Long Weekend TV Pick: Years of Living Dangerously

Showtime's hit documentary series, Years of Living Dangerously, explores the current effects of climate change around the globe. The star studded cast is fun to watch and gets you fired up to take action! If for some reason the long weekend is rainy, plop on your couch and get caught up on this amazing series. (I am OBSESSED!) If you don't have Showtime, the first episode is FREE on the Years of Living Dangerously website (which is also fun to explore, BTW).

Boston Green Blog Netflix Pick

source image courtesy of The Washington Post

If you want to motivate your friends and family to do something about climate change, have them over to watch National Geographic's Six Degrees Could Change the World. Narrated by Alec Baldwin and based on Mark Lynas influential book, this movie goes through the causes and consequences of climate change. To be honest, its not the most uplifting film, but it will certainly leave you feeling inspired and itching to do something good for the planet!

Chasing Ice is a Must-Watch

Another snow storm is headed our way on Sunday. Make the most of your time stuck at home with a cup of tea and this fabulous documentary! Chasing Ice is the remarkable and inspiring story about a photographer's journey to capture the proof of climate change on film. The movie comes highly recommended, and its easy to see why - the imagery is gorgeous, the message is urgent, and the story is dramatic. Chasing Ice is available for streaming on Netflix.

Captain Planet Revisited

What inspired your interest in environmentalism? For many millennials, it was the children's cartoon show from the 90's, Captain Planet. For today's "Fun Friday" I suggest taking a trip back in time and watching the very first episode:

Enjoy!

What to watch on Netflix this weekend

This 2011 documentary, available for streaming on Netflix, takes an inspirational look into the brief, but landmark, presidency of President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives. The Maldives are the lowest lying country in the world, and may very well disappear as a result of climate change. Nasheed heads to the U.N. and to Copenhagen to face adversaries like China and India in the hopes that they can come to an agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Island President is informative, witty, and motivating - two thumbs up!

Green Tips for Watching the World Series

Wooohoo! Boston is in the 2013 World Series! While watching our boys crush the Cardinals, here are a few ways to green your baseball viewing:

1. Stay local. No need to trek to a bar across the city to watch the sox, the games sure to be showing in every bar and in every apartment in the city, so choose a venue near you.

2. Choose vegetarian snacks. Something about watching sports just makes ya hungry. Be green by ordering the veggie nachos instead the beef chili variety.

3. Choose organic and local beverages. Sam Adams just screams “Go Boston!” and bonus points if you go with an organic beer like Peak.

4. If you’re watching at home, check your energy vampires at the end of the night. See that red or green light on your dvd player? That means it is drawing energy from the outlet. Turn off power cords and unplug appliances once the game is over – and go celebrate!

New Perspectives: Green Cooking Habits

source image courtesy of Indiana Public Media

Many do not realize the impact cooking can have on the environment. Food is transported over thousands of miles, energy is used to prepare meals, and huge quantities of food are wasted.
Here are a few tips for mitigating your contribution to these issues:

1. Buy Local – The first habit we should develop is to purchase locally produced food. This not only supports your local farmers and economy but it also helps to reduce emissions caused by transportation. Instead of hitting the grocery store, why not hit  farm stands or farmer’s markets for locally grown produce. There are many places you can also buy meat and eggs that have been locally sourced. They are often fresher and better tasting since they have not had to be transported over thousands of miles.

2. Cook Seasonally – Another aspect of going green is to cook seasonally. Why not cook meals using in-season, local foods. Seasonal food tastes better and is also be more affordable. Use Pinterest to find new recipes and you might even find new foods to love.

3. Work With the Weather – Last but not least,  keep the weather in mind. From the heat of the summer to the chill of the winter there is a lot of variation that we often ignore in our cooking. One idea is to focus on fresh salads and cold dishes for summer and keep the oven off. That will help reduce the energy you use and the amount your air conditioner or fans have to work. In the winter, you can open the oven once it has been turned off and release the heat into your home instead of venting it outside (Please be careful when doing this that the oven is not still on - particularly if you have a gas oven). This can potentially help keep your home warm without straining your heater.

Cooking with the environment in mind does not have to be inconvenient or difficult. It takes only a few small changes in your cooking habits to make a big difference.

Author: This article is contributed by Madoline Hatter. Madoline is a freelance writer and blog junkie from ChangeOfAddressForm.com. You can reach her at: m.hatter12@gmail.com.

"Just Us Gals Boston" Launch

I am very excited to announce my new project: Just Us Gals. I've teamed up with my friends Suzanne (web designer & DIY expert) and Meredith (real estate broker & stylista) to create a new blog designed for specifically for the ladies of Boston. I hope to be the green voice of the blog, while also writing about some of my other passions like art, books, and cultural events. So if you ever get tired of reading my green living tips, definitely go check out Just Us Gals for some fun and feminine posts!

If you like it, follow us on the following platforms:
Twitter: JustUsGalsBos
Pinterest: JustUsGalsBos
Instagram: JustUsGalsBos

I'd love to hear any comments, suggestions, or questions about the new blog!

Nail Polish & Pregnancy

There are lots of rules and guidelines that pregnant women abide by in order to best protect the health of their child. Many women avoid any unnecessary chemicals, deciding that it is worth it to skip a couple hair dye jobs and meals of overly processed foods. But what about nail polish? Should pregnant women avoid manicures?

Most traditional nail polishes are rated between 5-7 on the EWG SkinDeep Database (Moderate - High hazard), but since nail polish is not applied to the skin, or  purposefully ingested, the potentially harmful chemicals are not easily absorbed into the body. But if you are a nail biter - these chemicals should be of concern to you. Unfortunately, many nail polishes contain dibutyl phthalate and toluene which are both linked to reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption. FDA research has also shown that  methyl methacrylate and acetonitrile break down into cyanide when ingested.

Kim Kardashian (a role model for many young women around the world) recently posted pictures of herself biting her nails on Instagram. The star recently announced she is expecting a child with Kanye West.

If you don't bite or pick at your nails, and you paint them in a well vented area, its safe to have painted nails during pregnancy. Otherwise, try non-toxic nail polishes, like Knocked Up Nails which is specifically formulated to be safe for pregnant women.

Pass it on Down

Just a little song to get you motivated to protect the environment.

Downton Abbey's Lady Grantham - Unknowingly Green!

I am a huge Downton Abbey enthusiast, and I am eagerly awaiting the U.S. season 3 premiere! And since I always keep my eye out for green ideas - I thought I would share some of my favorite quotes of Cousin Violet/Dowager Countess of Grantham when she is being unknowingly green. Afterall, she thinks electricity is pointless! She prefers living off the grid (before people really knew what the grid was!).

Image courtesy of  http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/dowager-countess-of-grantham

"I couldn't have electricity in the house, I wouldn't sleep a wink. All those vapors floating about."

“First electricity, now telephones. Sometimes I feel as if I’m living in an H.G. Wells novel.”

Just a reminder that we can still be classy without all of the latest and greatest technology!

Eco Gift Ideas by Lauren Conrad

Whoever thought Lauren Conrad, the blonde celebutante from The Hills, would become an eco spokeswoman?! It turns out that her website has some fabulous eco-chic gift lists!

1. 5 Eco-chic Gift Ideas

2. XO(eco) collection for Blue Avocado

3. Gift Guide for The Hostess

Grace Potter at House of Blues this Weekend

There are many reasons to love Grace Potter in the Nocturnals besides their incredible and original music. For one, Grace's stage style is simply iconic (see below). Secondly, the band started at my alma mater! And thirdly, they are devoted to promoting local consumption and small businesses. The Vermont band has partnered with Cabot Creamery and other local businesses as a way to bolster the local food movement. She has even been known to throw locally produced goodies into the audience! 

Below is a video that explains the band's commitment to going local. If you don't have time to watch the whole thing (its about 10 minutes), just start about 7 minutes in, and you'll get the best segment. 

I am super-excited to be seeing Grace Potter and the Nocturnals tomorrow night at Boston's House of Blues! Going green, rocker style.

Sustainability at Paris Fashion Week

The runway of the Chanel show at Paris fashion week was lined with huge wind turbines, and the catwalk was made to look like solar panels. Chanel head, Lagerfeld,  chose the turbines for their sleek modern design and because "energy is the most important things in life." He said that the turbines were chosen more for aesthetic reasons than political ones, but I am a fan of the set-up nonetheless!

Read more about the show on Ecouterre.

Best Dressed at the Emmys

Who wore the most stunning eco-conscious designs to the Emmys? Take a look:

Mindy Kaling accesorized with eco-friendly jewelry by Cathy Waterman

Maria Menounos wore an Oliver Tolentino gown made of pineapple leaf fibers.

Less Meat = Big Trend

Today, a fascinating article was published by the Associated Press about American diets and preferred sources of protein. The article reveals that while beef, chicken, and eggs are "complete" sources of protein, more Americans than ever before are opting for vegetarian/vegan protein sources like beans. This is great for the environment, but vegans and vegetarians still need to be careful that they are getting the proper amino acids to absorb proteins. I, for one, am happy to see this trend and hope it continues!

image courtesy of  Beyond Meat: Americans Preoccupied with Protein

See 'On Point' Live with Featured Guest Bill McKibbon

NPR fans & Environmentalists should definitely check out this amazing event coming to Boston in June!

Join WBUR for On Point LIVE on Thursday, June 14, at the Paramount Center. On Point host Tom Ashbrook will speak with his special guest, Bill McKibben, noted author, educator and environmentalist. They’ll be talking about the Keystone Pipeline, of course, as well as fracking and the economics and politics of climate change.

Purchase a ticket to the 7 p.m. show by donating $75 to WBUR. Or donate $175 to attend the special pre-show reception in the Black Box Theater, with food, drinks and a chance to meet the staff of On Point.

When: Thursday, June 14, 7 p.m. (Pre-show reception begins at 5:30 p.m.)

Where: Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston. Directions and parking info here.

Tickets: On sale now. All tickets will be emailed by The Paramount Center within two weeks of the performance.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Earth Fest is Tomorrow!

Radio 92.9's annual Earth Fest on the Esplanade is happening tomorrow!!! There will be live music including: Twin Berlin, Eve 6, Switchfoot, The Spin Doctors, and 3rd Eye Blind. And of course there will be free samples of lots of eco-friendly goodies! See you there between 11:30am and 5:00pm.

With awesome musical performances on the main stage, Radio 92.9 EarthFest presented by Whole Foods Market also features environmental non-profits from across the country, The Whole Foods Market Vendor Village with free samples from companies that share our attention to being green and the Kids’ Planet – an expanded interactive family area with environmentally focused learning opportunities, entertainment and exhibits for children.

Radio 92.9 EarthFest features and extensive recycling program for the 100,000+ attendees, strict policies and guidelines to ensure all vendors and exhibitors meet our environmentally focused standards, and will again be a Carbon Neutral event through the purchase of Carbon Offset credits.

image courtesy of Boston.com

Earth Day 2012 Pinterest Board

As part of Ecouterre & Hovey Lee's Earth Day Contest, I've created a Pinterest board for Earth Day 2012! Let me know your thoughts and what you think I should add before the big day on Sunday!

Mad Men Leading Lady is Scared For Sharks

In honor of the much anticipated Mad Men premeire, I thought I'd highlight the great work done by one of the leading actresses. January Jones has worked as a spokesperson for Oceana's Scared for Sharks campaign since 2009. Sharks represent the largest percent of endangered marine species on the IUCN Red List. Oceana works to protect sharks through communication, scientific research, and policy work. Each avenue is important because humans are the main threat to shark populations. You can see January Jones' video message about the importance of protecting sharks here.

She may be a chain-smoking housewife on tv, but in reality, January Jones is stepping up to the plate for a great cause.