Happy Happy Friday!  One thing’s for sure, it’s hot out there.  Try to stay cool, relax and make it a fun, carefree weekend.  Hope you enjoy this week’s garb that grabbed me.

(above) Design house Bodkin created this Cumulus dress as an exclusive for eco boutique, KIND.  Perfect for sunny days – a sophisticated take on summer stripes. ($398 in organic cotton.) @ kindboutique.com.

(above)  From west-coast based Gypsy05, the Fara Silk Overlay Top Dress is chic and flirty, layered with eco style. Comes in three beautiful colorways:  tea, green or grey; ($179).

(above)  Although faux, check out the button down back of this Blackfriars V-tank top; 100% organic cotton ($38 minus 15%, use code:  LOVE at checkout) @ couturecandy.com

(above)  A great way to clutch all your essentials — recycled newsprint interwoven with organic cotton and silk threads – Fair Trade and handcrafted in Brazil – available @ greenVeranda.com

(above, L to R)  I picked up this casually flirty Stewart +Brown organic cotton dress earlier this summer and I wear it everywhere; ($154 with free shipping) @ juteandjakefruit.com.  Find this cute, casual Bamboo Lookout Dress (tunic top) in green or turquoise ($68) @ the hempest.

(above, L to R)  In keeping with the less is more way of life, an Organic Cotton T dress that can be fashioned 12 ways; find @ me to we style.com.  Kelly Lane’s Purple Puddle Dress made of Tencel, Lycra and cotton – handcrafted in the USA; ($179) @ juteandjackfruit.com.

And that’s a wrap.  Remember – love what you have, and try to only buy what you truly need.

Here’s a home designed to resist all manner of natural disasters and climatic conditions while operating as a carbon neutral residence.  Currently under construction, the Hi’ilani Eco House project, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, is designed to stand as a shining example of an environmentally sustainable home.

When completed, the house will stand as an expression of “Carbon Neutral Living Architecture.”  All energy, water, and cooling and ventilation requirements will provided by the architecture of the house itself.

The Hi’ilani House design was created by Robert Mechielsen of Studio RMA.  When completed the project will feature the latest materials and techniques to ensure optimal environmental integration.

The Hi’ilani house is designed with SCIP technology, with inverted, butterfly roofs designed to act as the water catchment system while maximizing solar energy collection.  The house is designed to be fully off the grid, with a 10kw solar photovoltaic installation, and is located atop a knoll on a site with sweeping ocean views.   The roofs are oriented in such a manner that the solar panels will maintain optimum solar exposure.  Natural cooling and ventilation systems are provided by the positioning of the roofs relative to the trade winds, utilizing negative air pressure.

The house is being built to comply with the LEED for Homes certification process.  The termite-proof, hexagon-shaped concrete structure is designed to withstand the worst storms and disasters Mother Nature can dish out whilst operating off-grid and carbon neutral.

A key element of the home’s construction is the use of Tridipanel construction system (construction photo above), wherein concrete is sprayed over a prefabricated core.

Finally starting to settle into our new digs in West Palm Beach and just encountered a harsh realization — OMG, some of our furniture looks like crap in this new environment.

So, we’re in need of a few home decor quick fixes.  Fortunately, I just discovered a downtown shop that might fit the bill. I hope to duck in there tomorrow — a peek at the Web site turned up some interesting possibilities.

West Palm Beach-based, Metro Home just introduced their first Eco-chic Collection of bamboo furniture, when “pressed into veneer, bamboo is harder than hardwood and less affected by changes in humidity and temperature.”  With a warm tobacco finish, the bedroom set (queen bed, 2 nightstands, dresser and mirror) retails for $2895.  Queen bed alone, ($899). ….stay tuned.

AltCon was invited by Weleda to visit their biodynamic gardens in Germany.  Here’s Part One in an exclusive series by our green globetrotter and roving reporter, Jessica B. Howell.

Lined along the beauty and skincare shelves of your local Whole Foods—or these days, even Target—is a brand that most posh purists have fallen for.  And while they’ve been a stable staple since I can remember, I had no idea that Weleda (crafter of the cult favorite, Skin Food) has a history that dates back to 1921 and stems from a philosophy called anthroposophy.  I know… anthro—what?  The term refers to the link that exists between the human body (mind and soul included) and the world around us; essentially, it’s another level of consciousness.

And if that’s not enough to lead you to believe that Weleda is a serious skin care company, consider the fact that the company was founded as a pharmaceutical laboratory.  Pretty deep stuff for a skin care company, no?  Since the 1930s, the brand has been doling out specialty medicines that come straight out of the garden, treating ailments as non-threatening as bruises to as critical as cancer (and with mistletoe, no less).

This week, while Congress began the fight to disclose toxins in personal care products, the concept of truly clean skin care resurfaced. And unlike the many small-scale, eco beauty options that the greener among us have familiarized ourselves with, Weleda boasts an impressive history coupled with a worldwide presence.  Best of all, they’ve stayed true to their core values… having yet to be swiped up by behemoth like Clorox (ahem, Burt’s Bees).

So, why am I dishing on Weleda?   The company recently chose to walk the walk by inviting us as part of a select group of bloggers to Scwabish Gmund, Germany, for a visit to their Biodynamic Gardens.  There’s a lot to share with you, since I’m betting you care just as much as I, regarding what goes into the products we slather on our skin… so I’ll be posting a couple more updates (and video, too) to give you a better feel for the company and the products sold here in the U.S.  Feel free to jump in and let me know if you’ve used the products, and if so, let me know if you’re a fan of the brand.

Related:  previously on altCon
(1/16/07)  Weleda – Working with Body, Soul and Spirit

• This is unfortunate…Relief Oil Well on Hold as Tropical Storm Bonnie Forces Gulf Evacuation – cnn
• Dems blew it…U.S. Senate Will Not Pass Full Climate Bill – bbc
• Sometimes you have to reflect on where that hamburger comes from… Cows Hoof it After Slaughterhouse Truck Overturns – myway
• Scientists debate…Oiled Marshes: Intervene or Keep Hands Off? – msnbc
• That’s a lot of ‘ouches!’ How One Jellyfish Stung 100 People – livescience
• Wacky Weather Could Squeeze Florida’s Citrus Season – sciencedaily

UPDATE:  We have contacted our 3 Lucky Winners, and await their reply.  We look forward to hearing from ANNE, KIM M. and MANEY before making it official.

Many thanks to Bad Genes for offering to sponsor this Great Green Giveaway!  With styles for men and women, we love these cool and comfy tees.

Three lucky winners will each receive an organic cotton/bamboo blend t-shirt of their choice.  Winners get to pick their favorite design. (Prize retail value:  $28 + free shipping to anywhere in the USA)

To Enter, simply:

• Visit badgenes.com -  find your favorite style and leave a comment on this post, telling us why you selected that particular design.
• To receive our winner’s notification, be sure to add the following address to your email address book: m (at) AlternativeConsumer.com.
• For additional entries, see below

If you have your own blog, you can post about the giveaway with a link back to this giveaway post. To make sure we know, come back and leave a comment with a link to your blog post.

You can tweet about the giveaway (once per day), and be sure to refer to @altCon, and leave a comment linking to the status.

Receive additional entries 3 more ways: subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter or friend us on FaceBook. (If you’re already a subscriber, just enter a comment to let us know.)

Good luck! As always, we will not share your email info with anyone.

Three winners will be selected in our Random Drawing, and notified by email. Contest ends Saturday, July 31 at 11:59p (EST). Winners have 24 hours to claim their prize, or offer is null and void. Winners’ names will also be included on this post.