just as we built them

And just as we built them, we took the buildings down, brick by brick. We took the steel and the gold and the silver and the oil and put them back beneath the skin of the earth where they belonged. We turned the roads back to rocks and grass and flowers. We told the animals "We're sorry." We took our clothes off and felt the wind on our skin and you and I, we were not ashamed.Then we turned around, and walked back into the sea.
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-I Wrote This For You

baraka

After my relaxing afternoon, I headed to Screenland (best theater in kansas city!) to see Baraka - which was a perfect way to celebrate Earth Day. This film is about an hour and a half long - with no words. Just amazing footage of nature, animals and people from 24 countries. There is a huge contrast in the images, from the peaceful quiet mountains to a rush of traffic to watching meditations...just really showing the beauty of our earth and the good and bad of mankind.

If you get a chance to see this movie please do, it was so amazing. Theres also someone on youtube that has broken it down into 10 pieces - maybe watch a little at a time. But realize that you'll watch one piece that will calm you and make you feel so at peace... and then the next will make you ashamed to be a part of humanity.

From the website, "Baraka is an ancient Sufi word, which can be translated as 'a blessing, or as the breath, or essence of life from which the evolutionary process unfolds.' "

earth hour

lights out! these are our little candle lanterns keeping us company.

take part here!

mercury mosaics

I love stories of companies like this. Mercury Mosaics was started in 2002 by Mercedes and Michael Austin in Minneapolis. Six years later they have a studio inside an old bowling alley and are creating some really amazing tile by hand. Mercury Mosaics also has a great environmental story - from the clay for the tile to the containers they ship them in.

urban sprawl

This is on my reading list.

From Amazon... "In Urban Sprawl and Public Health, Howard Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, and Richard Jackson, three of the nation's leading public health and urban planning experts explore an intriguing question: How does the physical environment in which we live affect our health? For decades, growth and development in our communities has been of the low-density, automobile-dependent type known as sprawl. The authors examine the direct and indirect impacts of sprawl on human health and well-being, and discuss the prospects for improving public health through alternative approaches to design, land use, and transportation."

sweaters

1. It says its a sweater for your coffee- but I think it would work for my peppermint tea as well. So cute - by Thinking Mama.

2. I would like to wear this, made from 100% sweater wool by Tingle Designs.

3. I love these items made from recycled sweaters. This pillow is amazing! - by plytextiles.

This scarf is made from recycled sweaters that have been shrunk/felted - another treasure from Thinking Mama.

trying to focus...

I'm hitting the books - well one book - to study for an upcoming exam. I've only been out of school a few years but its amazing how quickly study habits leave you - reading this much, taking notes - it feels like a little bit of torture. BUT its for a good cause.

I happen to work in a field that can make a big impact environmentally. According to the USGBC's (United States Green Building Council) website:

In the United States alone, buildings account for:

• 70% of electricity consumption

• 39% of energy use

• 39% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions

• 40% of raw materials use

• 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually)

• 12% of potable [clean, drinkable] water consumption

One way professionals in the architecture/design/engineering/building field can contribute is creating buildings that are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. Basically a rating system - buildings earn points for eco-friendly attributes. To become more knowledgeable about this system, professionals can become LEED accredited. This involves memorizing a big ol' reference guide and then taking a test - hence my studying. I'm planning on taking it before the holidays...wish me luck! And excuse some skimpy posting in the next month or two.

Photo of the Bronx Library in New York, which has a LEED Silver. See more certified projects here. Photo from here.

our new friend pickens

From CNN...

"Billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens is putting his clout behind renewable energy sources like wind power...The legendary entrepreneur and philanthropist on Tuesday unveiled a new energy plan he says will decrease the United States' dependency on foreign oil by more than one-third and help shift American energy production toward renewable natural resources...Pickens' company, Mesa Power, recently announced a $2 billion investment as the first step in a multibillion-dollar plan to build the world's largest wind farm in Pampa, Texas."

Read more here.

Photo from Iveitch.

i am not plastic

Love this by Sigg.

50 ways to help

Every time I watch an environmental documentary I leave with an equal sense of motivation and the feeling that we're completely screwed. Here's a site that plays to that motivated side of me:) 50 Ways to Help the Planet is a list of really easy changes we can make in our daily lives - that when added together make a significant difference. And makes me feel like if we all give these a shot, we're not entirely screwed.

flor tile

So I'm a little jealous that so many of my fellow interior designers are in Chicago for NeoCon this week - seeing all the new fabulous things, the fun showrooms (and ok, the great parties!) so in the spirit, I wanted to share an interiors product that I really like. Even though I don't do residential design, I love how this product has crossed over into residential and works so perfectly.

This is Interface FLOR modular carpet tile. I love the idea that you could make an area rug (or carpet the whole room) and its so flexible to change. Plus if you ever move you can just take it with you! Husband and I have two of these rugs, made up of 6 tiles each (he picked them out before we ever met - what taste!) and we really like them!

And if your cat throws up on one tile some night after eating too fast, you can just switch that tile with the one under the coffee table. Speaking from experience...

ecofabulous

Came across a great blog last night, ecofabulous. Complete with a travel guide, beauty feature and lustlist, you can find just about anything in this earth friendly collection (as well as a wonderful bloglist of fellow environmental blogs).

eco-white

Just opened up Paper Source's website (to check their hours today...its going to be a fun afternoon) and look what popped up!

I'm bummed this wasn't available a few months ago, when all of our invitation paper was purchased from Paper Source, but nevertheless, I'm pumped they've come out with it. Good for you Paper Source (ps I'll see you in a few hours my dear sweet store).

the story of trash - american style

Tonight I went to a screening of the documentary Trashed.

“Trashed” is a provocative investigation of one of the fastest growing industries in North America. The garbage business. The film examines a fundamental element of modern American culture…the disposal of what our society defines as “waste.” It is an issue influenced by every American, most of whom never consider the consequences. Nor, it seems, the implications to our biosphere. At times humorous, but deeply poignant, “Trashed” examines the American waste stream fast approaching a half billion tons annually.

Similar to The Inconvenient truth, it left me with mixed emotions - between depressed and wondering where the hope is, to completely motivated that each of us making the the smallest changes can make a really big difference. I highly recommend this film. Check out the website here.

green weddings

I've added a new blog to the daily list, Earth Friendly Weddings, a fabulous site about hosting an environmentally conscious wedding. Definitely worth checking out!

ps-I try my best to keep my blog list semi-short and sweet. I get overwhelmed when a blog has 46 links to check out - pick out your favorites darnit :)