December 2008

Diddy is the pitchman for Ciroc premium vodka.

I’ve lived in New York my entire life yet I’ve never been in Times Square when the ball dropped. I’ve walked by the tourist zone shortly after the clock stuck 12 — wading through piles of confetti and trash — and partied a few blocks away, but I’ve always avoided the eye of the storm on the big night.

I have been accused of putting the mental in environmental. I truly believe the most successful spaces always get the details right: proper use of varied lighting, complexity of texture, subtle art, and the many other nuances that transform a space to make it exceptional. Taking it one step further (hence the mental reference), I also delve into the ordinary elements that make up one’s home. It’s all great and good if it’s an ‘environmentally friendly room’, assembled with eco paint, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) furniture, pure vegetable dyed rugs, etc, but try to dig a little deeper to appreciate the impact of the ordinary items we use everyday but don’t usually think about. Stuff such as healthy cleaning supplies, non-petroleum based candles and cosmetics, recycled paper goods. Even nail polish!

Look back at 2008 and find your most memorable good memory. Spending some time recognizing good memories can help make you aware of what you want to draw to you in the future.

The XO laptop OLPC is giving out isn't just green in color -- it's eco-friendly!

…or so it seems.

The late music legend John Lennon is being posthumously featured in a new 30-second ad promoting the charitable foundation One Laptop per Child (OLPC).

What are your resolutions this year? If you’re like many people, you’ve got a goal in mind: lose weight, make a change in your job or relationships, treat yourself better, or otherwise embark on an Operation: Transformation!

Everything is done at a faster pace and bigger fashion at the holidays. You eat more, drink more, spend more money and sleep less. You feel time crunched; you do your last minute shopping; and as fast as you create the holidays, they disappear.

As you plan your travels for 2009, make a New Year’s resolution to green up your accommodations. It’s easy, and you’ll be inspired by the wide range of ways the hospitality industry is seeking to lessen its impact on the planet while making your stay more comfortable than ever.

Tom Cruise in Valkyrie

Did you open your gifts yet?

My two-day gift opening extravaganza is officially over and I tried to make it as eco-friendly as possible this year, reusing bags and boxes I’ve been collecting. I noticed that homemade gifts were in this year — from gifts to charity given in a loved one’s name to homemade concoctions (like a recycled shoebox my boyfriend adorned to house some pampering gifts and cookies my aunt baked as gifts).

Wow, so much is going on in our world today. Is it hope or fear that we are clinging to? It seems both are so strong at the present time. What we can be sure of is that things are changing at lightening speed, and we need to learn to roll and be flexible because just when you think all of your ducks are in a row, another wave comes along. It would be a pretty boring ride if we knew where all the bumps in the road were. What makes a roller coaster so exciting? It is the not knowing.

A friend of mine received a Christmas card from her niece that contained this recount. I share it with you…

A family, traveling to visit relatives for the holidays, stopped at a restaurant for a bite. The parents were tired, their two kids cranky. Food and warmth and a break from the winter roads beckoned. They were shown to a table and given a booster seat for the toddler and a high chair for the baby. Mom and Dad ordered coffee and food and they settled in to wait.