Forgive me, but I never fail to get excited about pretty green things. And while it’s not breaking news that vintage is a fabulous way to shop, I can’t help but shout when something old becomes new again – especially when it’s something made with an exquisite emphasis on craftsmanship rather than mass production.

The Gustavian Vintage Bed at VivaTerra caught my eye for just that reason. The sensuous curves of its arched headboard fit perfectly with the strength of its frame. Made of reclaimed Douglas fir that grows more beautiful with age, the bed reveals all the special details of weathered wood.

The designer uses only “low VOC, water based materials and water based, non-toxic stains” on its furniture as well as water soluble, formaldehyde free glues. There’s a whole lot of eco-friendly going on here.

The Gustavian would look comfortable in a country home or the sleekest of modern abodes. Dressed in anything from these sheets to any of these, sweet dreams are only an eco-second away.

Available in sizes Queen, King or Cal King at VivaTerra for $1675 – $1775. (That’s 15% off until February 5th!)

Hurry up and hop on to the Lush website for a “just in time” holiday special. From now through November 28, the natural bath and body product line if offering a free gift of up to $20 when you spend $50 or more. Knock out a few gifts for friends and family and get one free for yourself while you’re at it. Choose from holiday gift sets to the holiday bubble bar and Christmas party bath bomb. The Lush site makes it easy to shop by price point””choose your range, check names off your list, all while staying within your budget. Lush never seemed so easy.

Last week I wrote about Anti-Body’s line of natural bath and body products. Since then I’ve had the liberty of testing out the peppermint lip balm known to rival Burt’s Bees and I must say that I’m hooked. It’s not as pungent as Burt’s and leaves lips feeling silky and soft, rather than sticky and tingly.

Anti-Body wants you to see for yourself, and so, right in time for the holidays, they are offering EcoSalon readers 10% off a total online order. This special coupon will be available through December 31 when you enter the “EcoSalon” code upon checkout. These products make great gifts, so buy away. Thanks, Anti-Body!

There’s lots of activity in the fashion blog world this week””deals, beauty tips, and more. Check out these links.

The Bargain Queen tests the theory about Tarte’s 4 Day Stay Lash Stain mascara. Watch the video to see what happens.

Hip Candy is selling some cute shoes she purchased from eBay.

Scope of three croc bags that Fashion Pulse found for less than $50.

Fashiontribes shares a tip on how to keep your winter boots organized.

The Fashionable Gal gives us a lesson in fashion vocabulary.

The Fashionable Housewife shares her tip for shedding a few pounds without losing any weight.

Barking Dog Shoes shows us how to win a pair of Dansko clogs.

Image: Vitor Shalom

This morning I came in from fetching the paper and realized something: my doormat is seriously ugly. And since that’s the first thing people see when they come over, why hadn’t I chosen something nicer by now? I’m ordering the flip flop door mat – even if no one notices, at least I’ll have something colorful to look at every morning.

Made from recycled flip flops, this fun, squishy piece will easily withstand the winter weather that’s just around the corner. I think this mat could easily work in the kitchen or mud room, too. Not quite your style? The Vintage Belt floor mat, the Rolling Meadow rug or the Series of Eight rug may suite your taste. ($29-89, various sizes.)

Legend has it there was a time when you could move through the fashion boutiques, Murano shops and cafes of San Marcos Square without battling monstrous crowds. Friends of mine even speak of walking right into the Duomo, right on in. No sweating a one-hour line.

But these days, the main island of the famous Grand Canal is as packed as Disneyland in July, heaving with tour groups fresh off cruise ships and trains, eager to look, but not to buy.

While the spastic market hasn’t exactly curbed travel to Venice, it has greatly affected spending. Cutting back is how we mend our broken economy and certainly in line with efforts to create a more sustainable green planet. But it spells disaster to vendors entirely dependent upon the tourist trade. And boy, are they steamed.

In one charming negozio I visited off the square, a weathered bleach-blonde Italian woman was holding her head in agony and sighing as visitors examined her delicate blown glass perfume bottles and animals.

“Is it all right to touch these?” I inquired, meekly, pawing an adorable mini glass fish bowl with itty-bitty glass goldfish.

“Please do, madam,” she replied. “Please, go ahead and break something. It’s the only way I’ll make some money today.”

I burst out laughing at her remark but the bizarre attitude I encountered in a fashion boutique called Pignaton wasn’t so funny. A brunette saleswoman in her late 20s shadowed me at a furious pace, refolding Missoni sweaters and scarves I had touched, muttering naughty Italian words under her breath, words I hadn’t learned in my San Francisco summer class.

“Look, I have to touch when I shop,” I explained to my shadow,  thinking an Italian, of all people, would get that shopping is a highly tactile experience.

After all, I had done plenty of heavy petting in the Furla stores of Rome and Florence before parting with euros for purple leather wallets, zipper-front gloves, patent clutch bags and ruffled scarves. In fact, I thought my mother and I had made quite a dent in Italy’s suffering economy with our hands-on approach to shopping.

“Sure, that’s what you Americans always say, but in Italy we don’t have to touch, we don’t have to touch, we aren’t like that,” she barked at me, red-faced.

Speaking of touched! I feared if I didn’t leave the shop immediately the hostile merchant might attack me with a Versace borsa. Guess she sized me up as one of those tourists who unfold but don’t buy. (Boy was she wrong. I even refold if you give me a minuto.)

Yet I have to sympathize with these merchants. They’re bombarded daily with internationals asking what items cost and seeking directions (the square is a virtual maze of alleys and crannies).

A darling woman named Liliana I met at a Murano glass factory told me she moved to Lido Island to escape the hordes and their incessant questions. Before that she had escaped Romania by coming to Venice to make money and be with all of the nice people.

While the euro to dollar exchange rate has improved to 1.35 (it was 1.60 last spring), the falling dollar has really hurt the Italian economy (see my earlier post on the Italian recession). The most visible bruises are in Venice where everything depends upon filling those gondolas tethered in the lagoon.

Before my recent  trip, I swore I would limit purchases to souvenirs for my kids because Italian prices are so darn high.  But I couldn’t resist the stunning accessories calling to me from store windows. When I returned home I found the items at Furla cost more here than in Italy and wished I had bought more. But clearly, I was one of the few toting shopping bags around the square.

A news report in PINR  warned the dramatic drop in consumer spending in Italy would add insult to the injury in other key fields where the country has lagged behind. These include scientific research, high-tech innovation and labor productivity.

According to the report, another disappointment is “the lack of strategy to reduce the country’s alarming energy dependence.”

All of it adds up to a crisis that could have retailers hanging permanent chiuso signs on their doors. While heavy hitters Gucci, Pucci and Armani might be able to withstand the drought (despite their outrageous, museum-like prices on goods), small vendors like Pignaton seem to be dying of thirst with no bottle of Brunello in sight.

It’s no big secret that our economy is in deep trouble – banks are closing, stocks are falling as fast as gas prices rose earlier this year, and McCain’s presidential agenda includes a spending freeze. Times are tough, but a strict budget is no excuse to abandon your eco instincts.

My sister and I are always swapping inexpensive green ideas (the freelance writer’s salary leaves a lot to be desired). I go to my personal décor diva, EcoSalon’s very own Tina McCarthy, for tips on beautifying my house – I’m not as savvy as she is – and she comes to me when she’s not sure if certain colors match (truth be told, she could use a few pointers). Rather than keep it to ourselves, we thought our deal swapping could benefit the greater good. So, we joined forces to bring you some great, inexpensive eco fashion and décor finds. If you know where to look, you can adorn yourself and your home without burning a hole in your wallet. Here are 10 affordable pieces to get you started (in ascending order):

Wildflower Organics Agate Coasters: Protect your tabletops while adding an ornamental accent in an array of dazzling hues. ($13)

Melissa Sweet Lips + I. Capeto Flats: As you’ve seen from several of my posts, Melissa shoes are hot, hot, hot and usually very expensive. I found this fun red pair on Eco Tobi for only $40.

Pier 1 Imports Rattan Vase Baskets: For nature-inspired interiors, these will make the perfect decorative addition to your rustic décor scheme. ($45- $65)

Stewart + Brown Eyelet Tank Dress: This intricately knit dress is both timeless and gorgeous. The layer-friendly style makes it a great piece for fall. And what a steal it is – only $48 now from an original $185!

Bahar Shapar Pinstripe Jumper: You might have to hold off until next summer to wear this one, but this deal was just too good to keep to myself. The organic cotton dress with vintage trim comes from one of our favorite eco designers and is on sale for only $67 (originally $270)!

IKEA Agen Room Divider: Made from rapidly renewable rattan, this divider can be used to separate open spaces or adorn a lonely corner. ($69)

Target Shanghai Bamboo Bench: Grace your garden or front porch with the chic simplicity of Eastern style. ($70)

Structured Green Curved Washer Wall Vase: If your minimalist living space is looking a little too bare, then embellish blank wall space with an artful ornament. ($75)

Burning Torch Athena Top: Made of 100% silk (we’re hoping peace silk), this romantically feminine top is a classic that will withstand the test of time. Add slim black pants and strappy heels and you’ve got a great look for fall/winter. ($100)

Edun Monarch Bootcut Jeans: Not exactly a steal, but just think how often you wear jeans. If you’re going to splurge a little, make it with something that’s going to get a lot of mileage. Forgo an eco pedi and a few bottles of organic wine and these jeans can easily be yours – without breaking the bank. ($120)

Image: Joshua Davis

Some people dream of great romances and luxury getaways. Others dream of professional and financial success. I dream of shoes. Well, really, I dream of many things, but a unique, sexy pair of pumps gives me that little bit of edge and makes me feel confident enough to attain all of these fantasies. My shoes are my juju. Unfortunately, my juju comes at quite a price.

I’ve been lusting after Beyond Skin’s collection of ethical footwear sine I first wrote about the company back in April. Fortunately for my juju, Beyond Skin is having a summer sale ““ up to 30% off select styles. If you’re anything like me, you’ll indulge in a pair or two of this delectable foot candy. Dream one of one million, realized.

We are fierce devotees of the green brands we love best. Back in April, Carlie blogged Living in the Eternal Nau about the design group’s innovative denim collection, but come May, this favorite eco-brand of ours was ready to close shop.

Impassioned consumer response was the impetus for the rebirth of this brand, proving that, yes, our voices can be heard! Horny Toad, an environmentally conscious apparel line, swooped in and purchased Nau six weeks after its official close. (We’re not the only green queens excited about this delightful news. Check out Treehugger, Eco-Chick, and Fashion Loves People.) Nau’s existing Summer 2008 pieces are on sale online for 50% off. The Fall/Winter 2008 collection, which had already been designed before Nau’s close, will be released on August 1. Stay tuned for a new Nau that is here to stay. And, you can follow Nau’s blog for developments.

Summer is the season of the dress, and each year, I give myself permission to indulge in at least one new frock. Only this year, I can save instead of splurge. Coco’s Shoppe, one of my favorite online eco-boutiques, is having a summer sale and dress giveaway. Yes, you heard that correctly ““ Coco’s is giving dresses away to celebrate the heat and passion of the season.

Move fast because this special only lasts through the end of July. Choose your favorite dress from the site, enter the contest online, and keep your fingers crossed for that chic Larsen Gray you’ve had your eyes on. If you’re not a lucky winner, don’t despair. For this limited time, you can enjoy 30% off your entire purchase. Just type in the code ENJOY. And enjoy.