In a world where new skincare lines pop up more frequently than daisies in spring, Blissoma SOLUTIONS appears to be one of the few real deals.

As bright and young as its creator, Julie Longyear, this unique skincare line is made in small batches using: organic botanicals, herbal extracts, plant-based essential oils and fresh juices. Sticklers for purity, only the finest botanicals make it into the Blissoma mix. All the concocting takes place from their home base, St Louis, Missouri.

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Sashay into your next book club gathering sporting this brooch and you’ll really get that party started… Designer Rebekah Holquin created this quilled paper flower brooch out of the pages of a dilapidated old romance novel.

One of these ‘novel’ (each one is made to order), handmade fashion accessories will cost you a reasonable $14 at Rebekah’s “The Pretties” cargoh.com shop.

related: novel text earrings

• Who does Saudi Arabia want in the White House and why? Obama Urges Oil Producers to Increase Output – reuters
• Storms Pound Southern US for 2nd Day – myway
• Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf Electric Cars Earn Top Safety Ratings – boston globe
• We give billions in subsidies to oil companies who turn around and use our cash to lobby for more…White House Defends Push for Eliminating Oil-and-Gas Subsidies – msnbc
• Another invasive Chinese import…Can Wasps Squash the Stink Bug Plague? – npr
• Energy solution – or environmental disaster? Shale Gas Fracking: the Facts and Figures – guardian.co.uk
• ‘Soft Power Generators’ May Make Batteries a Thing of the Past – sciencedaily
• I’d like some IQ numbers on big vs little…Are Female Dogs More Intelligent Than Males? – livescience

This net-zero, sustainable community was originally entered in a Re-Vision Dallas design competition by Standard Architects. It’s a cool, contemporary expression of communal, sustainable living, featuring: green, open spaces and envisioning both communal, and individual gardens, with indigenous local plants and food crops.

The Co-Op Canyon would occupy a full city block, housing up to 1,000 residents in a self-sustaining co-operative community of shared green spaces, gardens and renewable energy systems. Gardens would attract native birds and insects while providing productive green space in an urban setting. (more…)

UPDATE: It’s official – Congrats to our 3 Lucky Winners: Brenda A, Terri Q and Roechelle A. Thanks to everyone for participating. Check out our latest Great Green Giveaway for your chance to try great green goods for free…original post follows:

This Great Green Giveaway is sponsored by PEOPLETOWELS, so you can BYO organic towel when you’re on the go. 3 lucky winners will each choose their favorite 5-day supply pack. Each prize retail value, $29.99. Prize includes free delivery to anywhere in Canada or the USA.

Kiss those wasteful paper towels goodbye and say hello to these sustainable organic cotton towels printed with eco-friendly dyes – especially designed to be used while on the run. Perfect individual to-go towels (9 inch square) for you and your kids. Sweet – save our trees, water … more eco benefits.

To enter & qualify simply:

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For those compelled to make a fashion statement Poketo offers the “Tim” tote, named after Tim Chan, the publisher of Corduroy Magazine. This 100% Upcycled Suit Tote is made from a vintage wool suit with a multicolored corduroy shirt. The tote’s handles are made from reclaimed sofa leather. Each Tote can fit a laptop, iPad or other daily necessities. The bag is made in conjunction with a South Korean non-profit, with all profits donated to eco-awareness programs.

Poketo offers a variety of these one-of-a-kind suit totes made form 100% upcycled clothing for $250 each.

In honor of Earth Day, Waterfront Commons in downtown West Palm Beach featured many a sustainably-minded attraction for the entire last week leading up to the big day — with daily film screenings and a special conservation exhibit in the Lake Pavilion, as well as exhibitors showing visitors how to be green and frugal at the e-4 Sustainability Summit.

One of the highlights was trash meets fashion house, Garbage Gone Glam, who presented 2 runway events over the course of the week. We caught their show on Earth Day. Shedding light on the movement’s efforts to keep trash out of landfills, designer Kristen Alyce creates one-of-a-kinds from materials that would otherwise wind up in the trash heap.

As part of a tie-in to the nationwide release of DisneyNature’s African Cats, the designer appeared at the special pre-release screening that we attended in West Palm Beach announcing that she’ll be fashioning new creations by utilizing promotional materials from the film. Models were draped in a Garbage Gone Glam eco chic gown (just above) and mini dress from DisneyNature’s Earth Day blockbusters from the past 2 years: Oceans and Earth.

photography credit: Ross Dulmaine

DisneyNature’s new release, African Cats, opened in theaters nationwide on Earth Day. We caught a sneak peek and here’s what we think: it’s a beautiful story, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and illustrated with lush photography. Although the story is targeted toward kids, because of the spectacular photography and incredible soundtrack, it has great appeal for adults, too. (more…)

Welcome to our newest intern, Annika Lewis, an Environmental Studies major at Sweet Briar College in VA, who’ll be with us for her spring-summer semester.

Here is what I know:

• Humans are made up of more than 70% water.
• Without water, humans would not survive.
• And humans take it for granted.

After listening to NPR’s interview with author Charles Fishman over his book The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water, I realized that I did not know enough about the world’s most precious natural resource.

I think part of the reason water is not an issue for most of us, especially in America, is because we see it everywhere. It is in the food we eat, what we drink, be it coffee or plain tap water, in our homes, schools, fountains, offices, pools, creeks, sewers—it is part of our life in almost every facet. Even so, water becomes like the high-pitched whine electric devices can have, something we tune out after exposure over time. (more…)