Start Living Green Today!

Some people think that living green is a hard lifestyle to maintain. It isn’t. You do in fact need to make changes and be more aware of your environment. Now if that is too hard to do than I would question your priorities and the everyday choices you make. Not to be judgmental but there is a certain responsibility that we all have as humans to take care of our planet and live the best lives we can. If we don’t understand the importance of that than we are in big trouble.

Now is the time to change your life for the better and finally feel a sense of pride that you never thought you could. Its 2011 people. It’s never too late to try to become the person you never thought you could be.

The first thing to do is take a look at your life and see what you can change asap. Whether its buying natural and organic food or taking a walk instead of driving, taking baby steps is perfectly fine. You want these changes to be fun and exciting! And with a positive view and peaceful state of mind you will get there. You must realize that a lifestyle change such as this one will also change who you are as a person. That is the true meaning of being green.



Having the eco-friendly vision everyday come natural and not thinking twice about an earth-friendly decision. Its about observing yourself and realizing that you, the people you love and the earth from which you live are worth much more! Here are 10 easy simple ways to get started. You can do them at your own pace and take the time you need. The more you start doing, the more you will be comfortable with your new lifestyle!

Recycle & Reuse
I am surprised when I hear that someone does not recycle. Shame on you! If everyone in America recycled we could decrease the waste in landfills by 75%. Sounds good to me! Another way to recycle is to reuse. Bags you get from the grocery store, packaging, rags to clean and even refilling your ink cartridges for your printer. These all make a difference.


Take a Shorter Shower
You can conserve more than 10 gallons by just shortening your showers by 2 minutes. Not to mention your water bill! Just think how much that would be if everyone did the same.


Junk Mail
We all get crap in the mail that goes straight to the garbage. Instead of throwing it out recycle it instead. If you want to reduce your junk mail or rid of it forever you can register with the Mail Preference Service. It only costs $1 and you can do it online. Its that easy so there is no excuse! Just go to www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist.


Curtains & Blinds
During summer and winter keep your blinds closed. That will keep your house cooler when its hot out and warmer when its cold. By doing this you can reduce your energy needs up to 25% and save on your electric bill!


Use Fewer Napkins
When you are out try to take 2 -4 napkins instead of 10. We all do it. You go to the movies and get popcorn. Well you need tons of napkins because of the butter! Do your best to conserve and more than a billion pounds of napkins could be saved from landfills each year!


Subscribe to Magazines:
You could save up to 75% off the newsstand price if you simply subscribed. Plus, who wouldn’t want the convenience of coming home to your favorite publication! About 60% of the magazines at stores aren’t sold and wind up getting dumped. What a waste!


Unplug Electronics
Not only will you save money but tons of energy as well. Surprisingly enough, even though they are turned off your electronics are still using 10 - 15% of energy. Just unplugging your TV alone can save more than $1 billion in energy bills if we all did it. 


Carpool to Work
If it is possible, try to hitch a ride with another coworker or even a friend that may work in the same area. You would save hundreds of gallons of gas and not to mention the $$ in your pocket. Another plus of carpooling is less traffic. We don’t need any more cars on the road or any more road rage!


Pay Your Bills Online & Go Paperless
Why waste money on stamps and envelopes when you can pay all your bills online. Thats the convenience of the internet! Take advantage and save time and money.
 Most companies offer to go paperless as well. In fact, they recommend it! Who wants more mail they are just going to throw away.

Paper or Plastic
The best solution is to use reusable bags. Nowadays, every retail store sells them and they are usually only $1 or so. Its worth it. Plus they are stronger and more reliable. But if you have to choose one than go with paper. And don’t forget to recycle and reuse!



I hope that you can follow these steps and have fun in the process. Just think about all the great choices you are making and the difference you are able to achieve. With these 10 steps you are well on your way to an eco-friendly life!

Apples!

How can you not LOVE apples? They are so good! Well, this season why purchase them from the grocery when you can rent your own apple tree. You get to choose from seven different varieties - Empire, Macoun, McIntosh, Honey Crisp, Gala and Ginger Gold - and receive a gift box of 48 apples from your tree. Not only that. You also get one gallon of apple cider with a personalized label and free shipping.

Why not support Stony Ridge Orchard located in Erin, New York. You can keep updated on news with their quarterly newsletter you receive for free and everything is stated in the rental agreement certificate. It would make a great gift too :) Sounds good to me!

A Belgium Breakfast

Every other weekend or so I like to make pancakes or belgium waffles for breakfast. Sort of a nice little treat for Danny and I. My vegan pancake recipe is awesome but I recently found a waffle recipe that came out really well too. I am going to tweak it a bit but as of now, it's pretty damn good.

I like to warm up the syrup and butter so its nice and hot for dipping and sometimes add vegan chocolate chips for extra sweetness. Add a little powdered sugar on top and you have one might fine breakfast. Yum! Recipe coming soon :)

It's About Time

I'm watching the Food Revolution with Jaime Oliver and am so happy he is doing another season. It is no surprise that our school system is somewhat destroyed. From education and teacher positions to the food they feed your children. There definitely needs to be change because our kids aren't learning what they should and most of them are fat and unhealthy. Is this okay with you because it's not okay with me.



Now, I don't have kids yet but in a few years I will. I have friends that have children and also young ones in my family. I care about all of them and they deserve the best. When I do have kids of my own, they will eat the freshest, most healthiest food from the start. No nasty meat. No chemical filled junk. No food that has been sitting on a shelf for God knows how long. They will consume plenty of fresh veggies and yummy treats that are pure sweetness. And they will love them all.



The key is to give your kids the good stuff from the start. My Mother fed me tons of vegetables, fruits and organic foods when I was a child. I LOVE tons of vegetables and fruits to this day and I thank her or that. She didn't feed me lots of red meat, mostly chicken. That was a good thing too. Because of that I was never a big meat eater. This made it easier for me to go veg when it was my time to.



I don't care if your kids won't eat certain things. I know tastes change and little ones can be picky and quite frustrating. However, they only know what you give them. Get creative with foods and trick them if you have to. It's worth it for them to be healthy and develop good eating habits. I sure hope you all agree. If you feed your children crap, they won't like fresh "real" food when they have it. That is seriously sad and it's pretty much your fault. No one ever said parenting was easy. Buckle up and get ready for the ride.



My advice to parents, especially young parents, is to involve your kids in the preparation. Show them where food comes from, how it grows and why each is so amazing. When they see that there all types of delicious foods out there that are healthy too, it will make all the difference. Plus, they are learning and will have fun in the process.

As far as the school system goes, they need to grow balls and lose the greed. It's either the district doesn't get enough funding or they would rather pay administration money they don't deserve than supply the schools with healthy food. Both are screwed up but both can surely change. Right now, everything is falling apart. That is why people need to be strong and use their power to make change in the home. You all have the power to do so.

Stop being lazy and cook for your family. Make time if you feel you don't have it. Too bad. Stop complaining about money and stop using it as a reason why you don't buy natural and organic foods. Its old and annoying. Get over it. If some things are a little more expensive than cut back funds somewhere else. Food is important! Your body needs to thrive on it. Not crash. If you need help budgeting your money or help shopping for better food than ask. There is always a resource out there you can go to.

I sure hope that things in the near future. It's a scary thing. 2012 is right around the corner and we should all expect a shift to come into play. I am not saying the world is going to end but something is going to happen. Just be prepared, thats all. We all need to eat better, move more and take care of friggin planet! The more we destroy our surroundings, the more we destroy ourselves. Being selfish and greedy is disgusting. Money isn't everything and material things are just garbage compared to the real needs of human beings.

Do the right thing for yourselves and your children. Help others make the right decisions. Love all animals because they are Earthlings too. This planet is a home to all of us and we are all equal. We need nature to survive. We need to consume the gifts of the Earth to thrive and be amazing. We need each other for support, love and inspiration. It's about time we all Evolved for Change.

Wedding Series: Tips, Advice & Wedding Journal to the Rescue

This Valentine's Day I got engaged and it was sweet, intimate and unexpected. Even though I knew it was coming, I never thought Danny would pop the question on Valentine's Day. So I am very excited to plan my wedding and go through this process with him. Unfortunately, it can be stressful at times.

Here are some tips and advice for your wedding that may help you along the way. I also share my secret to planning any event or future endeavors - a journal. Keeping a wedding journal is smart, fun and inspiring. It allows you to be more organized and create something beautiful in the process.



Venue
Booking the venue is the first step. After about 4 months of research we narrowed it down to four places. This is something I highly recommend you do. Research your ass off! If there was ever a good time to do it, it's now. Don't just pick a place because you like how it looks or someone else recommended it. It's smart to know all the options you may have. I must have researched every place on long island, brooklyn, queens and nyc! There are just so many places you never even thought of! That is what research is for.

First, figure out what kind of wedding you want. Is it traditional, non-traditional? Do you want to be around nature or a city atmosphere? Ask yourself these questions and more. Search wedding and design magazines for venues you think are beautiful or interesting and cut them out. Add them to your journal for inspiration. These images will help lead the way.

I always knew I wanted a spring wedding outside so I am surrounded by nature. Beautiful colors, flowers in bloom, nice warm weather - and if animals could be there too, than great! That is why our two choices are a vineyard in Riverhead and a farm museum in Floral Park. Both fit Danny and I perfectly.

Once you know what you want it gets much easier. Narrow down the choices and contact the ones that are within your budget. Make appointments to go check them out and choose the one that is best. Make sure you have all the details before you sign the contract and mark everything down in your wedding journal to keep track of any changes.



Caterers
If you plan to book a hall or traditional venue for your big day than the food is all included in the package. It does make it easier on you, however, you are quite limited to some of the ideas you may have. For example, the venue already has a style or look. Changing that up is not really going to happen. In almost all cases, their decor is the decor that will be used for your wedding.

Most of the time the caterers handle the food, liquor, rentals and decor. However, in my case, we are choosing a more DIY event so our caterers are pretty much just taking care of the food and only some rental items. One might think this is crazy but I disagree. It is all a matter of preference. Since our wedding is an informal gathering on a Sunday afternoon, we did not feel it was necessary for all the frou frou benefits like a huge waitstaff, passed hors d'oeuvres and a full service bar. Remember, you don't have to do what everyone else does. It's your wedding!

Just make sure you let the caterers know what you want. They will always try to sell you a big fancy event. This is what discouraged me from even having the wedding at all! The more I received proposals, the more I wanted to cry. They were way too pricey, too overdone and not at all what we wanted. One sent me a menu choice with 90% meat. Having told her we wanted to serve all vegetarian/vegan food, this really got on my nerves. Was she even listening to me!



Decor
Choosing a venue that is a blank slate allows you to have more freedom. Being a designer, I wouldn't have it any other way. Knowing that I will be the one who is designing all the decor for my wedding makes me the happiest girl in the world. Plus, I get to show my guests what kind of event I can really create. It just might bring me some business! You never know, right? So, having the freedom to decorate and use any materials I want, will make all the difference in the end.

I have a pretty good idea what I want to do but it never hurts to search for inspiration. This is yet another reason to have a wedding journal. Whenever I see good ideas that make sense, I cut them out or write them down in my journal. This will also help caterers to see what you want. They will most likely have ideas as well, which is fine. Take all you can get! Just don't let them stray you away from what you truly want.



Pick a color scheme and go from there. The season you are having your event in will help guide you. Ours will be in May so spring it is! Filled with rustic elements, pastels like baby blue and pink and the natural tones of the wood of the barn, our decor will fit with its surroundings and make sense. All the fun elements that bring it to life will set the tone of the entire day.

Remember to think outside the box. Instead of traditional centerpieces with flower bouquets try using succulents or small plants. Even a few flowers in unique vases or jars will look beautiful. What about earthy elements like moss, rocks and branches? Just because you don't overdo the decor and have elaborate and expensive elements, doesn't mean your wedding will look cheap and flimsy. Believe me! I have seen weddings that cost thousands and they didn't really look that great. It's simply a matter of taste.



Extras
Nowadays, people don't hand out favors but sending your guests home with a little something to remember the day by is not a crime. It doesn't have to be expensive but giving something small can put smiles on their faces. I recommend making a donation in their names as well. Pick an issue that means a lot to you and let your guests know you've made a donation in their honor.

I have come across so many cool ideas and have pretty much decided on ours. But the main thing you want to keep in mind is most people throw them out. So you want to give something they can either eat, use or recycle. I love the seed idea. Giving back to the Earth is the best gift in my eyes!



The elements that are for you and your partner are most important. The guestbook should be simple, pretty and have the space for your guests to share their thoughts on your big day. There are a lot of different ways to do this. Again, jot down your ideas and take any images you find in magazines and add them to your journal. I am so excited to design our guestbook. Yet another thing on my to do list.

Then you have fun elements you can always add to the event. It can be different stations where guests can get creative or places they can spread the love back to you. Whatever elements you choose, remember to keep them tied into your theme or they will stand out like a sore thumb. You want everything to look like it was meant to be there. No event can be 100% perfect but it can sure as hell be close!



Your wedding day will be great. Just focus, relax and give yourself enough time to plan. The wedding journal should help with a lot of it considering it organizes everything and keeps it in one place. People will think you are one smart cookie when they check it out. Mine has become my best friend in this whole process. Plus, just putting it together is so much fun.

Whatever you choose for yours, just make it work for you. Since mine is an eco notebook (of course!) it had no pockets. So I just made my own with decorative paper and special envelopes for loose papers. It looks cute and adds some character. Use all sorts of clips to keep things in place as well.



The main thing when planning your wedding is to stay true to who you both are. This event shows the world what you and your partner stand for. Your day should be a clear representation of your likes and dislikes, style and beliefs. Ours will be a natural organic event that celebrates love, animals and the Earth. Using eco-friendly products and methods and sticking to our morals, we will be pleased to share the special day with our friends and loved ones. It will also show everyone the path we choose to take, together, as we move forward in life. Now that's a perfect wedding day!

A Mighty Breakfast

Every weekend I try to make sure my fiance Danny gets to eat a hearty breakfast. During the week he mostly eats cereal because it's easier to make before work. This morning I made one of his favorites, a cheese omelette with a side of potatoes. I don't eat eggs anymore but I don't mind cooking them for him. At least I know he is getting protein and will be full till lunch.

It's quite simple how I make it. The potatoes are just cut into small pieces and sauteed in a little olive oil and Earth Balance butter. About 20 minutes into the cooking time I add the chopped onions and let them cook a little more. You want the potatoes to have a nice crisp crust on the outside but not charred. I also add a little salt and pepper to them while they cook.

For the omelette I just use 2 organic brown eggs and add a little almond milk, salt and pepper. Mix with a fork then pour into a small hot pan with 1 tbsp of Earth Balance butter. You want the heat on low here, about a level 2. Eggs always need to cook slow. As they cook, bring the outer edges in with a wooden spoon or spatula and let the uncooked egg fill the spaces. After a couple of minutes, turn the eggs over. This is when I add a piece of cheese. Then I turn half the omelette over to cover the cheese until it melts. Done!

Sometimes I like to use fresh herbs in the egg mixture. Parsley and basil work well. Add a little paprika for some heat or some scallions for a light onion taste.

It always makes me feel good knowing I can provide a healthy and satisfying meal for Danny as well as others. To see smiles on their faces and knowing their tummies are full is what makes all the difference. Cooking up a mighty breakfast is important to start the day off right and get your body in motion. So spread the love through food and cook up a picture perfect meal that will satisfy both the king and queens of eats!

Recipe in Vegetarian Times

So I went out to get the mail before and to my surprise my Vegetarian Times came. I have been waiting for the April/May issue for months because they were planning to publish my Black Eyed Pea Cakes & Confetti Corn recipe. Finally, I got to see it in print. If you don't have the issue yet check it out here. (pats herself on the back)