-E-L-A-X. Pause the brain and body. Not at the computer, or with the TV or radio on. Just clear your mind, let the peace wash over and invigorate you, and then start anew. –Fiona Flores Watson

My motto for the year is, “get up to something and get on with it.” No more lingering about after the alarm bell has sounded. Greet each day with the promise that you will live it in action and with intention. If you’re going to write a book, save the world, start a project, trim your thighs, quit smoking, get more exercise, find yourself, so on and so forth – just get on with it already! Time’s a wasting. –K. Emily Bond

Be intentional so that you can bring passion and creativity into everything that you do. And of course, as my mother says: celebrate often. –Anna Brones

For 2012, I hope to continue my ongoing pursuit of doing a better job of being present. “Just this, just this, this room where we are. Pay attention to that. Pay attention to who’s there, pay attention to what isn’t known there, pay attention to what is known there, pay attention to what everyone is thinking and feeling, what you’re doing there, and pay attention. Pay attention.” – W.S. Merwin, The Buddha –Scott Adelson

I heard this acronym the other day that I keep saying to myself. Hope – h- help, o-other, p-people, e- everyday. I’d like to try to live up to this in 2012! Happy new year! –Sofie Sausser

Forget resolutions, just promise yourself that you’re going to do one big thing that will make your life happier. The details of that goal might change every single month, and all the better, as long as you ultimately accomplish something good. Last year, for me, was all about letting go of expectations and this year I’m committing to being more active in every way: getting outdoors more often, starting more creative projects, being more involved in the community and just generally becoming more present and engaged. –Stephanie Rogers

I’d like to continue lurching into adulthood, I suppose. Be on time to all things? Also, I vow to spend more time on the Internet. –Mallory Ortberg

Get things wrong. Screw up on a regular basis. Why? Because it’s the only road to wisdom, and the only way to learn something deep enough to sink into your habitual DNA. Also? It’s embarrassing. So get it out the way, quick. –Mike Sowden

“The cure for the ill is not to sit still or browse with a book by the fire; but to take a large hoe and a shovel also, and dig till you gently perspire.” –Kipling. I resolve to dig into the soil in 2012 and become a healthy gardener, hoping the Kipling path will let me not only heal but also heal others along the way. –Luanne Bradley

Lay down on the earth every chance you can, go barefoot outdoors as much as possible, and spend time in nature to keep your mind in order. –Abigail Wick

At the beginning of a new year, I used to list things I wanted to improve or accomplish during the year. I always kept my list secret, but it often included simple things like I should start exercising or touch up my English. But I also had more drastic goals such as quitting my job and start working on something totally different. During the year the list was tucked away and almost forgotten. In the beginning of the following year when it was time to make a new list, the old list was read. I was always amazed how many things from the list I actually fulfilled. –Johanna Kindvall

Erica Jong said: “Fling yourself in the flow. Don’t be afraid. The whole logic of the universe is contained in daring.” –Jane F. King Doe

Image: kevin dooley

The post Embrace the New Year…EcoSalon Style appeared first on EcoSalon.

How does one celebrate two years online, 3,000+ posts, 11,000 fantastic Twitter pals (thanks for ranking us #1 on Twitter!), and half a million readers we love? With a giveaway, of course! And lots of fun changes.

We’ve been very busy here at EcoSalon HQ recently, adding fresh talent to the fantastic roster of editors and writers bringing you green without the granola daily. We’re also introducing new content channels to better serve you.

Take a quick peek at all the latest and greatest at a glance – new sections, new writers, and giveaway details.

While I’m thrilled about the voices heading up our editorial, these new channels are taking their first baby steps, so your feedback is not only welcome, we will need it. Tell us what works, what doesn’t, what rocks your socks, what leaves you feeling like day-old oatmeal without the agave. Leave a comment, send us a note, or weigh in with a tweet @ecosalon.

New sections: Tech, sex, culture, entertainment, travel, pets, food, and design: We’ve been covering these topics and more at EcoSalon for two years, and considering how popular these subjects are, it only makes sense to dedicate channels to them.

RELISHOUS: Savor fare, foodie. The food lovers among you will be happy to see we’re breaking out our extensive food coverage from Wellness and giving delicious green grub its own vertical. Bring on the restaurant reviews and organic cocktails! To relish means to savor with gusto, and we think that’s what being an eco-friendly foodie is all about.

SHELTER: The way we build our cities, construct our homes, organize our gathering places and decorate our spaces is one of the most fundamental challenges for a society evolving to sustainability – and one of the most exciting. Design is an essential aspect of how humans will change the world for the better, and we’re excited to expand this content so you know not only where to scout that soy foam mattress but which architects are pushing for smarter buildings and how designers create the products you love.

CULTURE BITTEN: You’re a sharp, socially active and influential group, and I’m looking forward to your reaction to our culture coverage (both the high-brow and the just-rolled-out-of-bed-brow.) Expect a mix of insight, news, and discovery. Green as it pertains to our culture isn’t only about Leo’s new hybrid or, at the other end of the spectrum, the latest rally with Greenpeace. Culture is how we express our humanity – how we create, play, plan, act, engage (and enrage) each other. Culture Bitten is about the people at the edge of what’s new, inspiring, challenging, beautiful, intelligent and sometimes strange: artists, thinkers, leaders, musicians, activists and early adopters.

PASSPORT: We’re also breaking out a special travel section, but this is about much more than a carbon offset. Our travel section will help you green your vacations, clue you in to the best spas, hotels, and adventures around the world, and help you navigate the globe sustainably. But our mission is to go radically beyond “travel as consumption,” by including coverage of cause-related events, people making a difference and socially positive exploration.

HINT OF GEEK: What would a modern green lifestyle be without technology? So you aren’t going off the grid any time soon (hey, you’re reading this website). That doesn’t mean you want to buy the iPad and the Kindle, or waste energy around your digs. Hint of Geek will bring you all the best in hacks, gadgets, web news and tech to make your life greener, sleeker and more efficient.

FLORA & FIDO: Everyone needs a little Cute Rx, so Flora & Fido debuts today as our pet and garden content channel. We’ll also be covering the domestic side of life in this section, from organic kiddie products to smart living tips.

FEMME VITALE: Taking up where Wellness leaves off, Femme Vitale expands our health and nutrition coverage to include topics like sex, relationships, psychology…and sex. And while we will never tell you how to lose 10 pounds in three days just like Kim Kardashian or ponder 7 Ways to Change a Man (because we love them as much as we love you), we will be covering topics every woman can relate to – and asking tough questions, too.

FASHION: In the immortal words of Mae West, “Too much of a good thing is wonderful.” The fashionistas among you know our fashion channel for its edgy everywoman, Amy DuFault, and her leadership of our exclusive and original coverage of both famous and fledgling designers, backstage challenges, breakout brands and the truth in everything from manufacture to marketing of fashion. With new contributions from fashion writers on both coasts, we’re excited to bring you more of the thought leadership, provocative questions, style insights and fashion secrets you expect from us.

New writers: Check out this page for vital stats on all our new team members – we’ve more than doubled in size. Follow them on Twitter, check out their new stories and columns this week and in future days (you’re subscribing, right?), and drop them a line with your tips, ideas and suggestions.

From mainstream media and indie press alike, from Daily Candy alum to experts in their fields, we’ve got an exciting lineup of writers working on must-have, must-know content for you. You shouldn’t have to hunt the web for the kind of green goodness you want: the free-of-crunch, fascinating, useful, sexy and fun insider tips, ideas and insights. Our goal is to serve as that essential resource on the web for you in your pursuit of the chic, conscious, green lifestyle.

New writers Jess McCuan, EIC of Verve Magazine, and Heather Brubaker will scout the chicest restaurants and help turn your black thumb green, while Vanessa Barrington will continue her thoughtful reporting on food business and policy with The Green Plate, and Anna Brones will contribute Foodie Underground, a new column tipping you on everything from vegan taco carts to secret organic marts that debuts tomorrow.

From design to drool over to hacks for your home to reducing your pet’s pawprint, senior editor Luanne Bradley and new writers Lisa Hoover, Susan Johnston, Holley Simmons, Maggie Marton and Julie Knapp will keep you in the know with the freshest green finds and smartest designs for you, your tykes, your home and even your mother-in-law. I’m excited for you to get to know these talented writers this year, so lookout for their posts on the site.

Seasoned entertainment journalist Liz Barrett, art writer Melanie Reynard, culture writer Anne Keehn, and feminism blogger Naomi Zeveloff will bring incisive, insightful posts to our culture offerings, along with Luanne, Amy and Nancy Harrington, Christopher Correa and Stephanie Rogers (who’s never afraid to take on the big dogs).

Tech content will be headed up by New York Times blogger and EcoMeme columnist Lora Kolodny as Tech Editor, along with auto, gadget (and occasional beer) reviews by Patrick Sauer, plus a few new names you’ll notice in coming weeks.

Katherine Butler moves up to Beauty Editor, and we’re happy to be bringing you more beauty content on a weekly basis in Femme Vitale!

In coming weeks you’ll be going behind the scenes of the eco (and not so eco) fashion industry with fashion editor and green style guru Amy DuFault and her new team: the independent filmmaker and green fashionista Greta Eagan, Fashion Takes Action’s Kelly Drennan and West Coast fashion journalist, Rowena Ritchie.

Ladies and gents alike will be pleased to know our eminently patient lone male staffer, Mike Sowden, is now in more evenly distributed company with the addition of Wend Magazine founding EIC and environmental explorer Stiv Wilson, who will be heading up our travel content as editor of the new Passport section, and Christopher Correa of The Washington Post and True/Slant, who will be contributing a weekly Culture Bitten column, Hill/Street Greens, on green affairs from Capitol Hill and Wall Street. Expect equal parts adventure and awesome – and skewering aplenty. Check out Stiv’s first post, and check in next Wednesday for the debut H/SG.

Last, but certainly not least, I’m pleased to introduce our new assistant managing editor, the smart and savvy Heather Dale. Heather will be helping to wrangle our writers, chat with you about anything and everything green and great, keep me sane, and produce upcoming video content. (You can see our first videos here and here).

Contest:

EcoSalon is grateful for the incredible support of our green sister company and original eco retailer, VivaTerra. Founded in 2005, VivaTerra created a breakthrough, green-to-the-core, high style catalog company focused on gorgeous eco design and sustainable fashion before green was even a gleam in most retail companies’ eyes.

To kick off our new sections today, the first 1,000 readers to sign up for our newsletter will be automatically entered to win this beautiful living ecosphere ($89 value). Makes a perfect gift and goes with any decor scheme. We’re giving away five, so be sure to sign up for your chance to win! (Limit one subscription and entry per person; offer does not apply to VivaTerra or EcoSalon staff, family, or friends; offer expires 4/21/2010. See all rules here.)

But wait, there’s more!

We also have exciting site enhancements, special retail goodies and custom features in the works this year. Stay tuned for this and more. To get the firsthand scoop on site changes, meetups and events, sign up for our newsletter.

We couldn’t ask for a better bunch of readers, and I couldn’t ask for a better team. This is going to be a fun year, so stick around, baby!

The post Announcing Fresh Faces, Fun New Content Channels and a Giveaway! appeared first on EcoSalon.