Goodlifer

Mindful Retailing Beyond Urban Zones: Part 2

As continuation of our exploration of mindful retailing and sustainable fashion enterprises on Main Street USA, we head up the coast to Cape Cod, MA, and Portland, Maine for a chat with the owners of two locally grown and globally minded businesses. With SHIFT boutique and Chellis Wilson at the helm, the good life seems totally within reach, despite the occasional challenges of recessionary headwinds. continue reading

Mindful Retailing Beyond Urban Zones: Part 1

The wonder of the Internet is no doubt linked to the freedom it affords us as we search and connect with like-minded organizations and individuals, and it probably goes without saying that forays in the online retail realm are bolstered by this activity. I am not a big shopper myself, so I am thankful that the e-boutiques of the web allow me to thoughtfully browse at my own discretion and comparison shop in ways that I have never before been able to. cont.

Holly’s Oatmeal – A Perfect Blend

One day, Holly, a restaurant owner in Connecticut, decided that her morning oatmeal could stand some improvement. After many trials, she discovered that a blend of seven certified-organic and kosher grains (including multiple types of oats, golden flax seeds and triticale), combined with a protein-boosting ingredient and some good dried fruits/nuts (like apricots, goji berries, or almonds), resulted in a flavorful hot cereal with more texture than plain old oatmeal. cont.

H Fredriksson: Sustainable Swedish Fashion in NYC

Stockholm Fashion Week is fully under way, and for those of us who can’t be there, I decided to find out what Swedish design in New York City looks like. I caught up with Helena Fredriksson, an accomplished fashion designer known for her photographic, expressive patterns and modern yet timeless silhouettes. Since she starting her line H Fredriksson in 2004, she has worked out of her studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. cont.

Trouble Silencing Climate Skeptics? There’s an App for That!

If you’ve ever found yourself in a conversation with a climate change skeptic, you’ve most likely experienced the intense frustration of being unable to disprove their illogical reasoning. Often, the perfect answer will come to you much later. Ever wish you had all the top climate information at your fingertips? cont.

Allergic to Peanuts? Try Sunflower Seed Butter Cups

Chocolate and peanut butter is one of life’s great flavor pairings. But chances are that, even if you’re not avoiding peanuts these days, you know someone who is. Maybe they have to avoid tree nuts as well. How do you allow these people to experience the pleasure of a really good chocolate nut butter cup? It used to be that such individuals were out of luck, but Seth Ellis Chocolatier of Boulder, CO has come to the rescue with their Sun Cups. cont.

Shadowplay: The Right Kind of Statement Jewelry

I could imagine wearing the same outfit every day, as long as I could accessorize it with amazing jewelry. Shadowplay by designer Heather Goldberg certainly fits that bill. No two pieces are alike, and all are hand-crafted using 100% natural fibers such as bamboo, cotton, silk, cashmere, mohair and organic and naturally dyed merino wool. Closures are certified fairtrade black silver and crystallized Swarowski elements add some bling. cont.

The Story of Cosmetics: Myths & Facts

Would you fly an airline that only inspects 20% of their planes? Probably not. But did you know that less than 20% of all chemicals in cosmetics have been assessed for safety? The average U.S. woman uses 12 personal care products every day (men use 6, on average), each of them contains a dozen or more chemicals. Without the proper testing procedures in place, there is simply no way of knowing what this daily exposure does to our systems. cont.

Bright Young Things Need But One LBD

Sometimes restrictions breed incredible creativity. Such was the case with the Uniform Project (which I wrote about last year), where Sheena Matheiken wore the same dress every day for a whole year, and used only vintage accessories to style it. The designer behind the now famous little black dress is Eliza Starbuck, who recently decided to make the dress available to everyone, under the name Bright Young Things. cont.

Native American Snacks: Tanka Bar

This is directed toward you, Mr. or Ms. Constantly-On-The-Go. Yes, you, making do with whatever you can find when you need a snack. Too often, you reach for coffee and a doughnut; overly-caloric, excessively sweet granola bars or, even worse, fast food. Why not try something a little more dietarily virtuous for a change? Fresh fruit or veggies would be great, sure, but sometimes you just want a snack with a little more staying power. cont.

Follow your heart (it knows where to go)

If you’re sitting at a desk in a dull office, raise your hand. If you feel stuck in a job you dislike but are scared to quit because you don’t want to give up job security — especially during these difficult financial times — say “I.” Have a passion that you wish you could turn into a job? Too many of us are unhappy with our current job situation, but maybe there is no reason we should be. cont.

Be A Biographer: Crowdsourced Design Giving Hope to Sex Trade Survivors

Initiated by human-rights organization The Blind Project, Be A Biographer calls on people with design skills to help tell the stories of the survivors of the multi-billion dollar commercial sex trade, an industry currently enslaving and exploiting millions of women and children. “We want to connect your talents with her needs. For freedom, love, hope, dignity and protection. Our role is simple. To tell her story. To be her biographer,” cont.

Lend, Borrow & Sharing Services: Changing our Relationship with Stuff

Humans like to own things, and for long we have equaled possessions with success and satisfaction. But does stuff really make us happier? As someone who just moved a 1.5 bedroom apartment and cursed for weeks at how much stuff I had managed to cram in there, I say no. Quite the opposite. The average drill gets used between 3 to 20 minutes during its lifetime. So, why does every household need to own one? cont.

Jonboy Caramels – Saving us from RGCDD

When I mention caramels, I know that too many of you envision those hard, dried-up little squares in the grocery store — those are not what I’m talking about. I mean caramels. Soft, fresh, and chewy, with the lovely flavors of butter and cream and slowly-browned sugar. If you haven’t had any caramels like this lately, you’re suffering from RGCDD (Really Good Caramel Deficiency Disorder). This country is in the grasp of a positive epidemic of this malady! cont.

Rob Bigwood – Vegan Arm Wrestler

In this oversaturated world, it’s rare to come across something — or, in this case, someone —that really stops you in your tracks. That happened when I first heard of Rob Bigwood, a professional arm wrestler who is also a devoted vegan and animal rights advocate. A 27-year-old Interactive Designer, he is one of the top-ranked arm wrestlers in the Northeast and among the top 20 overall in the United States. cont.

Enjoying the Good Life

We are currently on vacation, enjoying the Good Life in sunny Europe. Thank you for visiting. Please come again on July 7th. We would like to suggest that you step away from the computer for a moment to go outside and enjoy all those good things life has to offer. cont.