Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

Greg Hatton: Furniture and Landscapes

Greg Hatton creates furniture and landscape features that merge art and nature with function and it is fabulous! I could spend all day getting inspiration from his gallery.
Do you love furniture and landscapes that incorporate nature and art, yet is still functional?

Tiny Seaside Beach Huts by James Ward

I really believe that I was meant to live at the beach (a warm beach that is). I could definitely pick up and leave at a moments notice to live in a Seaside beach house by James Ward. I can guarantee that the door and windows would always be open!

How about you, could you live at the beach?
Could you live in space this small? Could you vacation in one?

5 Simple Ways to Go Green Today

Are you having a hard time deciding how to start going green? Need a little help getting started? Here are my Top 5 Simplest ways to go green today. These 5 ways will start your green journey on the fast track.

1- Get Growing: What could be more fun and rewarding then harvesting goodies from your own garden? Whether it is a large or small plot in your yard, a container garden on your patio or an herb garden in your kitchen window, a garden just makes life lovelier and yummier.
2- Green Bag It: Lose the excuses and remember your reusable bags. I have a set of 5 Envirosax that fit perfectly into its little carrying case. I leave it in my handbag so I have reusable bags wherever I go. Whether it is the farmer’s market, grocery store or library, I always have 5 bags on hand.
3- No More Paper Towels: Buy or make your own reusable napkins, wash cloths and hand towels and free your home and the landfill from paper napkins and towels. Remember to pack reusable napkins in your family members lunchboxes and keep a hanky in your handbag for clean up on the go.
4- Pack Your Lunch: If you think you don’t have the time to pack a lunch in the morning, plan ahead and cook a little extra dinner for tomorrow’s lunch. When you are cleaning up dinner, pack a container with leftovers that will be ready to grab at a moment’s notice and you fly out the door for the day.
5- Green Clean It: Green cleaners are widely available and affordable so now is the time to switch from those harmful chemical laden toxic that you are currently cleaning your home with. Right now, I am completely in love with Dr. Bonner’s Peppermint soap, just a couple teaspoons in a spray bottle full of water and you have a cleaner that will clean everything from the bathroom to your kitchen counter tops to spots on your living room rug to Fido after a day at the dog park.
What simple ways do you use to green the environment everyday?
Do you already follow my 5 simple steps? Which ones do you find to be the easiest?

Earth Friendly Etsy: The Brass Paperclip Project Giveaway

It’s summertime and with summer comes weddings! Are you getting married this summer? This week’s Earth Friendly Etsy shop is The Brass Paperclip Project owned by Cindi Brooks in Seattle, Washington. The Brass Paperclip Project specializes in custom wedding invitations, vintage wedding and cocktail gowns, and handmade bridal accessories. Cindi uses vintage, salvaged and second hand materials to create her one of kind goodies. Even if you aren’t getting married, you could still find something lovely for yourself at The Brass Paperclip Project.

Cindi, her husband and 3 year old daughter are already living a green lifestyle, they have incorporated edible plants into their landscaping, have three rain barrels and a worm bin. They try to walk to run errands whenever possible and have plans to add solar panels, a small wind turbine, a chicken coop and larger vegetable garden to their home. Isn’t that fantastic?

One of my lovely readers will get to pick out their own set of note cards from The Brass Paperclip Project just leave a comment below to enter!

Additional Entries
please leave a separate comment for each that you do.

A huge thank you to Cindi for hosting this lovely giveaway!
Giveaway ends June 23rd @ 12am EST.

*UPDATE: WINNER:: Congratulations Courtney! Enjoy your cards! You can right a letter to your sister!

Great Green Gifts for Dad

Haven’t had a chance to shop for Dad for Father’s Day? Couldn’t think of anything fabulous and green to buy? Maybe, I can help. Here are some ideas that your Dad and the environment will love.

* Is your dad a fisherman? How about some recycled beer bottle cap lures.

* Does he love golf? How about some recycled golf balls.

* Is he an avid tennis player? He would love a watch made from recycled tennis balls.

* Is he a fabulous chef? How about a great gourmet grilling cookbook for summer.

* Is he outdoorsy? Plan a special camping or hiking trip to get him away from it all.

* Does he have a green thumb? Start a veggie garden that is just for him.

* Is he a major sports fan? Pick up tickets to see his favorite local team play.

What are your plans for Father’s Day?

I can’t tell you our plans yet, because Mr. Sweet Greens likes to read my articles and I wouldn’t want to give away the surprise. {Nice try, Jayson}