Modish

Drink up!

As we celebrate the Earth and try to find ways to sustain it and help it recover, we should also cherish what it has already given us- that's why I had to introduce you to herb + ginger's Peach-icot tea.  Made with real pieces of peaches, apricots, apple, elderberries, hibiscus flowers and more, you can literally drink up the fruit of the Earth!  Stop by herb + ginger to find this tea and many other delectable flavors.  Cheers!

SITE OF THE WEEK: Adore Vintage

As I've learned from my boyfriend, avid record collector and thrift store addict, one of the easiest and best ways to "recycle" is to go vintage.  His vintage is more $3.00 pants and 5 records for a $1 Salvation Army style, but we're talkin' my sort of vintage here.  That's why I've chosen Adore Vintage as site of the week, to stay in the vein of recycling, and show you just how stylish it can be. 

From ruffled tops and flouncy dresses:

To tweed hats and stylish pumps:

And of course a little vintage style shine to top it all off:

Not only can you find all these great items at Adore, but you can peruse the pictures of celeb and model styles that these vintage ensembles were inspired by, and even discuss all your fave fashion topics in their forum.  So, if you adore vintage as much as I do, stop on by the site and save these poor fashions from a life in the landfill (or, in someone else's closet.)

Why I need a garden

I tried to grow lettuce and herbs last year but, Nevada clay mixed with too much shade does not the ample garden make.  I think I may try some container gardening this year though, because I just have to have an excuse to buy one of these guys! 

These adorable garden guests, a ladybug and a turtle, were handmade from vintage WWII helmets!  Artists Fred Conlon says "it is very satisfying to transform something once used in war into a peaceful garden decoration."  Yet another uncommon find from one of my all-time favorite shops, Uncommon Goods!

Talk about recycling!

This purse is made from an actual tire!  Yes, another landfill clogging, non-degradable, pollution ridden problem averted by absolute creativity.  Check out the "re-finding" section at Junk in Our Trunk to find this purse among others, as well as tire wallets and watches!  How do people think of these things??

Jot down your thoughts...

...on this great new notebook from Acorn Studios!  Handmade from now obsolete 3.5" floppy disks, (my, we've come a long way) each notebook has 50 pages for your thoughts and comes with a free pen made from recycled material.  At only $6.95 a pop, you can buy a few to keep one at your office, in your car, your desk at home, you just never know when inspiration (or errand lists) will hit! 

Check out sweet Nicola's site for these and other awesome recycled items.  Plus, if you spend over $25, you'll get some great keyboard magnets for free!  See how fun shopping "green" can be? 

A good yarn

Did you know that even cotton can be recycled?  Well, in a manner of speaking at least.  Jen, of DivaTribe can explain things much better: "reclaimed cotton fiber from the clothing and textile industries [is] cotton [that was] taken from the cutting room floor and spun into an 8-ply yarn. [So basically,] perfectly good, brand new fibers that would have otherwise gone to the landfill are transformed into a [wonderful] yarn."  And, Jen has definitely put that yarn to good use with this hand crocheted poncho:

Available in three sizes and many different colors, this reclaimed drape can add some color to your wardrobe and allow you some Earth Day bragging rights.  Plus, Diva Tribe Boutique is a member of 1% for the Planet, an awesome coalition that Yvon Chouinard (the big wig at my day job, Patagonia) started, that puts 1% of the money you spend back into protecting the environment. 

So, comon' everybody- hop on the socially conscious, environmentally friendly bandwagon, it's fun!  Woo!

Not just for groceries anymore

Yes!  This is what I'm talking about!!  I'm always so excited to find people that have taken ordinary "trash" and turned it into something absolutely wonderful!  Take these handbags by Cara Taylor for instance:

Each one is hand woven from plastic grocery bags!  You know, those things that clog up your cupboard until you get so many stashed in there that you're afraid to even open the door due to potential avalanche?  Anyone?  Well, anyway, these are by far one of the most creative and intelligent re-uses of "trash" that I've ever seen!  Each handbag is entirely unique making them one-of-a-kind wonders.   Check out Cara's site for more bags in all different styles and colors.  There's even a special section for the kiddos.

See what I mean?  You really can support the earth in style =).

Stop to smell the tin, mmmmm....

In honor of Earth Day approaching (it's official start is 4/22) we'll be integrating recycled and earth-friendly handmade goods among our picks for the rest of the week.  (To see all the picks in one place, check out the "earth friendly" category on the right.)  We will show you how stylish recycled can be in hopes that you might integrate more sustainable goods into your wardrobe and home.  To start things off, I offer you this welcoming bouquet:

Handmade in Canada from recycled tin, each flower will last a lifetime!  Hand one out to loved ones to spread earth day cheer, or keep them in a bouquet to delight your desk or even your garden!  Check out Uncommon goods to find these and more amazing recycled goodies to cherish.  And keep checking in with us for more Earth Day finds!

I wish I could...

go outside!  I mean, I can physically, but do I want to?  That's a different story.  It snowed here ALL day long yesterday (Easter Sunday mind you, full on spring we're talkin' here) and I awoke to ice covered cherry blossoms and snowy streets.  I want to go outside, I need to go outside, but com'on, work with me here weather!  Anyway, the get outdoors sentiment today is fueled by these awesome buttons from Crowded Teeth.

Simple yet clever, these buttons hearken a wish for everyone to turn off the tube, step away from the computer (as is my case) and just go outside!  In fact, depsite the snow, I think I'm gonna go for a little walk before the sun goes down.  Oh dear spring, won't you ever come??

Cooking made hot again!

Eventhough my feminist leanings stray me away from the image of the Cold War era mommy all dolled up, make-up on, hair freshly styled, smile from ear to ear while she's slaving away over the family dinner, I can't help but admire the time and effort those women put into their style, even while doing regular household chores.  These oven mitts from Deadly Squire hearken back to those days style-wise, but leave the oppressive servitude feel behind. (wow, I'm pretty fiesty for a Monday morning!)  Available in many, equally fabulous patterns, these mitts will just beg you to bake some cookies with their modern and feminine appeal.  

The best thing about joint husband and wife venture, Deadly Squire is, you can outfit your entire dining room and kitchen with matching placemats, napkins, chair cushions and so much more!  Plus, their site is just gorgeous, and with a new online buying option, you can more easily whittle your money away, which I highly suggest you do.