Elisa's Green Scene

Seattle: a hip & zen city?

Sorry it was so quiet last week. I was in Seattle for much of the week for a conference. During that week I got a really good feeling about Seattle. I've bee there twice before, once over 10 years ago for a weekend, and once about four years ago for a couple of days out of a whirlwind Pacific Northwest vacation. I've enjoyed it each time, but this time in particular, as a new vegan, I appreciated how accommodating and easy-going the people seem. You can read about how the Seattle restaurant industry treated me very well here.

It's also a really green and beautiful city. Just driving to and from the airport is nice. The weather was beautifully autumnal...a bit of a nip in the air. And there was no rain at all, surprisingly! This trip made me feel like I had to go back for another, longer, more recreational visit.

What about you? Been to Seattle? Live there? What do you recommend about the city?

I need new glasses

About three years ago a co-worker told me I should get red eyeglasses. I had some dark green glasses at the time...quite serious looking. So she went with me (to Optical Illusions at Santana Row) and helped me pick out a pair of funky rectangular red eyeglasses. I must admit I have gotten many many compliments on these glasses. Not only that, but it's pretty easy to tell people how to recognize me on the days I'm wearing glasses. There just aren't that many short women with long dark hair and bright red eyeglasses walking around.

Three years later my prescription has finally degraded enough where I need new glasses. True, I could simply replace the lenses in my current pair, but it might just be time for something new. So it's good timing that spotted this post on the simplehuman blog about how to pick eyeglasses that are right for you. Now, some of this isn't so new to me, particular the part about off-setting the shape of your face by the shape of your glasses. But I really did appreciate this specific information about how much of your face your glasses should cover:

Keep the frames in proportion to your face: your frames should never extend beyond your eyebrows or touch your cheeks. Plus, you don't want your glasses to take up more than one-third of your face.

Helpful, right?

Another socially conscious event: the Artivist Film festival

I like that word: Artivist.

A blend of artist and activist.

There are those who say that celebrities should just shut up and entertain us. I couldn't agree less! I appreciate it any time someone with money, power, influence and status as a role model, whether they asked for it or not, uses that to try to do some good in the world.

The 3rd Annual Artivist Film Festival this November 9-12 in Hollywood honors such individuals.

This year BlogFriend Eric Prescott from An Animal-Friendly Life is helping to produce the event, and he sent me the following description:

The festival merges art and activism for global consciousness, and runs from November 9th through 12th here in Hollywood, at the historic Egyptian Theatre. I'm excited about what we're doing for animal and environmental advocacy, alongside social and children's advocacy. In addition to literature and vegan food sponsors, we have screenings of numerous shorts and features, including Mad Cowboy, followed by a forum I'm hosting on the cost of meat consumption and production. Howard Lyman will be there, as will Daryl Hannah, whom we're honoring on Sunday the 12th along with Joaquin Phoenix, and other special guests will be announced soon.

According to Eric Artivist is also looking to launch a portal to activist web sites (and I assume blogs) soon too.

So, if you're from SoCal, or looking for a really good reason to take a trip there, check out the Artivist Film Festival. Combining art and activism...what could be better?

News Flash: Heated Buckwheat Pillow actually does make a difference

I recently ordered one of those nice-smelling lavendar buckwheat pillows from hip & zen. I hung it over the back of my desk chair and enjoyed the nice smell. I had seen the instructions about heating it and using it as a heating pad, but it's not why I bought it, and I had no plans to use it as anything other than a nice-smelling addition to my office area.

Last night I hosted a big party for my fiance's 40th birthday. You can read all about the hard labor involved here. Hosting a party can be hard work...especially if it's the kind of party where you're on your feet the entire time. (What kind of party isn't that kind of party?) But the pre-party heavy lifting and cleaning didn't help.

I woke up this morning with the neck and shoulders of an infirm person! So, I went ahead and microwaved up my buckwheat pillow and laid it across my shoulders on the back of neck. When it got cool, I microwaved it one more time and did it again.

And you know what: I feel better.

Of course, I should disclose I also took an Aleve right when I woke up. But I've no doubt the heated lavender pillow did its thing too.

hip & zen and other Fashion with Conscience

Thanks to Not So Shabby Chic for including hip & zen on a list of sources for Fashion with a Social Conscience.

Being a shoe-hound with little outlet for it since my long-ago decision to avoid leather and suede, I was most intrigued by the vegan shoe shop, Beyond Skin.

Cute, cute cute!!! And so stylish.

But pricy? Oh My. God. These adorable heels reminiscent of the 40s? 177 pounds. That's somewhere North of $250. Yikes!

Back to Payless Shoe Source for me. Sigh.

Green Office Supplies Online

I always find cool stuff at Treehugger, and this time it's The Green Office. The Green Office is:

...a company designed to promote sustainability in the workplace. Our products are labeled and ranked by greenness, taking the research out of responsible shopping. Here you'll find a range of tools, services, tips and information making office greening easy and cost effective. Customers enjoy great low prices, free shipping over $49, and next day delivery on orders placed before 3:00 p.m.* Discount and contract pricing available for qualified customers. Green's always been good. Now it's easy™.

Kewl.

I've been thinking I need a new ergonomically appropriate office chair. And I must admit the site is making me feel a little lame. I go to the page for chairs and footrests and all I see is the butt-gel-cushioned pictured here. Aren't there any actual chairs anywhere?

Bad navigation, blind user, or just not fully-stocked yet? You tell me.

But I loves me the idea, and the next time I need to order toner, printer paper or the like I'm am jilting OfficeDepot in favor of The Green Office.

Hat tip: Treehugger

Ethical Engagement Rings

So, I haven't blogged this anywhere, but I did indeed get engaged 2 weeks ago. I can now expect to really have use for all of the ethical wedding sites that I've pointed out here in the past...and can truly earn the pitches I get from wedding-oriented authors and companies on account of those posts.

The first quandary: the engagement ring.

I was all set with what I wanted. I thought I wanted a ring by this guy. Platinum and diamonds all the way, baby. And diamond is my birthstone, so it was kind of a twofer.

But just in the week we decided to get married, I started reading rumblings on the Interwebs about diamonds and metal and ethics. Read on...

GreenTips on GreenCars

I won't be in the market for a new car for another year and a half, but I'm certainly hoping that by that time I am there will be more green alternatives for the average budget than there were when I leased my current car, a Saturn ION.

Looks like a good place to keep on top of it is at a site called Union of Concerned Scientists. In particular they have a section on Clean Vehicles, and it gets updated regularly. They also have a blog devoted to info on Hybrids. It's not rip-roaringly active, so perhaps it's more of a good one to bookmark for the next time you're in the market, rather than count among your regular reads.

What sources do you use when car-shopping?