Art or artifice? Designer Nolan Herbut’s Wolfgang Keyboard Bench is quite a concept.

The undulating bench consists of a Baltic Birch frame covered with 2,000 computer keyboard keys. The keys actually click when pressed, presumably by one’s derriere.

Italian designer, Sara Bergando, creates these whimsical wall clocks from upcycled old frying pans. Sara uses traditional decoupage to adorn each recycled pan with graphic stickers she designs herself – thus creating an eye-catching graphic clock while saving another scratched-up non-stick pan from the landfill. Sara sells the clocks at her Etsy Shop for around $40 each.

Doing my bit for the planet and my waistline.

In my personal quest to follow a more eco conscious path, I’m always trying new things. My latest endeavor focuses on improving my health and reducing my carbon footprint by transitioning to a different way of eating. I’ve always tried to eat what I’d consider to be a “healthy diet” (as little junk food & sugar as possible, organic + locavore choices up and down the food chain, meatless Mondays) … I even tried to follow a raw food diet for a short while, but that wasn’t my cup of tea.

I recently read Eat Right for Your (Blood) Type, and subsequently confirmed that my blood type is A. According to the book, I have what I’m going to call, natural, vegetarian leanings. So just for the fun of Earth Day (the entire month of April), I’m going to take this a little further and arrange meals around my new approach to eating –  Blood Type A meets vegan.

With no dairy, fish and meat on my plate, this more sustainable approach will have less of an impact on the planet, and hopefully more of a positive impact on my body. Who knows, maybe it’ll become second nature, an ongoing way for life:) As always, feel free to jump in …

As we try our best to be good role models for our children, here are a few basic concepts that you may want to keep in mind as you go about raising that bundle of joy.

Kids are like sponges, they soak up new ideas and info. And they love to have fun. The key to keeping those energetic bodies and brains engaged is to make everyday activities as enjoyable as possible.

From the food you put on the table, clothing on their back, media & entertainment, and decorating their room – bring them into your world. We all learn best by doing, so teach them to make smart choices and do for themselves. Life’s all about problem-solving, just try to make it fun. It may not be easy being green, but it’s sure worth it!

Our Top 5 Tips for today’s eco minded parent: (more…)

Time to lighten up as we keep our fashionable appointments … this lightweight bracelet watch is made from white corn resin, has a mother-of-pearl face and diamond-like dial to add a little sparkle to your aura. By eco brand, Sprout – on sale now $49.99, reduced from $65 via amazon.com

Artist Gints Grinbergs specializes in making art from found and recycled materials. He created “Sputnik” (pictured above) by welding together old screwdrivers with colored handles for a show called Contemporary Boston Colorists.

The artist states that this piece comments on that original Soviet satellite – which was probably Mickey Moused together…18″ diameter x 32″ high.

He sells some of his work at his sculptednailsandhair etsy shop.

• I believe that screeching sound we’re about to hear is coming from oil companies and their political lackeys…Obama to Set Ambitious Goal to Curb U.S. Oil Imports – reuters
• Setbacks mount…Q&A: Japan’s Nuclear Crisis – cnn
• I presume this snake does not yet have a Twitter account…Pictures: New Ruby-Eyed Pit Viper Discovered – natgeo
• This would seem to be a no-brainer…Japan to Scrap Stricken Nuclear Reactors – bbc
• Homeless Man Builds His Own Car Out of Junk – msnbc
• Now accepting entries…PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door 2011 Contest – peta.org
• This could potentially create clean energy with little environmental impact…River Water and Salty Ocean Water Used to Generate Electricity – sciencedaily
• Live streaming of Runway to Green Bid to Save the Earth Event 8:30p tonight – vogue.com

Beer lover alert: Zipper 8 Designs makes these colorful epoxy coasters from the discarded remains of some hard drinking. The perfect bar or kitchen accessory for those individuals who, like me, are obsessed with the silky brown deliciousness of Newcastle Brown Ale. This trivet/cutting board would also make a nice addition to a basement man-cave, sports bar, rathskeller or breweriana collection.

$25 @ Zipper 8′s Cargoh store – Z8 also makes nice recycled beer cap coasters. (see below)

For the purposes of this Tried and True Review, I received a bar of Wembé‘s Assai Berry Antioxidant Blend. After soaping-up for a few weeks, what’s the word? This organic soap is dope.

The color purple and rough-hewn appearance of Assai Berry Blend are deceiving. This soap feels and acts like a luxurious beauty bar when I rub a dub dub in the tub. It has a lovely scent – an exotic fragrance all its own. And a luxurious texture when wet … it goes on smoothly and leaves my body feeling clean, silky and surprisingly moisturized.

Containing powerful antioxidant properties, Acai (or assai) is the fruit of a palm that grows in the Amazon Rain Forest … in combination with Mango and Jojoba Oil, they form the basis of Assai Berry Antioxidant Blend – designed for mature and damaged skin. You can see chunks of plants and herbs in this naturally blended bar … nothing artificial or toxic is used in its creation. (more…)