My Revealing Closet

What is the one room in your home that is:
1. ALWAYS too small,
2. Forever cluttered, and
3. Is such a disaster it is off limits to anyone, & never mentioned in conversations.

YOUR CLOSET!!

It's time to take control of the mess and create a closet that works for YOU! One with cheerful personality that is fun to be in.

Even the smallest closets can be transformed into a smart functional personal space that showcases the shoes, the handbags, and the couture you wear so well. Below are pics of my own closet that I put together with the philosophy of ‘everything will be at my fingertips’. I am a busy working mom and don’t have time to look for a misplaced shoe. And when I put my clothes away, I want to just drop it and go. For me, the look of my closet is another room in my home that I look forward to being in. My Grandmother would be so proud. When I was a kid I had the messiest bedroom on the street. She had to clear a pathway to my bed for me when she visited. Hope you enjoy!


I re-worked the original wire shelves so I wouldn’t waste them. After literally ripping them out of the walls, I patched the holes, and re-used everything on one side of my closet.

I bought an IKEA Expedit bookcase for the other side of my closet and absolutely love it in the space. It works great.

I wear a lot of beaded necklaces, and my collection keeps growing. These hooks hold 'em all!

If you are about to under-go a closet renovation....good luck!!!

Decorating for Fall - A Warm Relaxing Home

Wow! It's 59 degrees today. Definitely feels like autumn. I love this season. The smell of cinnamon and apples; The wondrous color changes of the leaves; And three of the greatest holidays- my birthday, Halloween and Thanksgiving! I recently helped a client in Bloomsbury New Jersey, who has goats and deer in her backyard, achieve a relaxing warm sophisticated look in her foyer, dining room and living room. So perfect for this season. Enjoy!

My Thoughts On Color, News & Exciting Rugs

Three Topics:

• Color Quiz
• Talking Trends & Color In September
• Surya Rugs Are Cool

Color Quiz

I don't have much time these days to work on my blog as I would like. I wish mine could be as amazing as others that I have found. But alas, it is not to be right now. So when clients and friends tell me about things of interest or something that moves them, I can't wait to post it so anyone who reads this little blog can enjoy it too. Yesterday I received an e-mail from Brian, a very cool and savvy homeowner who has been enthusiastically working on his 1875 remodel (can you believe it!). He sent me a fun color test called The Color Sense Game by Pittsburgh Paints. I took the test and thought it did a good job of figuring me out. Didn't take long so TRY IT!
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Talking Trends & Color In September

September will be interesting in the world of interior design. Color Trends for 2010, upcoming home design trends, and new products will be discussed by the gurus at the Las Vegas Market. I look forward to hearing about it. I have my ideas about what is up and coming in trends and color but so excited to find out!
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Surya Rugs Are Cool



Loving the new lines of Surya rug collections. Large print is HOT and bold colors bring the floor alive! They even make throw pillows, throws and art work that coordinate with most of them.






Decadently Yours,
Shoshana

Retro Glamour In Progress

I have been working with a very hip, very lovely couple in Easton, PA, designing their newly constructed town house with a living room ceiling that soars, and windows that are twelve feet high. It is an awesome space. We are using the color combinations below as our guide, adding in pieces that are retro and contemporary. The turquoise fabric sample you see will become long pleated drapes hanging against creamy white walls. We will incorporate 2 funky shaped arm chairs upholstered in the textured fabric to the left, and add a lounging chaise that will be covered in this cool silver silky fabric with pale blue veins. There will be a scrumptious off white shag underfoot in the living room, and to ground the dining room, we will use a zebra stripe. Lighting will be large and it will sparkle. I will keep you posted on the rooms progress.
I found these lights on line and heart them. They are part of the Fetish collection by Varaluz. Not outrageously priced at all. I can see them in any room in the house, including the bathroom-Fun!

Two more stunners from Varaluz! A mirrored mosaic pendant & pinwheel of twisted aluminum ribbons pendant. I have to find a way to use them all :)

Kids Homework Room

I am very excited this morning! I am going to present my newest room re-design to my client. This is my favorite part. It is also the most nervous part. I worked very hard to make this space, a home office for three young girls, functional (to do homework, read and have some fun). The most important thing was to give them each a sense of individuality and a little lot in the room to claim as their own. Yet tie the room together so it flows well. This was a bit of a challenge considering the moderate size, the floor vents, and two doors. I also incorporated a storage cubby for coats, shoes and backpacks per the momma's wish. I will tell you how it went and, if all goes well, show photos of the AFTER. In the meantime please enjoy this clean budget friendly presentation board.

Below is a close up of two walls in the room where the 3 girls will do homework. I positioned two of the desks on the same wall then, for privacey, added a curtain btwn them. I used 3 colors in the room, each girls' favorite. I wanted to give them a place to sit back and relax, and chose a chaise over a sofa which would have taken up too much needed space.

Cubicles and Home Offices

I have been doing research on another home office project I recently began. This one is for three sisters ranging in age from six to twelve. It will be their homework and craft hub. This has me thinking about my own home office. I twittered late last night about adding zebra stripes to one wall in my all white space. I confess that i was pretty high on chocolate cake at the time, but I may still do it. We should all be able to take on creative control in our offices don't you think? One employer, the Balcom Agency, a full-service Advertising & Public Relations agency in Fort Worth TX does just that. They have allowed their employees to turn their cubicles into personal inspirational cocoons. Check out this fab magenta and zebra stripe one:

And check out more cubicles here. What is your idea of a fun and functional office? Below are some home offices that have ageless charm and oh how I wish corporate offices could look like:

Designer: Jamie Drake Featured in: The House that Hollywood Built

Designer: Nate Berkus Featured in: Honor Guard
ELLE DECOR, September 2008

Designer: Lili Abir Regen Featured in: Country Chic
ELLE DECOR, October 2008

Designer: Ray Booth and John Shea
Featured in: Swept Away ELLE DECOR, September 2007

Designer: Wendell Burnette
Featured in: Metal House on the Prairie Metropolitan Home, June 2008

This is a very thought out closet office that rocks - office. To make it work, the clutter is kept to a minimum and the color palette as well. Organization is KEY.

Yummy Turquoise Bedroom

I just had to share this deliciously cozy bedroom with you. It was designed by LA local, Betsy Burnham.

"The room above seems to personify the season of winter itself, with a huge white shag rug that we'd imagine like walking on a polar bear's back and ice-vibrant turquoise striping up and across the ceiling. Cool, but definitely not cold." I want to curl up in it!

Fun & Funky Wall Decals

My #1 designer tip: Go Big Or Go Home! When I dress the walls of a room, I look for big and bold artwork or a bunch of smaller bold pieces that I can group together. A fabulously dressed wall beckons your guests to 'come in and look at me!'. This can get expensive. A good alternative is wall decals which have come a long way from corny quotes and a million tiny vinyl butterflies. I really dig the over sized abstract decals. It is a simple way to create a focal point for under $50. For a dramatic dining room paint the walls a rusty orange or a red and use an over sized tree shadow in black; or to create a soothing airy feeling guest room, paint it a turquoise and add a Dandelion blowing in the wind in white. Check out www.dezignwithaz.com for a huge assortment of decals like this. They also have cute chalkboard ones for kid spaces. www.secure.wonderfulgraffiti.com is another great place to get inspired.

-decadently yours, Shoshana

Modern Basement Office Makeover

I would like to share with you an office re-design I just completed. I had so much fun turning this basement office into one that is now fresh, modern, sleek and works over time. I have included a rundown of the changes made so you can try any of them yourself.

BEFORE

AFTER

1. Choose A Desk That is HOT
Large bulky traditional desks are so yesterday. There is a new wave of desk options that take up less space. They are called Laptop Desks but can be used with a CPU as well. The desk above in this room is a brand new line by Riverside. It feels weightless. I love the clean lines and the way it is illuminated with the chrome oval pulls.
2. Tangy Modish Color Palette
To keep with the industrial theme the color pallet is kept neutral (Ancient Marble by Sherwin Williams)with a jolt of a tangy green (Shawgreen by Sherwin Williams) on one wall.
3. Choose A Few Large Bold Art Pieces
We added just a few choice art pieces based on my clients love of old heating/cooling units and modern design.

4. Break Up the Room Into Zones
I split this room into three zones: a computer/writing area, conference area, and storage and electrical device area. I didn’t waste any space.
5. Include Lighting That Works For Each Zone
There are recessed ceiling lights, an adjustable desk lamp, movable track lighting for built-in, and stand up lamp for conference table.
6. New Flooring
We found a rug that was very wearable, yet still felt good under foot because it is a home office. We chose a golden toned color with a slight design to feel warm and give it depth.
7. Turn Your Closet Into More Work Space
We turned a useless closet into a built-in that included floor cabinets, a counter side wall shelves for books.
8. Creative Window Treatment For Small Window
This was the only window in the office. Rather than covering it up and losing the light, or trying to figure out how to make it look larger, I worked with it the way it was. My modern solution was to use it as natural lighting to illuminate sculpted bottles.

9. Add Drama To The Ceiling
We switched out the old tiles in the drop down ceiling with funky bold ones (www.ceilume.com has a great selection).

Decadently Yours,

Shoshana

The Soundtrack of Life

Remember this scene in Twilight when Edward says 'Hold on spider monkey'? I remember the song that went along with it. Every great moment in life should share an unforgettable song. Those songs turn into the soundtrack of our lives. It inspires us to do great things. Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight, let songs move her to write her famous books (If you get a chance click on her name above and read how she wrote her book and published it-it is a Cinderella story). She says she ‘can’t write without music’. And I can see why. My heart speeds up every time I hear Supermassive Black Hole by Muse and Tremble For My Beloved by Collective Soul (who got me through my early 20s living on nothing but fun on the upper east side of NYC).

I could not begin to design without music. Every project, whether for a client or just me, has a sound track behind it. For one of my latest, a home based office for a gentleman, I needed to find a song that left the fluff behind, didn’t require any pretense, and just felt good to work in. I went back to the beginning. With a pencil and sketch pad, I kicked my shoes off, sat back and scrolled through my iPod for something that moved me. There it was: Abraham. Written and sung by The Kin, it was composed without the fluff, and is raw and beautiful. I have shared the link to a video of them singing it without any filler (including a microphone). Check it out by clicking here. The Kin are one of the few bands that can play with anyone, and for anyone. My next blog entry will feature the finished office.

I have a list of favorite artists under my profile. Do you like any of these? What music moves you? I would love to download some more good artists out there.

Decadently Yours,

Shoshana

A Hot Look for 2009

This photo above taken from www.furnitureseen.com is a perfect example of today’s fresh and fab décor look. It is chic without being stuffy. It is a place that is peaceful and I love it. It encompasses all the trends we are seeing: serene wall colors with bold elements illuminating through like these moss green sheers. The furniture is built to be comfortable, upholstered with less fussy fabrics without the overstuffed pillow look. The track arm, that skinny little contemporary thing you push your elbow into, is seen as more attractive than the big fat oversized roll arm. And my fave fave fave element in the room are the oversized lamps. Since my motto has always been ‘go big or go home’ you can imagine how happy I feel to see this.

Speaking of BIG, I want to marry this amazing Minka Kovacs Arc Floor Lamp you see to the right. The photo shows how it looks in a room (I copied it from a Family Circle article called 'A Lofty Ideal: Creating a Stylish, Eco-Friendly Home'. You can see it at www.parents.com.) It is stainless steel, marble and GEORGOUS!! It is overwhelmingly large. It is pricey but makes a huge statement. I have seen it often in designer publications. I am waiting for it to ask me out. Call me Minka!!

A few months ago I presented a design plan with these elements, including the Arc lamp, to the sweetest couple who have impeccable contemporary taste. This pair fell in love with a 100 year old home that has a lot of history and needed a LOT of work. They are rolling up their sleeves and creating their dream home. And thoughtfully documenting it all. I hope to share the end result with you when they finish. It will give you another example of this fresh and fab look we are seeing more and more of. Brian, I am talking about you my friend.

A Day As An Interior Decorator

Today I turned into an unruly Rock Star. No one realizes just how hazardous an Interior Decorator’s job can be. It’s not all ‘pops’ and ‘panache’ all the time. After suffering a knee injury trying to shut my trunk full of too many good buys for a client, I hit myself in the eye with my i-phone. Blind and limping, I met my contractor at a Granite store. Within the first five minutes there, I managed to lock myself in the bathroom. The door was ridiculously stuck. I pushed, pulled, and grunted for quite some time but even my rock-hard muscles were no match for the strength of this 3’ pocket door. I had to stand on the sink to get a signal on my cell phone and call for help. Don’t worry, this story has a happy ending- I was saved (although everyone laughed at me).

I spent the rest of the day getting lost in Phillipsburg, stuck in traffic in Easton, and after painstakingly shining, wrapping and hauling fifteen perfect vases, I broke one. I even endured a nasty paper cut while designing a bathroom on graph paper. All for the love of what I do best (drum roll please!)….. Interior Decorating!!

Hope you all are enjoying this blog! I am having fun writing on it.

Decadently Yours,
Shoshana

Two Very Lucky Girls - Part II

My friends, you have waited long enough for Part II, to see how the very lucky little girl’s bedroom I wrote about in Part I turned out (to read Part I and see the design board, scroll down to the article with the same title from April 10). When I last wrote, I had just created the design plan. Since then the room has been ‘a rockin’ with change. This was a fun project to work on. The inspiration came from my young client. After sitting with her and listening to what she wanted I realized she was a bold and bright girl and nothing but that would do for her. I wasn’t there for the big reveal but here is the e-mail I received from the little girl’s mother:

“Anna’s room came out PHENOMENAL!!!! When we opened the door her mouth dropped open and she couldn’t speak. She was looking around in amazement and then started jumping up and down yelling THANK YOU SO MUCH!! She was thrilled beyond belief! I can’t wait for you to see it. Thank you so much for an amazing one of a kind room that Anna is soooo happy with! We are very grateful!”

Here is the BEFORE and another view of the AFTER:

My favorite part of the room was the thank you sign left for me from my young happy friend:

THE INSPIRATIONAL CORK

I would like to talk about a cork.

A tan and wheaty, crumbly fumbly round and good smelling cork. Why am I discussing a cork? Because not long I ago I was a very tired, head full-of-ideas, crazy woman who had a hectic day and needed to end it desperately with my high heels off, feet up, and a tall full glass of Riesling. Unfortunately for me, this would prove to be a bit tougher to do than I had anticipated.

I had the Riesling bottle in one hand, the opener in the other, and was almost there. Almost to the Promised Land. Almost. I could not get the cork out. You should have seen me playing tug of war with a cork that was determined to stay right where it was. I pulled and twisted and pulled again. In the end it was no match for a woman irritated to the core. I wiped the sweat off my brow and saved the cork to remind me that struggles can make you stronger, and lead to happy endings.

This very scenario is what inspired me to add something special to my client’s kitchen re-design in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania. My client, a woman, much like myself, spends her days running around. When at home, the room she utilizes most, is her kitchen. She cooks there, cleans it (a lot), does projects, and manages her daily schedule at the kitchen island. She deserved a kitchen that was all about helping her. Together we created a calm functional kitchen by using a cool color palette of breezy blues and refreshing greens, reconfiguring the dining table and adding 2 basket weave head chairs, and stools at her island. We also added a large round drum pendant light above the dining table, incorporated a very large framed cork board, and to soften and diffuse the large bank of windows, we brought in woven roman shades and fun paisley print pleated drapes.

The kitchen looked amazing BUT was missing one thing. I looked at my wine cork and instantly knew what it was. A place to stop running around! I incorporated a special cozy nook in the kitchen space, where she could actually use it. To me, it beckons ‘come and relax!’ What do you think?

Backyard Indulgences

It has been a while since my last blog entry. If you enjoy reading them then I apologize for the delay. I have been busy working on very cool projects and just came back from vacation. I have been in Florida the last week and half, and had a great time kickin’ back and taking in the sights and sounds. Florida is all about outdoor living. For me, it is so relaxing to sit at any hole in the wall outdoor bar that looks at the ocean. It’s the sound of the waves and watching them crash gently into the shore, whether under the glow of the moon or the hot sun, it is very soothing to me.

I don’t live near the beach BUT I still enjoy that outdoor living. And now that the warm weather is here, I am excited to do more relaxing, grilling and partying in my own backyard. Outdoor spaces are treated these days, like another room in the home. You can do so much more than merely adding a colorful umbrella to your picnic table, planting some simple pansies and bringing in a bird bath; you can turn a backyard into a resort hotspot. Imagine relaxing in a soft sofa, with a cold drink in your hand, as a light wind touches your skin, while watching the sun set.

You can truly utilize your outdoor space to the oomph degree even if you don’t have a great view to look at. Uses are limitless, from full kitchens for upscale dining to outdoor plasmas for movie nights. It is so inviting to lounge in an outdoor living room, with a fireplace, bar, and water features, that can include fountains and pools. Offer shade with pergolas and stylish gazebos for parties. Furnishings range in style, design and price so that anyone can get what they want. Upholstery comes in the hottest prints and colors, and spaces can be finished off with an indoor/outdoor rug and drapes. You can hang chandeliers, sconces, ground lights, switch out your current outdoor lights, and include tons of metal artwork. The best thing is that you can get all this from your local stores. Target, Lowes and Home Depot have good selections but I beg you, with all these choices, please, please, no pink flamingoes!

My ‘Kinder-Newbie’

The greatest thing about having a blog is that you can write about whatever you want. Today I registered my daughter for kindergarten and I feel the need to tell you what I learned. I learned that I am more of a baby than my little baby. Here is my story that has nothing to do with interior design.

As soon as I walked through the school doors, a name tag was slapped on to my daughter’s Hello Kitty t-shirt and instantly she was escorted down the hall by a stranger to what will be her kindergarten classroom. I was left dumbfounded, whimpering in my black jeans, watching her disappear around the corner and grow up before my eyes.

And just as quickly as the first tear fell down my cheek I was bombarded with information on the school, the busing, and everything else that went along with registration. But I could not concentrate. I was stuck on the vision of her walking down that hallway without me. Where was my information packet on how to deal with her growing up?? Where is my folder filled with ideas on how to be comfortable with this?

I am getting whip flash thinking about how quickly time has passed. I remember my first day of kindergarten. I remember nervously waiting for the bus to come. I attached a photo so you can see the fear on my face. I looked like a red picnic tablecloth. My lunchbox is almost as big as me, and check out all the construction paper choking me around the neck. Kindergarteners were treated like luggage apparently, with large identification tags sticking out of every crevice. Maybe my Christmas present size paper tag was so big because it had to spell out my full name – can you imagine! You can see my sister in the background laughing at me. My Mom was too busy taking photos and smiling from ear to ear to notice the sweat pour down my forehead (or maybe it was the huge bangs that hid it so well).

When the bus came I remember waving and seeing her tear up. I wondered why she was the one crying. I was the one leaving her. Oh no- she was leaving me for the first time -Now I understand.

To all the ‘Kinder-newbie’s’ out there - Best of luck on this long journey ahead of you. And to all the ‘Kinder-newbie’s’ Moms – Best of luck getting through this!

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day everyone! In honor of this special day I am posting my research article from last year's Earth Day because regardless of the time that passes we can still make a difference in reducing our footprint.

18 Ways To Live A Greener Life

by Shoshana Gosselin

I keep reading about our loss in natural resources, loss in energy savings, and amazingly high amount of pollutants. And we are the ones responsible for it every day. We are in serious trouble. Studies show that global warming is already occurring and that it is caused primarily by human activities. How soon and in what ways will it disrupt our existence? Our planet is choking from exhaust fumes and burning of fossil fuels and unregulated deforestation is stripping off layer of soil, increasing the incidence of floods. Americans use at least twice as much water and energy per person as anyone else in the world. This is a problem considering that by 2025 the world must increase its water supply by 22% in order to meet its needs. Meanwhile, 40% of the drinking water supplied to homes is flushed down the toilet. As far as energy goes, it’s used mostly for heating and cooling. We need to act now, so future generations will have a chance. We need to act now to make our lives better. There is a growing environmental movement out there, but it will take all of us to help reduce our ecological footprint, which measures humanity’s demands on nature. Here are some simple, inexpensive ways to go green:

1. Recycle, Recycle, But Beware. Perhaps the simplest act to save the environment. Simply dump your cans, bottles, cartons and wastepaper in recycling bins. Be aware, that most recycling centers will only accept plastics that have a certain number, located within a triangle of arrows on the bottom of the plastic (this designates what type of plastic it is). When you mix in unacceptable plastics, it contaminates the mix, turning an entire truck’s worth of plastics into instant landfill. Check with your local township to see what they accept, and what to do with what they don’t. Also, as you have noticed, many fast food restaurants do not have separate recycling trashes that you can use, so do your part in fast food recycling by throwing your trash in recyclable containers wherever available. Even alert the restaurants you like to go to about the possibilities.

2. Ditch the Styrofoam coffee cups. Next time you buy a coffee or latte, bring your own travel mug and ask them to use that instead. Or use one of their ceramic mugs. Your coffee will taste better, and you'll be saving the environment. Most coffee houses, including all Starbucks and Panera Bread, don’t have a proper place to recycle their cups. If you don’t recycle it yourself, where do the billions of cups go?

3. Stop Buying Bottled Water. Filter your tap water for drinking. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it produces large amounts of container waste. A study in 2004 found that bottled water is rising 12% every year, supported by annual spending of about $35 billion. Many Americans who drink bottled water believe that it is safer than tap water, although a study of a thousand bottles sold in U.S. stores revealed known and/or possible carcinogens in a fifth of them. The plastic bottles are made from polyethylene, which although is recyclable, too many end up in the trash.

Check out this study to get a new perspective on the water bottle and its future by going to http://www.worldwatch.org/brain/media/pdf/pubs/mag/EP172C.pdf.

4. Turn the heating down by one or two degrees and install energy saving devices. Save money and save the environment. Turning your thermostat down by a few degrees in the winter and easing up on the air conditioning in the summer won't make much difference to the temperature, but it'll cut your heating bill. Remember to clean or replace conditioner filters. Choose energy efficient appliances, including low-flow toilets, faucets and showerheads. If you use the dryer, do two loads in a row to make the most of the heat already in the dryer.

5. Adopt Water Saving Habits. Turn the tap off when you brush your teeth. Leaving the tap running while you're brushing your teeth, can add up to quite a bit of wasted water a day. Families in some developing countries struggle to survive on just that small amount each day. Only run the dishwasher and laundry machine when full. Take shorter showers to save water the energy to heat it. Wash clothes in cold water when possible and use a drying rack or clothesline. Take your car to a carwash rather than washing it yourself. Commercial carwashes use less water. Avoid power washing.

6. Buy the Right Light Bulbs. As each light bulb burns out, switch to energy-saving CFL bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs cost a bit more than regular bulbs but they use about 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times as long. These days, almost every store carries CFL bulbs. I bought a few at Wal-mart the other day (Keep in mind that CFLs contain mercury, so look for low-mercury models and dispose of them safely).

7. Turn It Off and Unplug it. Did you know that even when turned off, items like your TV, computer, and cell phone charger still sip power? Unplug your electronics when not in use. Turn off lights when they’re not in use. Another big item to turn off is the engine in your car. Idling 10 minutes less per day can keep 550 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air every year.

8. Office Talk. Consider a laptop the next time you upgrade your computer, as laptops require 50 percent less electricity than desktop computers. Use both sides of paper when printing, and to save even more trees pay bills on-line.

9. Disposing of Electronics. E-waste from discarded cell phones and computers is a growing environmental problem. Dispose of them responsibly. Recycle your cell phone and rechargeable batteries. Local stores like Wal-mart have recycle bins. Check them out on-line to see how it works.

10. Buy Used. If you are planning to redecorate, consider using an on-line service like Craigslist to locate furniture, appliances, and other items, rather than buying them new. I have found that there is a great deal of good, barely if not ever used items for sale. It will save you money also. Garage sales are another great place to find unique things that have a story to tell.

11. Precycle. Choose products that create less waste from the start. Buy grocery items in bulk and opt for items with less packaging, such as a two-liter bottle of soda versus a dozen single-serve cans in a box. Buy a large container of yogurt rather than individual small plastic containers. Reduce unwanted catalogs and unsolicited mail at catalogchoice.org and dmachoice.org (a $1 fee applies), respectively. At fast food restaurants use refillable condiment dispensers instead of individual packaged ones to reduce fast food waste.

12. Gift Giving. Rather than buying birthday, thank you and holiday cards, make them. Try a homemade gift instead of purchasing one. Re-gifting is a word that most people cringe at, but if I tell you it is a very ‘Green’ thing to do, does that make it all right? Then go for it because it is. Another very creative gift for friends of all ages is to give a tree. Every tree you plant will provide oxygen for two people for the rest of their lives. What a great way to say you care about that special someone.

13. Buy Local. Shop at your local farmers’ market. Sometimes it can be more expensive BUT you can generally count on a higher quality product-and the purchase goes directly to the farmer. Buying goods produced locally saves energy by reducing the fossil fuels needed to transport food and other items across the country and around the globe.

14. Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies. Simple ingredients like baking soda, soap, and vinegar, can make cheap, easy, and non-toxic cleaning products that work.

15. Decorating Your Home. If you are looking to paint the interior of your home, look for paint products that are labeled “low VOC” (volatile organic compounds)-VOCs can be harmful to the environment. You can find eco-friendly paints at Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, and even Home Depot. And it has become easier to find sustainable furnishings for your home. You have more choices of attractive, eco-friendly wares now from large companies like JCPenney, Macy’s, and Pottery Barn, who are launching organic lines, and smaller green enterprises popping up every where. You can ask for cabinets made from reclaimed, renewable, or recycled materials; Get recycled glass and tile; purchase earth-friendly upholstery made of organic cotton fabrics; even get insulation made of 100 percent recyclable natural denim and cotton fibers (Bonded Logic carries it).

16. Compost Your Food Scraps. Composting (getting rid of your leftover vegetables, fruit peelings, tea bags, coffee grinds, and much more) helps reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill, which can save you money if you live in a municipality with a “pay as you throw” system. In the process, you create free, healthy fertilizer for your garden (or your neighbor’s). If you don’t have a yard or space for a compost pile, try indoor ‘vermiculture,’ or worm composting. Sounds strange but I think it is a wonderful project to do on your own or with your kids. Here is a very good link to tell you all about it http://earth911.org/blog/2007/04/02/composting-with-worms/.

17. Decline Plastic Bags Whenever Possible. I read that one plastic bag can take up to 500 years to decay. Use a canvas shopping bag instead (I bought a bunch for 99 cents at my local grocery store). Keep them in your trunk so they are handy. Wow, can they hold a lot. For those in the Lehigh Valley, I was in Kings grocery store and was given paper bags with handles to hold my groceries. If you bring the bags back and re-use them you can save money.

18. Teach Your Kids. They are the future so we need to instill in them the importance of respecting our planet. Do it in a fun way. I was impressed with an article I found at www.gimundo.com called Five Ways to Help Your Kids Go Green. To check it out, go to the website and click the ‘Green’ link. I found Gimundo while doing research on how to help the environment. This site is chock full of positive changes, not only news stories on people trying to help the planet, but positive stories in general. Their tag line is ‘Good News. Served Daily’.


I hope you find this useful. Researching this was a real eye opener. There are many good websites out there that talk about ‘going green’. Www.treehugger.com and www.thegreenguide.com are two of them. Start small, or take these ideas further. Be able to feel good when you celebrate Earth Day next year.


My Resources:
www.worldwatch.org; www.gimundo.com; www.ourcanberra.com; www.helium.com; www.myfootprint.org April 20, 2008