On a trip to the high desert community of Joshua Tree, Calif., I was happy to see a Saturday morning farmers’ market in the middle of town, where there hadn’t been one on my last visit a few years before.

As I perused the well-stocked stalls of apricots, strawberries, cherries, greens, potatoes, eggs, and all the other goodies that are in season here in Northern California as well, I wondered how far the farmers had driven. I talked to a few and found that most farm less than an hour away. …

Tags: Conscious , Eating , food , local , seasonal , trend , wellness

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Menswear inspired eco suit jackets? Heck yeah!

But I’m not talking Miami Vice pastels, I’m talking the tailored and the rocker – definitely a worthy wardrobe staple you should be considering.

Why? Because it’s a versatile piece that will always be there for you at the office, for cocktail parties or late night at the underground bar you’ve always wanted to go to but couldn’t because you didn’t have the right suit jacket.

Of course.

In fact, I not only want a black suit jacket, I want the

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Tags: blazer , fashion , jacket , suit , trend

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A desire to see wood striations seems ingrained in our modern sensibilities, from the art of Rex Ray to the sleek carved furniture gliding into showrooms and onto green websites. The most skilled craftsmen have always been keen on sharing their process which often involves revealing the beauty of nature in their work. It’s a growing trend in green design, in which the materials are either reclaimed from old buildings or harvested from certified sources not endangered.

Here are a few examples of the proud wearing of the grain:

Hudson’s …

Tags: art , craft , design , furniture , green , reclaimed , trend , wood

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My heart was nearly broken last summer when I noticed that a family member’s plum tree was so heavily laden with fruit that hundreds of beautiful plums were rotting on the ground. I decided to harvest the entire tree. Since one person can only make so much jam and I knew most of my friends were too busy to take on a plum project like this, I started surfing the internets to see if there was some way I could unload a ton of gorgeous, perfectly ripe Santa Rosa …

Tags: dumpster diving , food , freegan , Gathering , subculture , trend , urban foraging

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Romance isn’t just a concept worn thin by fairy tales and Hollywood movies that leave women like me wondering “where’s my knight in shining armor?” It’s an attitude easily accessible from within each and every one of us. And it’s a good thing.

Since summer 2008 we’ve seen ruffles and silky see-through pieces on the runways. The good news is flirty and feminine will continue into spring with an emphasis on folksy. Think gypsies and draping, soft fabrics – think romance.

The Silk Chiffon Raphael Blouse from …

Tags: CIEL , folksy , organic silk , romance , ruffles , Silk Chiffon Ralphael blouse , trend

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I’m a pretty sore loser at tennis, especially when my husband rockets those serves toward my face and I want to throw my racket at his head. But my arm never aches after as it does with the Wii tennis video game.

I notice I emulate the real motion of the swing with my remote while my daughters execute abbreviated swipes at the screen to place shots, serve and return. They’re so aggressive, if it were the real thing, I’d take them out of school and put them on the circuit …

Tags: electronics , gadgets , gaming , lifestyle , medicine , news , safety , technology , trend , women

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Henna is a natural paste that has been used to etch temporary exotic flourishes on hands and other body parts for 5,000 years. The tattoos are said to date back to ancient Egypt, when they stained the fingers of the pharaohs prior to mummification. Adopted by Indian and Middle Eastern cultures, it is traditional to decorate women for Mehndi wedding ceremonies and to paint the bellies of pregnant women in their 8th month for good luck and calming effects.

I’m a huge fan of …

Tags: craft , design , henna , mosaic , origin , rug , textiles , trend , women

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We show off a lot of ecoSkin fashion around EcoSalon because well, we like their style. And now they’ve captured the latest fashion forward off-the-shoulder trend with the Mercury Top.

Somehow ecoSkin has found a flattering way to recreate this look from the flamboyant days of Flashdance. Frankly, I’m shocked. But even I might consider wearing this easy-going and slightly sexy piece made of bamboo and tencel. It looks comfortable and would be perfectly paired with skinny jeans or a slim denim skirt. …

Tags: bamboo , ecoSkin , fashion , Mercury Top , nixxi , shirt , tencel , trend

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A year in Lifestyle – from dire rumblings over biofuel to the unprecedented eco-promises of President Elect Obama, from ravaged coral to eco sunscreen, personal sustainability to green careers. It’s been a whirlwind 12 months…and here’s why.

January: we first look at the menaces of urban tumbleweed, plastic hotel toiletries, greenwashing, and pondered the wisdom of using silicone cookware and fuel in place of food.

…

Tags: bamboo , Billion Tree Campaign , Brighter Planet , carbon footprint , carbon neutral , carbon neutral travel , Darfur , eco friendly , eco tourism , ecology , environment , green , green links , green travel , health , lifestyle , natural , news , reclaimed , recycled , recycling , reduce , reuse , Sunshine Coast , sustainable , technology , trend , web

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