ELIZABETH NORWOOD

ECO-TIP cleaner, greener personal care products

By Liz on June 5, 2013

illustration: meghan hanson: alivemagazine.org

You are what you eat.

How many times have you heard that?

If your mom was like mine, the answer is probably “a lot”.

And here’s the thing: It’s actually pretty true.

Food (and the food-like substances that pass for food these days) really does have a huge impact on your health, your mood, your lifespan, and a whole host of other physiological processes.

But how many times have you heard this:

You are what you put on your body.

The average person uses a dozen personal care products every morning. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, face cream, sunscreen, makeup, toothpaste, mouthwash, body lotion, hair gel, shaving cream, and deodorant – and that’s just before breakfast!

Most of these products have hundreds of chemical ingredients that are untested, unregulated, and unsafe. They can do things like irritate your skin, mess up your hormones and damage your DNA.

So what you choose to put on your body affects you…and it affects the rest of life on Earth.

Think local. We like to think of ourselves as these little separate, sealed off beings, but we’re not. Stuff is entering your porous and permeable body constantly. Your lungs take in your perfumes and powders. Your mouth absorbs your toothpaste. Your skin soaks up over half of what you slather on it.

Think global. Your personal products really aren’t personal at all – they’re global. Because once you use them, they swirl down the drain or land in the garbage. They leach into our drinking water and our soil. They get into our flora and our fauna. And eventually they find their way back to – you guessed it – us.

So why not make healthier choices when you can?

Here are four simple things you can do right now:

1. Get to know your toxins … and then avoid them. Some of the more common ones are:

– Phthalates
– Sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate, in soaps, shampoos and toothpaste
– Petrochemicals like mineral oil and petrolatum
– Parabens like methylparaben and propylparaben
– Triclosan, found in antibacterial soaps, even toothpastes
– Chemical fragrances – stay away unless it specifies 100% natural origin

2. Bookmark the Environmental Working Group because you’ll come back to this site again and again. They have a sunscreen guide, a cosmetics database and many other indispensable consumer guides. Just enter the name of your favorite products and they’ll tell you instantly how safe it is.

3. Make your own. Go online to search for recipes. My all-time favorite site is Crunchy Betty. It has amazing DIY beauty and body recipes. Plus it’s just ridiculously fun to read.

4. Vote with your wallet. If you’re shopping in a conventional market or drugstore, seek out the “greenest” options. They may not be perfect, but will likely be free of famous toxins. If we consumers demand cleaner and greener options from mainstream companies, we can alter manufacturing practices, change trends and move mountains.

What are your favorite green products and recipes?

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ROME it’s just better with a guide

By Liz on May 23, 2013

courtesy cntraveler.com

I just got back from spending seven days in Rome.

It wasn’t my first time there – I had been twice before and enjoyed seeing all the usual suspects like the Colosseum, the Vatican City, and the Trevi Fountain.

But this time felt like the first time, for one simple reason: I got some help getting off the beaten path.

I’ve never been on a guided tour before, mostly because I’ve always had a pubescent obsession with looking like a local whenever I travel. I was strictly stealth with my maps and camera, spoke in hushed tones, and avoided sensible footwear at all times.

But now I’m all growed up and I finally understand that the joy of traveling is truly seeing without worrying about being seen (as a tourist).

Two guides in particular showed me a Rome that I never knew existed. Rome is all about its historical underbelly, about what lies beneath and between its layers of civilization. If you take the time to peel them back, you begin to grasp that Rome is a work of art in progress, an ongoing morphing masterpiece.

Just as the ancient Romans integrated most of the cultures they conquered, modern day Rome is a crazy intertwixt of old and new, ancestors and inhabitants, food and wine, art and architecture. Everywhere you look there’s a reminder that this city has stood for millennia, and it profoundly changes the way you think about time – and your place in it.

If you can swing the extra cost of hiring a guide, I guarantee you’ll get an exponential return on your investment.

These are the guys that transformed my trip from very cool to truly awesome…and some of their favorite Roman nooks and crannies.

Chris at Roscioli Salumeria

Chris from Wine & Food of Rome has a dual degree in European History and Religious Studies, and it serves him well. He’s a virtual search engine for facts and dates, but also for rich cultural context. Despite his pedigree, his style was casual and he welcomed all our questions as we wended our way through the city streets. (Okay, full disclosure here: Chris is my brother. But I’m totally objective about how talented he is – I swear.)

The food at Hostaria da Pietro is not even the same species of that which passes for “Italian” in the U.S. Chris asked them to just bring us whatever was fresh that day, and it was absurdly delicious. The waiter treated us like his long-lost famiglia and showed us photos of his newborn daughter. It was that kind of place.
I’ve done a few wine tastings in my day, but sommelier extraordinaire Alessandro at Roscioli Wine and Food Tasting takes it to another level. We tasted upwards of a dozen Old World wines paired with generous morsels of burrata cheese, pecorino romano, specialty prosciuttos and house-made spicy rigatoni.
Villa Borghese gardens
“Apollo and Daphne” by Bernini

We spent hours at the Villa Borghese, the 148-acre former estate of 16^th century cardinal Scipione Borghese. After strolling the magnificent gardens (now a public park) we toured the gallery filled with Ancient Roman mosaics, exquisite Bernini sculptures, and paintings by Titian and Raphael.
There are more than 900 churches in Rome. We only saw a fraction of them, but my favorite was Santa Maria degli Angeli. The church’s crumbling ruin of an exterior belies the grandeur inside – so symbolic of Rome’s tradition of not fixing stuff up too much, of celebrating its heritage and imperfect beauty.
Santa Maria degli Angeli

Evan in action

Evan from Rome Illuminated has almost a decade of experience as a guide. He had dramatic flair and infectious enthusiasm as he effortlessly ushered us through his highlights of modern-day Rome. He also had an amazing ability to paint a picture of the sights, smells and sounds we may have encountered on a trip to Ancient Rome.

Caravaggio “The Calling of St Matthew”

My second favorite church was San Luigi dei Francesi, mostly because it has three amazing Caravaggio masterpieces in it. Evan brought the paintings to life, pointing out subtle details and giving us the stories behind them.

We thought we were going into the Teatro Valle for a quick peek, but Evan managed to score us a grand tour of its innards. We climbed the rafters, got a bird’s eye view of the set pulleys and the backstage. Built in 1726, the theater was shut down in 2010 due to budget cuts, but was soon occupied by directors and
Teatro Valle

performers who still stage regular productions. This Roman passion has spurred other grassroots movements all over Europe to save old art institutions.

We wrapped our tour with an aperitivo with a view – Evan called ahead to reserve a table on the terrace of Hotel Raphael . Arriving just as the last of the daylight faded and the city panorama was illuminated by hazy pink streetlights, we raised our Negronis and drank a toast – to our speedy return to Rome.
Terrace at Hotel Raphael

What are your favorite Roman hotspots?

THE SKINNY on Healthy Fats

By Liz on May 5, 2013

drjoanna.com

During the low-fat craze of the 80s and 90s, the prevailing wisdom was that all fat is bad for the human body. As a result, food manufacturers fed the low-fat, no-fat movement, loading their wares with salt, corn syrup, chemicals and phony fats.

Ironically, since then the rates of diabetes and heart disease have continued to grow – along with the collective American waistline.

Scientists have been trying to figure out why our figures are expanding despite our efforts to eat “healthy”. We now know that all fats are not created equal, and a healthy body requires a healthy dose of healthy fat.

Turns out there are countless metabolic processes that depend on fat. Fat-soluble vitamins like A, D and E need fat to do their job. Over 70% of your gray matter is fat, so it’s critical for stabilizing mood, memory, and other brain functions. Fat can improve skin health, heart health and the immune system. It can help prevent diabetes by slowing absorption of sugars and refined carbs.

And moderate amounts of good fat can actually help you lose weight by supporting your metabolism, making your food taste better and helping you feel satisfied so you eat less.

The Good, The Fat and The Ugly

Repeat after me: “Fat is not the enemy.” The key is moderation, and choosing the right kinds of fat. Which can be tricky when you’re confronted with the alphabet soup of fat facts out there. CLA, GLA, ALA, EFA, saturated, unsaturated, trans-fats, Omega 3 – what’s the skinny?

For detailed scoop, dig in to Real Food Digest’s in-depth discussion of the latest on dietary fats.

In the meantime, here’s the Cliffs Notes version:

EAT MORE OF THIS

Oils: flax, walnut, raw extra-virgin olive oil. For cooking, stick with extra light olive oil. The jury is still out on coconut oil so use in moderation.
Veggies: avocados, Brussels sprouts and green leafies like spinach and kale
Nuts: especially walnuts (high in Omega 3), macadamia nuts, almonds, pistachios and cashews
Seeds like flax, pumpkin, hemp, sunflower and sesame
Fish: especially salmon, albacore tuna, Alaskan halibut and sardines. Choose wild-caught or safely-farmed fish to avoid mercury and other toxins.
Grass-fed pastured meats, milk, butter, yogurt and eggs

AND NOT SO MUCH OF THIS

Trans-fats and partially-hydrogenated oils found in margarine, fried foods, commercial baked goods, crackers and cookies.
Polyunsaturated vegetable oils like soybean, corn, canola and safflower that have always been touted as “healthy.” But the average American eats way too much of them, increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Saturated fats from conventionally-farmed meats, dairy and eggs.

Fast foods and processed foods are usually manufactured with cheap, unhealthy, chemically-altered fats. So your best bet is to eat fresh, whole foods from the “good” list, read package labels, and skip the fast food.

How do you get your good fat?

MOTHER-DAUGHTER BONDING – Start a Sharing Journal

By Liz on March 26, 2013

The mother-daughter bond is unique, complex and ever-changing. For your relationship to truly blossom, it’s important to set aside time to hang out with no interruptions or expectations. Find ways to connect and “go deep” so you always know how, even during tough times. Sometimes the most profound conversations happen organically when you’re doing something else.

A mother-daughter journal is a great way to share experiences, uncover hidden dreams, and swap thoughts. It’s also the perfect forum for tricky conversations – like the birds and the bees or really messy bedrooms – because it allows time to stay cool and respond honestly. Pass your journal back and forth and fill it with the things that make you laugh, that freak you out, and that blow your mind. It’s a memoir of who you are – separately and together – that you’ll keep forever.

Here’s how to get started:

mother-daughter word bubbles journal

Get a good book There are many mother-daughter journals published with pre-set prompts and topics at Café Press or on Amazon. If you’re the creative type, buy a nice blank book and create your journal as you go. Add photos, ticket stubs, inspiring quotes or sketches.

Lay a few ground rules and stick by them Have a set time that you’ll write – every Saturday, the first day of the month, whatever works for you. And just like Vegas, what happens on the page stays on the page! No topic should be taboo, but give each other the option to “pass.”.

Slant positive Life isn’t always rosy, and your journal will reflect the speed bumps and shadows as well as the joys and beauty. But resist the urge to use it as a place to lecture or complain. Be honest when exploring a tough topic, but always think before putting pen to paper.

Brainstorm topics and questions. Let your themes flow naturally with the events of your lives.

Our changing bodies, puberty to menopause
Friendships
Boys, boys and…oh yeah, more boys
Expressing your personal style
What you want to be when you grow up, and why
Why we always fight about (insert problem here), and how we can negotiate better?
If you had 24 hours with no responsibilities and endless funds, what would you do?
Inner and outer beauty
Top five favorite songs/books/movies

Share your mother-daughter tips! What do you do to have fun together and stay connected?

(this post soon to appear on Edelbio Skin Care)

ECO-TIPS – get your outdoors on

By Liz on March 13, 2013

HDWallpapers

There’s been a lot of buzz since Richard Louv coined the phrase “Nature Deficit Disorder” in his book Last Child in the Woods . Nature Deficit Disorder is a general term for the side effects – like anxiety, depression and obesity – of spending too little time in nature. And it’s not just kids that are suffering from NDD – adults are so plugged in to the virtual world these days, we’re missing out on the wonders of the natural world.

Humans are hard-wired to love nature – seeing it, smelling it, just being in it stimulates all our senses and gives us joy. And research shows nature’s therapeutic effects, lowering blood pressure, slashing stress and boosting immune function. Time we spend in nature even makes us more caring and compassionate. The more we get outdoors, the more we realize that our own health is intertwined with the health of our environment.

If you’re having a tough time “getting out more,” take a cue from Todd Christopher of Green Hour. He recommends a one-hour daily dose of outdoors for healthier, happier kids. But this prescription applies to all ages, so get out there and get your green on:

Hit the trails on two feet, or two wheels. Invest in items to up your adventure factor, like binoculars, books on local flora and fauna, or a handy nature app.

Take a dip in the nearest lake or ocean. Feel the sand between your toes. Smell the salt air. Collect shells and unique pebbles. Rinse, repeat.

Cultivate your green thumb. Start a garden with your favorite flowers, fruits and vegetables. Share your bounty with family and friends, or give back to Mother Nature by creating a National Wildlife Federation certified habitat in your own backyard.

Rethink your vacation. Consider a day trip or vacation to one of 398 glorious National Parks

“Park” close to home... You don’t need an exotic destination to fill the nature prescription – any town park or playground with a decent patch of greenery will do.

courtesy muddyplimsolls.com

…and “park” at home. Maximize your nature fix by bringing the outdoors in. Many beautiful indoor varieties of houseplants also detox the air. A windowsill herb garden is a snap to grow and maintain. And some choice ambient nature sounds can temporarily transform your home office or bedroom into soothing rainforest.

How do you get your green on?

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DHARMA STRASSER MacCOLL portrait of an artist

By Liz on March 1, 2013

Green Interlace 38″ x 38″

To approach a work of art by Dharma Strasser MacColl is to experience a series of unexpected layers and exquisite surprises.

On first glance, each work is serenely beautiful to behold – the primal shapes, the magnetic compositions, the saturated colors.

Large Ombre Bloom 16″ x 16″

Come closer, however, and the surfaces begin bubbling with sculptural details. You notice the stitches overlaying brush strokes and the intricate hand-cut patterns of lace-like paper. You detect the flutter and shadow of delicate felt forms and ceramic beads.

Dharma has been making art for almost twenty years, and her newest body of work “Interlace” combines painting and ceramics in an entirely unique way. The shapes she uses – floral, starburst, leafy – echo those found in nature: “nature on steroids” as she likes to say. They also often evoke the cellular, as if peering through a microscope at a thin slice of a larger organism.

Upward and Beyond 31″ x 38″

Dharma has a hand in making or shaping most of the media she uses. She cuts and sews with felt and Nepalese lokta paper. She forms and fires the porcelain and clay beads that sparsely adorn many of her pieces. Her studies in ceramics as well as Pre-Columbian and African art are evident. But the care and precision she puts into her beadwork is inspired by her English grandmother, who made bouquets of vibrant flowers with wire and tiny seed beads.

Blossoming Yes 17″ x 15″

Her materials – clay, wool felt, thread – may be substantial, but Dharma manages to transform them into something ethereal and airy. Her compositions explore the Japanese concept of ma – of active negative space, the space between things. Other essential themes that dance around “Interlace” are the interconnectedness of life and the playful tension between intricacy and simplicity, form and abstraction, modern and primitive.

When Dharma dives in to a new piece, she’s never quite sure of how it will end up. There’s a sense of wonder and curiosity in her process – she stays open to whatever comes, discovering her own work as it breathes and grows. And we imagine that each work is as compelling for her to make as it is for us to see.

Dharma Strasser MacColl shows at Traywick Contemporary in Berkeley, CA

Orange Interlace 38″ x 38″

BEAUTY REST – sleep better tonight

By Liz on January 29, 2013

If you feel like you’re too busy to sleep – or too stressed to sleep well – you’re not alone. At the end of a long day working and tending to others, eight hours of shut-eye can feel like a luxury you just can’t afford.

But the truth is, you can’t afford not to get your rest. It is absolutely essential to your health – and beauty. Adequate sleep increases productivity and quality of life while significantly reducing the risk of disease and weight gain. And a good snooze gives your beauty products a chance to do their job. Your cells regenerate at night while you’re in dreamland, improving your skin texture and tone. They don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing!

Here are a few strategies for restocking your sleep bank:

Lay low on the Joe, and the cocktails, in the afternoon and evening. Resist the urge to reach for a latte at 3 o’clock. Or to unwind with a few glasses of wine after dinner. We know it’s tough, but caffeine and alcohol wreak serious havoc on your natural sleep cycles. Try satisfying your cravings with herbal teas, like citrus chamomile or vanilla rooibos, with a touch of honey, milk or lemon.

Take a hike. Aim for 45 minutes of exercise a day. Hit the gym during lunch, try a new Crossfit class, or hike with a friend. If that’s a stretch for your schedule, break your exercise into more manageable chunks of time. Walk briskly to the grocery store instead of driving. Bring the kids to the pool and dive in yourself. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Small snippets of activity can really add up.

Give your bedtime routine a makeover. A consistent bedtime routine is critical to good sleep hygiene. Go to bed at the same time each night, even on the weekends. Take a leisurely stroll, do some gentle stretches, or take a hot bath each evening. An hour or so before bed, dim the lights in your house to increase your natural melatonin production, and turn off all screen devices (no Facebook!) And make sure your bedroom is a dark, peaceful haven. This will signal your body that it’s time to hit the hay.

Take five. Every day, pause for 5-10 minutes and do – well, absolutely nothing! Or brush up on your relaxation techniques:

Meditation
Yoga
Listen to soft, ambient music
4/7/8 Deep Breathing – breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 7 counts, then exhale for 8 counts. Repeat for ten breaths.

How do you relax and get a good night’s sleep?

ECO-TIPS – green clothing

By Liz on January 2, 2013

susan lenz

It’s fun to let your personal style shine with unique clothing and accessories. But buying them from conventional stores? Not so fun for the environment.

Most apparel companies use fabrics, dyes and practices that aren’t kind to people or the Earth. Polyester and acrylic fabrics are made from plastics, conventional cotton crops are doused with heavy pesticides, and fair trade is often sacrificed for the bottom line.

The good news is, with growing awareness and the eco-movement in full swing, greening your closet has never been easier!

oprah.com

Swap your stuff: If you need a wardrobe refresher, try doing a temporary trade with your close friends. Share clothing between sisters, mothers and daughters. Or host a clothing swap party with friends, classmates, mom’s groups or even your book club.

Hunt for treasure: Who says clothes have to be new to be fabulous? Some of the best (and eco-est) deals can be found second hand. And buying used helps preserve the precious resources that it takes to produce new clothing. Make a mother-daughter lunch date and hit the vintage stores and consignment shops in your area. Or peruse Ebay Green for greener goods.

Choose consciously: Think before you buy something new. Ask yourself: How was this made? Where was it made? What was it made from? Choose natural fabrics over synthetic, and organic whenever possible. Seek out greener brands you can trust. And remember the timeless motto “quality over quantity.” Stock up on classic basics and then spring for a few statement pieces to make your fashion mark.

stewart+brown

Walk the Web: Fire up the online search engine to find your favorite organic clothing purveyors. Here are a few of ours:

kids, teen and casual – Greenedge Kids, EcoGirl, Soul Flower, Garnet Hill
women’s: Stewart+Brown, Loomstate, GGO Clothing
style sites – Ecofabulous, Eco Fashion World, Ecouterre , LovingEco

How do you keep your closet green?

(this post soon to be published on Edelbio Skin Care – stay tuned!)

BEYOND THE BALL new year family rituals

By Liz on December 7, 2012

Once upon a time, before the adjective “cosmopolitan” became an 80 proof noun, New Year’s Eve was a time for reflection as well as celebration.

The first day of January has been observed for millenia as a time of new beginnings, of fresh starts. The month gets its name from Janus – the Roman god of endings and beginnings, the two-faced guy who could simultaneously look back to the old year and forward into the new.

New Year traditions always involved celebrating – even the ancients knew that partying could illuminate the darkest and longest of days. But our modern New Year’s Eve has evolved into an occasion to over-imbibe and overlook the conscious, contemplative transition it once was.

Because many NYE celebrations are cocktail affairs (and because, really, how many little ones can hack staying up until midnight?) the kids often get left out of the festivities.

Counting down to the ball drop and having a toast can be wonderful ways of marking the passage of time. But the new year could be even richer with rituals for the whole family, no matter what age or spiritual persuasion.

Ritual is pretty powerful stuff. It can deepen relationships and heighten our feelings of security and calm. It can help us integrate the past with the future. And it can elevate the everyday into something extraordinary.

Try one of these family rituals to ring in 2013.

Create a Vision

People have been using vision boards for eons to get creative juices flowing, clarify intentions and wake up sleepy dreams. Post your finished board in a prominent spot as a colorful, constant reminder of what really matters to you.

Vision boards are easy and fun for anyone old enough to safely wield a pair of scissors. Cut up old magazines, catalogs or any printed materials you have on hand. Use a glue stick to collage images onto construction paper or poster board, then decorate with paint, glitter, fabric, shells, beads and other found objects.

Older and tech-savvy kids can also compile a virtual vision board online. Google to find your favorite format, or check out Digital Vision Board.

Say Farewell

The end of the year is a natural time to let go of habits and emotions that no longer serve their purpose. Make the break more tangible with a farewell ritual.

Build a small fire or put a few candles in a bowl. Have each family member think of one thing they’re ready to let go of, and write it down on a slip of paper. Take turns tossing each slip into the fire, watching them burn to ash. Bid adieu to the past.

This ritual might sound a little woo-woo, but kids really dig it– you’ll be surprised how much thought goes into that little piece of paper. And how special the privilege of being close to fire when they’re always told to steer clear.

Bonus: the fire is perfect for toasting marshmallows for ritual S’mores.

Walk Down Photo Lane

Capture annual shifts in personality, family dynamics and fashion trends (gotta love those leisure suits) by making an album or video slideshow with favorite photos from the past year.

Sit down together and peruse your photos, reminiscing about the juicier moments. Taking time to recreate scenes will etch them into memories and reinforce kids’ sense of self and the larger family unit. The final touch can be a family photo taken every New Year’s Day, in the same positions and location.

Build Karma

Everyone has something they can share with others. Hold a powwow to figure out what that “something” is for your family, what cause you are most passionate about. It might be local shelter kids, endangered Siberian tigers or dwindling coral reefs.

If you join a charity or service organization, do a bit of homework to find one that is doing the most good with its resources. Or just reach out to someone in your community who needs a hand. Then donate time, money or expertise when and where you can spare.

Back to Basics

Or, just go with the traditional time-tested New Year’s Resolutions. We modern humans are notorious for dropping our resolutions quicker than you can say “molten lava cake”.

So keep your list simple and manageable, with a positive spin:

1 thing you want to improve
1 thing you’re ready to cut back on
1 thing you want to try for the first time…like, perhaps, a new family ritual?

What are your family’s New Year traditions?

love ‘em or leave ‘em

By Liz on November 9, 2012

My formal training is as a linguist, not an English teacher, so I know that language is a fluid thing. What is considered incorrect can become correct through a critical mass of mainstream usage. But there are just certain “wrongs” that I’d hate to see gain enough traction to become “right”.

Are you guilty of using any of these? Do you think we should love ‘em (accept these transgressions and let them creep into our textbooks) or leave ‘em?

There’s Trouble in Them Thar Words

In the English language, many words with different meanings and spellings can prove vexing because they are pronounced the exact same way.

Case in point: the homonymous trio there/their/they’re.

See if you can spot the errors in the sentence that follows.

There are many people who think their smart, but often they’re spelling is suspect.

You guessed it. There are many people who think they’re smart, but often their spelling is suspect.

Some people truly do not grasp the difference in meaning between these three words. However, more often they just don’t take the time – in our culture of hyper speed – to figure out the correct usage. Esp in txts. Or if you allow auto fill free rein. Even as I write this post, my auto fill is short-circuiting over our vexing trio.

When writing in your daily life, whether crafting presentations or shooting quick emails, you might have a feeling that you’re choosing the rightish word. But it always pays to be sure – your credibility could be at stake.

It doesn’t have to be that tricky. Let me show you…

They’re is the most straightforward, but seems to cause the most confusion. It is simply a contraction of they + are. Did you see Mike’s shoes? They’re so cool.
Their indicates the third person plural possessive adjective. You use it to indicate something belongs to them. The students brought their lunches to school every day.
Everything else falls under the there umbrella. It can be an adverb (She sat there for two hours.), a pronoun (There is no reason to get frustrated with all of these words.), an adjective (That car there sure is a beaut.), a noun (You can’t get there from here.) or an interjection (There! I finally figured it out!)

If that’s too much information to muck around with, I offer you a handy mnemonic haiku.

Their belongs to them

They’re is just short for they are

Otherwise, it’s there.

There – is that clear?

ECO-TIPS – HallowGREEN

By Liz on October 11, 2012

What’s scarier than a ravenous zombie? More toxic than witch’s brew? Yes – It’s Halloween! At least it can be, with the traditional piles of party waste, loads of costume chemicals and sacks of questionable candy.

The point of this post is not to throw one of the coolest holidays under the bus. Who doesn’t like parties, dressing up and treats?

It’s the way we do Halloween that could use a costume change. Greening your Halloween is easier than you think, and the key is to focus on what you do have, not what you think you’re missing. In the wise words of the ladies behind Green Halloween, “The cardinal rule of successfully going green is presenting desirable alternatives.”

So get creative. Plan ahead a bit. Keep all the fun, just reconsider some of your old standbys and habits. If we have a choice – and we often do – why not choose to carve out a healthier holiday?

Planet-friendly party

Increase the green factor at your home, school or community event by:

Hosting a before-party costume (or Halloween décor) exchange
Buying pumpkins and natural décor from local farmers using sustainable practices
Choosing reusable instead of disposable tableware, cups, napkins and utensils. If that’s not possible, buy recycled, reusable (Preserve is a good choice) or compostable options
Using low energy LED Halloween lights
Opting for beeswax or soy candles, which are cleaner burning than standard petroleum-based paraffin candles

Costume Change

These days, almost every store-bought costume is made with synthetic fabrics and plastics. Many are made with lead, arsenic and pthalates that can be absorbed through the skin and mouth (Dracula teeth anyone?)

If you prefer ready-to-wear, cut down on chemical exposure and rescue used costumes from landfill by borrowing from friends or buying from consignment/thrift shops. If you’re the adventurous type, use your imagination with things you already have around the house, or make your own costumes from natural fabrics like organic cotton, felt and burlap.

Tricky Treats

That photo of organic seed packets up there is not a design error. It’s a visual cue to think outside the candy box. Even a ravenous zombie should lay off the stuff that’s in most conventional candy. Melamine-tainted milk chocolate, trans fats, propylene glycol (aka antifreeze), and artificial flavors and colors aren’t good for anyone’s complexion.

Before you welcome trick-or-treaters to your door, learn a bit about the candy you buy. Think about what’s in it, where it’s made, how it’s packaged. Some better brands to consider are Surf Sweets, Endangered Species Chocolate and Glee Gum.

Or don’t buy candy at all. Your local grocer or online purveyor stocks goodies like:

Organic juice boxes or fruit leather
Snack bars such as LARABAR, Z-Bars
Organic granola bars
Snack-sized bags of organic cookies, crackers or popcorn
Paper stickers
Themed bandages
Art supplies and recycled pencils

At the end of the evening, give your trick-or-treaters alternatives to consuming their spoils. Perhaps they are paid a visit from The Great Pumpkin, who leaves a gift in exchange for candy. For most kids, a trip to the organic ice cream shop, a book, or some other eco-gift or experience is a fair trade.

Green Halloween has details and many more tips. What are your favorite HallowGreen tricks?

MANKA’S LODGE – Inverness, Ca

By Liz on October 3, 2012

Three nights is ideal if you can swing it.

The first 24 hours of your stay at Manka’s, you’re too busy being blown away by the food, the accommodations, the views, and the blaring hush of the Tomales Bay region.

The second night you’re so steeped in relaxation that every fiber of your being starts to unfurl.

If you can somehow spare a third night, well, that’s just a rare decadence in this wound up and wired world of ours.

Manka’s Lodge is nestled in a truly alternate universe one hour north of San Francisco. Inverness is a sensual tapestry of muted greens and greys, serene bay views, rolling hills, wildlife and the occasional charming cottage.

If you’re in the mood, there’s plenty to do here – kayak excursions, hikes, cheese tasting, farm tours, beach to explore. And the handful of top-drawer restaurants nearby such as Nick’s Cove and Saltwater Oyster Depot can provide a prime culinary experience.

But really, if you want the truth, there’s no excessively convincing need to leave Manka’s. A piping fresh breakfast basket is included each morning of your stay. And you can order chef-owner Margaret Grade’s exquisite in-room dinner service, where reading the menu is almost as pleasing as eating the meal. Your provisioning is complete with a strategic stop at the local Cowgirl Creamery to stock up on cheese and biscuits to pair with the wine you tucked into your overnight bag.

Each of the various accommodations at Manka’s has its own personality and amenities: fireplace, soaking tub, outdoor shower, iPod, comfy beds. If you book the Boatman’s quarters, be prepared to plant yourself permanently at the cozy window seat and contemplate blades of wild grass, wisps of fog, and ripples on the bay.

Everything about Manka’s nudges you to slow down and drink in the mellow (and maybe some Skywalker Pinot along with it). Book it now and start working on your excuse for missing Monday morning’s meeting.

What is your favorite weekend retreat?

THE POWER OF STORY – The MOTH on Martha’s Vineyard

By Liz on September 13, 2012

I’ve never thought much about storytelling. I can spin a decent yarn on paper, but don’t ask me to tell a story in person. I fluster and flummox, incapable of delivering the basic facts or (god forbid) a punch line. I’ve never considered my life in terms of stories – just clumps of events, thoughts, compulsions, relationships and biological necessities.

All of that changed last month when I discovered the subtly subversive subculture of The Moth. The Moth is an “acclaimed not-for-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Since its launch in 1997, the Moth has presented thousands of stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide.”

I happened to be on Martha’s Vineyard when The Moth came to town a few weeks ago. The live storytelling event was held in a small chapel. I had no idea what to expect when I went in, but I was surprised and changed when I came out.

That evening, I heard stories from six decidedly different people, from the “fame-ish” former children’s TV star struggling with his true identity to the eighty-year-old murder-mystery author relearning how to love.

Each story was limited to 10 minutes, but the clock was the farthest thing from my mind. Time and space fell away and nothing existed but me and the storyteller. I could not tear away my eyes and ears. I didn’t even want to sneeze or scratch for fear of missing something.

Suddenly I felt deeply connected to these people that I had “nothing” in common with. The illusion of separation evaporated. The assumption of difference disappeared. And we were all just a bunch of people in a room with stories to hear and stories to tell. The details of these stories may be unique, but the themes are universal.

The next day I signed up for a week-long The Moth for Writers workshop that was offered as part of the roving Moth event. Once again, I didn’t really know what to expect, I just felt an overwhelming compulsion to participate. There were eight writers in the group from various literary disciplines and persuasions.

Over the course of the week, it became apparent that we were all feeling the same way: freaked out to high-heaven, but determined to push our envelopes and mine our internal story-laden caverns.

I was under the impression that we’d have an opportunity to present our stories at the end of the week, not an obligation. I assumed my story wouldn’t be worth telling. But as time passed I realized that I owed it – out loud – to myself, to the others in the group, and to whoever might be listening.

On the last day of the workshop, we all got up and told our stories. In front of a microphone. On a stage with nice lighting. Not for pretense or fanfare, but to elevate our sense of doing something meaningful. And for just a moment, we let everyone in the room behind the curtain.

We told of first communions and unrequited love. Childhood shame and family drama. Excruciating loss and staggering growth. Stories of realization, integration and transformation. Pretty big stuff for a little five-minute story.

Since then, I’ve tried to listen to one Moth story every day. It’s like a daily prescription for perspective and hope. A handy reminder of our shared humanity.

Catch The Moth Story Hour on Public Radio, download the podcasts, or find live events in your area. You might even surprise yourself by submitting your own story for consideration…