viva verde

I love me some Martha Stewart.

Yeah i know she was in jail, yeah people say she is not so nice, yes the whole “martha” thing is not really her-just her brand and the thousands of people working for her…but hey, there are some really good ideas from Miss M! and i really love that she is creative-yet, stylish.

one thing that i was totally inspired by was in a section in her namesake mag in May  on dyeing lamps and other tidbits that look really great.

see that lamp?? way inspired and just purchased some paper lamps to do the same. they are currently taking up space in my living room awaiting disaster…more to come.

Just ready an interesting post about NAU clothing.   You heard of them?

Just in case you haven’t Nau is/was a eco-clothing company that literally jumped out of the  gates with 5 retail stores (like Bev.Hills, OR, Chicago, WA, and Boulder).  They had some really good donation/sourcing and corporate transparency ideas that wasn’t the marketing BS that is the new “hot” button for the big chains.  this seemed like a group that wanted to put responsibility first and was the only thing that they wanted to do.  They seemed to get a pretty big push (yes i am jealous!) from outfits like Treehugger hailing Nau as “iconic”.  However, when i think  of  the word “iconic”, i think of something that lasts a little bit more that one year.

yes you heard me, Nau has closed its doors after one year.

From what i hear, Nau was hit hard by the slowing economic times, which i can totally envision because this has been happening to everyone across the board.  But Nau also had about 35mil in financing as well which was shocking!  Things look a little different now that they had quite a bit of money (and probably advice that comes with such financing too).  I am surprised that they didn’t see the upcoming housing slump or assumed that the market would not always go increasingly up, maybe i am weird in thinking this, but couldn’t they plan on the on-line sales for the first year then slowly opening other stores in the following years instead of all at once?  also, did they expand their market by doing wholesale to other stores (such as me!), i get catalogs and line sheets every week from vendors and not a single one ever came from Nau….what gives?

has anyone ever shopped there???  the clothes are cute but just from my own experience, you definitely have to mix it up with the styles to attract a steady stream of customers…just sayin’

so last night i went to my new hangout: Manhattan Supper Club. a new Wednesday fave.

love this addition to the drowdy Main street fair. yes you would think that a Main Street was alive with action, but here it is still in the process of remodeling…thank you for this blessing to OC dining! the folks behind MSC lovingly took a old French eatery (that was truely RUN DOWN) into a beautiful gem that is well worth the drive.  What is additionally great these people:  organic produce and grass-fed beef on the menu (i still think it sounds strange to say “grass-fed”, isn’t that what it is supposed to be??)

will talk more about MSC, but what i really want to get back to is what i saw on the menu since my first glance at the menu: hericot vert.

i have heard of the item from OC beloved chef Diego of Memphis Cafe who educated me on what they actually are: a french version of the string bean but much more classier. these beans need very little in the assistance department; they taste fab alone but when pared with good olive oil, garlic & onion and some lovin’- well me like a whole bunch!

and here i thought that Hericot Verts were a a thing that i had to check on my car every 10,000 miles!

recipe/info the Hericot

just when you think that the OC has nothing to offer in terms of natural living up comes one of the best natural living conventions to come along this side of the country: Expo West!

held at the Anaheim Convention Center, this event is a mecca for organic eats, supplements and now: organic living. you can really tell that the “green” movement has taken hold…parking on a Friday (the slowest day), was a no-no 30 minutes after the convention started…we took a cab, only 3 exits away to save on emotional distress!!

this convention is most definitely a power-company game: the big-time players in eco/natural-know-how are present with grand displays of the latest in natural living…definitely not for the tight budget little peeps (like us!), but all-in-all great to see what the marketplace is looking for..here’s a the scoop on what i found to be really interesting and prevalent vs. other times i have been:

-Asian companies really making a mark in the natural market: lots of green tea, and other items know as Asian (certain berries, veggies and garlic!)…you can tell the booth by their very similar and non-creative booth displays…lots of lights too-can’t miss it!

-regular, name-brand companies trying to market “green/natural”: basically take a look at you local grocery store (non-Whole Foods, you know the ones) and those people are starting to market “natural”..albeit with one product and therefore marketing the whole line as such.

-Convention Center greening: have to hand it to them, Anaheim is really embracing the biocompostables! love it! and thank you…lets hope they are composting it now…

bottom line: unless you are doing a grocery store or in the health food industry, this is NOT the place to be…i can actually see a spin-off of this convention catering specifically to the Real Deals:: Theo Chocolate, Sambazon-types who are now competing in the big leagues and i am so proud!!

great bedding n display from Under the Canopy (may see them in the store soon), so inspiring!

Earth Creations- I LOVE THEM!!!

every isle looked like this…complete craziness

one of the items of interest that i must point out has been a recent collaboration with Costa Mesa, free-spirit, hard working mo-fo’s to the wall Evocal a venue that sells local, creative items as well as hosting a number of arts-related events and music.  This place rocks!

this is there signage.  pretty sweet heh?

Bret, proprietor and work engine of this place  is simply amazing.  you will see more of his work in the coming posts at PaTcHwOrk:2 event that was last weekend. buton a personal note, this guy works more than i do so gold stars to this chap!

the space is really an artists’ collective, they really pool from the community and group of talented peeps to drive their large music events that i must say are in need of a larger venue. tonight, i stopped by to give a small token of Family Van  candle and Ecover hand cleaner for a job well done.

they already had the house packed and the music from local faves Satisfaction and others was a real treat.  please stop by and shop and support these great people!!

will be posting more as of tomorrow.  it is difficult, b/c i have the time to write at night, but i dont have images!!!  they are at the store.  but in the coming weeks you will see:

-what events i have been going to

-what new things i have learned

-new items in the store in general.

PROMISE! 

OK you may have realized that i am a bit of a SLACKER for the posts as of recently.  not a blogger by trade (as you can already guess), but there is a reason:::  i have been doing WAY too MUCH!!

i do however have a ton of things to report on.

Earth Day 2008 has really taken on a life of its own and i must admit that it has taken over me.  the month of April has literally been so crazy that i have

1. not had a day off in about 5 months- for reals!

2. have been working a minimum of 10 hours a day

yes i am a loser!