A round-up of what we’re reading right now.

Too busy for chores? Don’t worry, there’s Rent-a-Wife for that. [Via: Ethical Ocean]

How much water do we really use? You might be surprised. And not in a good way. [Via: TakePart]

If you’re into enjoying the sun, you might want to consider making one of these DIY summer hammocks. [Via: Gardenista]

Get hip and throw a Scandinavian sandwich party, your friends will thank you. [Via: Bon Appetit]

Inspire your own creativity; take time to be bored. [Via: The 99 Percent]

A simple video guide to what Rio+20 is all about. [Via: The Nation]

Celebrate in the fact that the younger generation knows a thing or too about being good people. At least some of them. [Via: The Frisky]

The beginning of summer means the beginning of travel season. Make sure you’re a good traveler. No wait, a really good one. [Via: National Geographic]

Image: x-ray delta one

The post Link Love: Rent-a-Wife, A Real Look at Water Use and The Importance of Being Bored appeared first on EcoSalon.

In 1976, Farrah Fawcett was hot. So was that hammock.

In celebration of national independence, your local classic rock station has no doubt been playing block after block of hits from 1976. Was 1976 a pivotal year in rock ’n roll? Kind of. But the real reason we’re celebrating the spirit of ’76 is that it was a major year in American history, of course. Let’s take another trip down vintage lane and discover what was happening in culture and décor.

In the year MCMLXXVI, we celebrated our Bicentennial with special issue coins, license plates, parades, massive fireworks displays, and…Farah Fawcett. Also hot that year? This hammock:

Charlie’s Angels made its television debut in 1976, as did a range of other kick-butt independent heroines, including Laverne & Shirley and The Bionic Woman.

Another feminine touch, this Danish pottery plaque:

These floral glasses are also ultra-femme with characteristically dependable 1970s heft.

In music, The Ramones released their debut self-titled album and make their first “official” appearance in the punk rock den of CBGBs. Duly of note, U2 is formed after drummer Larry Mullen posts a note seeking fellow band members of the bulletin board of his Dublin school. Sweet…now check out these speakers:

Finally, in health, according to the landmark Nurses’ Health Study (which started in 1976), over one third of the participants surveyed were smokers with half-a-pack-a-day habits. Perhaps this Knoll Ashtray from the “Tulip Pedestal Series” designed by Eero Sarinen would have appealed to them:

By 1989, the percentage of current smokers was down to 13.5 percent and by 2003, just 8.4 percent. Here’s to progress…and freedom.

Images: Wright; His For Home; Kaboodle; Teddy; ebay

The post A Year in Vintage: The Spirit of ‘76 appeared first on EcoSalon.