The morning of my flight to New York from Tokyo my daughter, Danielle and I had a reservation to experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Much to our surprise we found ourselves at the Kooman Cultural Center, for a private lesson on the traditions and expected behaviors for the formal tea ceremony. This ritual is a social event and a time to clear one’s mind of the outside world. The objective is to create a moment in time for peace, harmony and calm for the guests. It is a meditation of being and an appreciation of the tea, the host and the environment. This includes admiring the room, artwork, and tea cups. We learned that the powdered green tea has a fascinating history and is used for medicinal purposes as well as enjoyment.

As the honored guest, it was my privilege to open the sliding Shoji doors and be the first to place my naked feet upon the matted floor. Centered on the wall before me (which would be considered the “Red Bird” in Feng Shui) was a work of art. It was an (more…)

By Emily Anderson for Green Goes Simple

Admit it: You need help! You may not be a hoarder, but you probably have parts of your home (basement? hall closet? under the bed?) that you’d rather keep hidden.

Don’t worry, though — you’re not alone. Most of us don’t even know how much stuff we really have, let alone know how to get ourselves organized. Before hauling everything to the curb, try these planet-friendly steps (no landfills included!) to clear the clutter and breathe a sigh of relief.

1. Give Yourself an Audit
Pull all of your things out from hiding and begin to create three piles: “Donate,” “Repurpose” and “Needs Repairs.” You can donate items, sell items at swap meets, or trade items for things you do want. Electronic and computer companies like Dell and Apple have sophisticated programs for reusing equipment. You can also sell items online via eBay or Craigslist, or trade items on Freecycle.org. At the very least, you can donate items to a local Goodwill store.

2. Be a Pickup Artist
Find a set of small storage bins — plastic or canvas — and keep a couple in each room of your house to stash random items quickly and neatly. I keep a few canvas bins in each room for wayward items like toys, magazines and books, so I can easily clear the clutter and then put it in its proper place later. Keep a bin by the front door and make a habit of removing your shoes when you get home. (Bonus: This is an easy way to keep your home clean!) While you’re at it, use some of the storage bins to keep your recycling sorted — mark one for glass, one for plastic and one for newspaper.

3. Stop the Junk Mail
Americans receive almost 4 million tons of junk mail every year — that’s about 100 million trees, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. And more than one precious resource is cut short by junk mail: The average American spends the equivalent of eight months of his or her life opening junk mail. Check out DoNotMail.org for information on what steps you can take to get your name removed from marketing lists. And don’t worry: Even if you don’t get coupons in the mail anymore, you can still find great deals on household goods online. Go straight to the websites of the brands you love, or check out Groupon and Living Social to take advantage of special deals.

4. Go Shopping
Keep everyday items intelligently organized — and well stocked — to avoid a frantic search or an unnecessary purchase. Extra batteries, paper products, cleaning supplies, even shampoo, soap and toothbrushes are wise to keep on hand. And consolidate shopping trips. You’ll save time, gas, energy and money by combining multiple errands into one trip. While you’re at it, consider doing more of your shopping online. Many sites will keep a record of your common purchases so you can consult your personal shopping list when you log on.

5. Repeat
You don’t have to take on everything all at once. Do a little organizing whenever you can, and it will all eventually add up to a cleaner, greener home. Remember: The things that are good for us personally are often also good for the environment. This
is especially true when it comes to our living spaces. Get your home a little more organized and you’ll be well on your way to living — and saving — green.

Emily Anderson is the author of Eco-chic Home, Eco-chic Weddings and When Changing a Lightbulb Just Isn’t Enough. Her work has appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies’ Home Journal, The New York Times and her blog, GoodWithStyle.com. Her articles have previously appeared on Green Goes Simple.

Green Goes Simple: Conservation at Home

The message is all around us and the Beatles said it so well, “all you need is love.” As we approach Valentine’s Day couples make plans for a romantic evening together. Restaurant reservations are confirmed, flowers are delivered, cards sent and chocolates presented with a big red bow.  How can those of us who are flying solo get through the day without feeling lonely, rejected or just plain unworthy of romance? EcoChi reminds us that love comes in many forms…

• Love of self – Schedule a pedicure at a local salon. The winter can be tough on your feet so soak, moisturize and sit back and enjoy the foot massage. Choose a red nail polish to attract passion in your life or a soft pink or mauve to attract a kind and gentle lover.
• Love of Friends and Family – Plan a gathering in your home. Express your love with recipes that are a proven crowd pleaser. Most people would rather enjoy an old favorite than a new recipe. Comfort food like mac’n’cheese, hamburger sliders, coconut shrimp and chocolate chip cookies are sure to make everyone feel loved.
• Love of Community – Serve a meal at a local hospital or soup kitchen. Share your big heart with those in need and the result is an unexpected gift to yourself.
• Love of worship, prayer and spirituality – Studies have shown that people who have a place that they regularly visit for worship, prayer or spiritual practice have a feeling of belonging. This sense of connectivity and fulfillment can improve one’s health and leads to a happier and sometimes longer life.
• Love of Mother Earth – Take a walk outdoors, open your arms to the heavens and feel the magnificence of the universe. Gather pine cones, acorns or stones and put them in a bowl-bringing nature indoors. Light a candle (healthy choices are bee’s wax or soy), play calming music and meditate and then jot down your thoughts in a personal journal.

Connect with the love that lives within you on Valentine’s Day. Treat yourself with kindness. Splurge on fresh flowers and place them in a vase and showcase them in a place where you can enjoy their beauty. Break out a box of chocolates, get cozy with a book or favorite movie and celebrate the life you love!

Debra Duneier is an accredited LEED Green Associate, Certified Eco-Designer, Feng Shui Master Practitioner and Author of EcoChi: Designing The Human Experience. For more about EcoChi and Debra visit www.ecochi.com

Related: more articles from Debra Duneier on The Alternative Consumer

photo credit: heart island shutterstock.com

ecobee Inc., makers of the award-winning Smart thermostat and Energy Management System unveiled their latest product, the Smart Si thermostat, at this week’s 2012 AHR Expo in Chicago. Designed for the residential market, the Smart Si offers remote connectivity anytime from anywhere via your computer, iPhone, Smart Phone or tablet and includes a high resolution color display, an intuitive user interface, sleek buttons and live weather –  features designed to help you reduce your home’s heating and cooling expense and save energy.

The Wi-Fi enabled Smart Si allows you to make adjustments to your thermostat program on the go from your tablet, computer, iPhone or Smart Phone. The thermostat has a built-in live weather function and uses advanced algorithms so you can be sure your thermostat is always saving the most energy possible. Other features: a high resolution color display, sleek buttons, and an intuitive user interface makes it easy to quickly set a personalized program, make setting adjustments and create new vacation events. Automatic alerts and reminders notify you when your HVAC equipment is due for service, if there is an equipment malfunction or when it’s time to change your filter.

You can pre-order the Si @ ecobee.com

Related: more green tips from The Alternative Consumer

With winter now officially barking at your door, it may be an opportune time to consider adding another component to your home heating arsenal — an inexpensive ceramic space heater like the Crane EE – 6490. Crane’s stylish compact heater can easily keep a small home office toasty and warm, while allowing you to set the rest of your home’s thermostats a few degrees lower to save on your monthly heating bill.

Details: 600/1200 watts settings, a compact 8″ tall, and whisper quiet. The heater also features a tip-over switch and overheat protection.

$34.99 @ amazon.com

Related:  more eco-friendly home products featured on The Alternative Consumer

Working from home is not for everyone; some people prefer it so that they can be closer to their families (in the case of young children) whilst others simply prefer the quietness and the lack of a commute and perhaps a little bit longer in bed. Working from home has both pros and cons, as some people may find themselves lacking the discipline to have a productive days work when they are at home with all of the comforts just a door or two away, not to mention the lack of interaction with other work colleagues.

If you do work from home, there are a number of ways you increase the levels of your productivity and morale, one of which is the choice of your home office furniture. Although this may seem obvious, it is easy to underestimate how much the furniture we use has an effect on our outlook. Here are the three main areas to think about when putting together a home office:

Health
Your health is your first priority so ensuring that your office furniture has good comfort and back support is very important, especially if you consider that you may be sitting in front a computer screen for hours at a time. Investing in a quality, ergonomic chair can help you keep your posture straight and prevent back pain which has great long term value.
Productivity
Another important function of your office furniture is how it can improve and augment your productivity levels. For example, your computer desks and workstations for home should not be there just to hold your files and keyboard but can act as an effective storage solution, saving you the trouble of scooting around the room in a chair which breaks your concentration.
Attractiveness
Last, but certainly not least, your office furniture needs to be attractive. As it is your own working space, you can tailor its appearance to match your personality, whether you like modern and minimalistic or classic oak. The psychological effect of having an attractive room to work in can have a good effect on your overall morale and work attitude.

These are of course just broad outlines into what you will need to think about with your home office; at the end of the day your personal taste, style and requirements may be completely different from the norm. This is your working space, so furnish it in a way that allows you to work at your best.

To kick off the first month of the New Year, I would like to challenge you all to take some time off from your electronics! Wait, don’t go yet! Allow me to explain. Whether you have kids that are addicted to the tube and their latest video game, or perhaps you, yourself, spend a majority of your time on a social media website, MP3 player, or even your Kindle, consider taking a small portion (an hour a week) of that time to play a game with friends and family. (more…)

Safe. Healthy. COMFY. For a totally dreamy experience this new year, treat yourself to an organic mattress and pillow! We love our (USDA certified organic,) natural latex mattress from Savvy Rest and pillow from myessentia.com. Each company offers a nice selection of quality mattresses and pillows. They’re the real deal. (We lay our weary heads on them every night, and wake up refreshed and ready to go.) Shop with confidence and ease -  and get a good night’s sleep.

Psst – Canada-based Essentia BOXINGDAY at checkout. Be sure to take a peek at the Jeanius, made with organic denim.

Related:

• Savvy Rest – Alternative Consumer exclusive interview with founder, Michael Penny and
• Essentia – Natural Foam Pillow Tried and True Green Product Review

photo credits, above, top to bottom: Savvy Rest; Essentia

Sick of rubbing toxic parabens and phthalates (plasticizers in PVC that soften plastic) all over your face? 2012′s a great year to ditch your mom’s trusted Mary Kay, chock full of chemicals, and slather on something a little cleaner. Oily? Dry? Combination? Sorry Clinique, maybe skin is just skin.

Challenge your self to go without face wash- which leeches skin’s natural oils, in turn causing skin to go into oil producing overdrive, giving it that greasy feel. Instead, try Thayer’s Alcohol Free Toner, a lil’ tap water rinse, and follow with a natural oil. Start with olive or coconut oil, whatever you’ve got in your kitchen, and gradually upgrade to something more exotic.

Nature’s Gift has a great selection of oils from fruits and seeds, such as: Kukui Nut, Evening Primrose, Apricot Kernel, Avocado, Pomegranate Seed, and Borage Seed Oils. Check out www.NaturesGift.com for the products listed above. Important Note: how to apply essential oils.

A fan of oils? You might also like Solar Recover from zausner.com. It’s a blend of organic and essential oils to slather on skin after the shower or add it to a nice hot bath. (And we also love Aura Cacia’s Sweet Almond Skin Care Oil – available at vitacost.com.)

Give it a shot!

Contributed by our west coast blogger, Crystal Carson.