viva verde

so in the part of the long excuses that i will be telling of why i havent been posting for a while is my travels to GreenFest in SF (which, by the way, i LOVED mega-bus! the best mode of transport!)

i have been to GreenFest in the past and i have to say that this year, the green movement has very much taken hold. i usually want to go when it is slow, so i took advantage of the friday opening…Big Mistake! even one of my friends had to leave early because it was too crowded for her! but knowing that i had to leaving the next day, i braved the crowds and went for it.

it is funny, when i went before, i always was so quite….never talked or even knew a soul. it was kind of funny to actually recognize people and give hugs and chat with the amazing vendors there that i so admire for paving the way. One of which i have been wanting to meet: Teresa from Texture Clothing we love her line at the store and her skirts with the “marsupial front pockets” are not only sweet, but the fabric and construction of her clothes give a very feminine feel without being too hippy….heck even my not-so-earthy -niece loves the skirts to death!

ummmm did you check out the pins!! i think i am going to have to borrow that idea!

probably one of the best things about the fest (and it being uber-croweded was NOT one of them, i get a little strange in crowds), was the awesome veggie-fuel powered shuttle that took to from the Green Business Conference to the convention.

hello! this thing needs to be in every city in the nation!! Not only did the (may i say hot!) driver play great music, but the seats line the sides of the bus and there is a “bus lounge” in the back…this is a must for anyone going next year.

number 2 for the great things about the show, as always, the organic beer and wine garden. my new fave people where there: MATEVEZA. this incredible brew i will post about later but they are a gem, delicious and refreshing! a must for the beer drinker. here are me and my gracious friend Kiiana (who allowed me to stay at her place and save loads of cash!) partaking in some of their brew.

see why i havent written in a while!

mint grows like a weed, so if you have it, what do you do with it??

here is a simple and refreshing beverage, a great way to beat the heat.

simply wash the mint, peel off the leaves & add them to a pot of simmering water. let it simmer for 10 min and let it cool. add to your favorite pitcher. to sweeten: add agave nectar to taste.

my friend Danielle and her girlfriend are helping to promote the bike movement in in Canada with their adorable shop Revolution Montreal.

always a big bike-enthusiast, Danielle brought her mad bike skills up north and started the store that also specializes in : lesbian haircuts! i guess because it works better for the helmet, right?

i love this sign. But what i really love about Revolution Montreal is that it is really taking advantage of the space they have! the concept is funky, original and i have to admit, the best marketing…are you ever going to forget about the lesbian haircut-bike store?

danielle is the bad-ass on the bike, they also have art shows too!

if you are even in the area, stop by and say hello for me!

1 part passion flower vine
1 part chammomile flowers
1/4 part lavender flowers
3 squeezed berries of choice

pour boiling water over herbs, and allow to steep overnight. or put in jar and make a sun tea. tea should steep at least 8 hours. strain. pour 1/4 cup into glass, add twist of lemon or lime, cover with mineral water. the berries supply a great color and the citrus provides a great zing that makes the tea concoction drinkable without sugar. enjoy!!

some of the many highlights from being away were doing events for the store.  one of the last ones that we had for 2007 (damn, it is already gone!) was for our “Decorating the Natural Way” event that random nicole hosted.  the premise of the event was to educate how a person could create really amazing gifts with simple things around the home…to spark imagination and inspiration.

the real inspiration though happened with me.  you see, random nicole is my niece and although i always thought of her as a creative-artys-fartsy sort, i was allowed the chance to see her at work which was one of a true educator.   she had a kindness and passion for creation that i could never have…even if  wanted to and tried my hardest, she naturally did it.  laughter and imagination kind of took over the room of strangers really, and they not only got it, but had a great time doing it. how many things can we say that about….

god i wish i were them!  this was a party with results!  meanwhile, i was busy taking care of a lost customer, price checks and supplies!

i guess this is more saving energy than saving water, but i am a HUGE fan of line-drying my wash. however, i live in Irvine, and that means: “you dry your clothes in a dryer”.

living in the ultimate “planned city” i suppose means that the plan is a yard that supports lawns rather than clothes

Project Laundry

i am a work-a-holic, but, i have to sleep.

in the past month or so (maybe over a month), i have been, yes shall we say lagging BIG time on the posts. but i am a single person working a retail store during the holidays…which i must say i love and hate.  love that i have business, but hate that i have more work than i ever thought i would (and that is a lot more than the normal human).  PLEASE EMAIL ME if you miss my posts, but i hope to not take too long of a break, i feel now a bit  ashamed that i have been a little idle.

here we go with the past month or so!