tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87443774372798777402011-07-08T08:06:27.555-07:00Our Journey to Sustainable SanityDianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.comBlogger141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-55547362966556866902010-05-24T10:26:00.000-07:002010-05-24T10:26:21.017-07:00

Earth Day derailed me from writing...then it was business travel & eco-kitchen design sucking up my time.  Then...we realized in order to function for four to six weeks without a kitchen we ALSO needed to replace our aging & barely functioning faucets in the downstairs bathroom in order to reduce our use of takeout and disposable plates & cups.  Another design project & little time to obsess

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-37245920057026471862010-05-24T10:16:00.000-07:002010-05-24T10:16:02.282-07:00

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-57731778524436411172010-04-19T13:16:00.000-07:002010-04-19T13:30:32.564-07:00

I came across this video at Ted Talk on YouTube.  It's both amusing & insightful, especially from the point of my continuing quest for sustainable sanity.  The more I research, the more questions there are!  As Catherine Mohr (301monroe.com) states..."sometimes it's the unexpected changes that can make the biggest difference".   Catherine Mohr Builds Green  - check out this video (8 minutes) for

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-32296630153289991242010-04-18T09:15:00.000-07:002010-04-18T09:16:57.549-07:00

Yesterday, I attended 2 earth-friendly events.  Both were very enjoyable and more focused on greening up the outdoors & our food supply than green design.   Although the process of making our kitchen as eco-friendly as possible was the inspiration for this blog, the real message that has emerged is that our journey, like all of you who are making efforts to live more consciously & sustainalby, is

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-47854916215274247182010-04-08T08:08:00.000-07:002010-05-03T19:50:04.607-07:00

This week I've made more fascinating discoveries...really, I love this research! First, I found an organization that's been around since 2007.  Climate Counts has recently chosen 6 Industry Innovators and my company, Shaklee Corporation, is one of them.  With our 54 year commitment to sustainable living, it is not surprising to ME, but I'm thinking lots of people will be asking, "What's a

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-69139906653376368052010-03-26T12:25:00.000-07:002010-03-26T12:25:34.343-07:00

Sometimes I wish I could be part of that somewhat elite circle of interior designers  & green architects I've been meeting.  The combination of artistic sensibilities, real life applications & a green mission is quite appealing. However, I am, afterall, just a novice trying to do something extraordinary in our home, while keeping an eye on my eco-friendly priorities.  It's a wonderful hobby & it

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-29518664586650940342010-03-17T09:26:00.000-07:002010-03-17T09:26:58.294-07:00

Our getaway last week to Sedona reminded me how Nature inspires our home environment & helps us create a getaway feel each time we return home.  Another reason we love to support Bed & Breakfasts is that we've found it's more common for them to think about the simple pleasures of homey comforts, pleasant conversation and the desireability of a "green interior" retreat.  With so many visitors now

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-6754749767767413782010-03-11T11:20:00.000-08:002010-03-11T11:20:29.259-08:00

Since I've been focusing on my eco-design efforts again, I realize now that we are visiting Sedona again, that it has inspired me over the years with a similar color palette to our home.  Soft greens, terra cotta reds with splashes of blue & gold...looks a lot like a sunny day in Sedona!  That same sense of harmony with Nature that we crave in our own environment communicates itself through

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-1525554177833175402010-02-24T07:56:00.000-08:002010-02-24T08:14:55.824-08:00

Green Design e2 - The Green Apple I've been meeting so many great people involved in greening up their lives, homes and businesses.  Since I am focusing on remodeling my kitchen this Spring, everyone (and the universe) seem to be sending me contacts involved in eco-friendly building & remodeling. A good friend sent me info on Hulu's Design: e2 series.  Twelve videos in the episode, all about

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-15167927485414929102010-02-08T14:22:00.000-08:002010-02-08T14:24:15.884-08:00

I went to a store called Laguna Green last weekend. Actually, it's more of a design studio situated on Pacific Coast Hwy in South Laguna Beach.  The owner, Pam Sterling, wasn't there, but I had a nice chat with Clarice, who was the substitute greeter that day. They also work with Laguna Bamboo, which is just down the street, for bamboo cabinets.  I keep loving how there are so many businesses

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-438806017539688392010-01-28T23:05:00.000-08:002010-01-28T23:37:27.750-08:00

Tonight I wandered by Home Depot to take a look at counter options & paints.  This started me down a whole new challenging path when the helpful guy in the paint department explained why the only real "green" paint they have is Freshaire paint.  The problem, it seems is that even quality brands with green paint lines, like Dunn Edwards or Behr, use standard colorants that increase the VOC levels.

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-56322881715799259232010-01-27T23:48:00.000-08:002010-01-27T23:48:46.816-08:00

Lightbulb moment:  Green design is a vaste & expanding arena of often contradictory concepts. It strikes me as very odd that I didn't think of this before, since I've been trying to live an urban version of eco-friendly & sustainable...I thought. Yikes...so many qualities to weigh,  & often the manufacturers aren't clear...but I have noticed how popular the COLOR green has become in marketing

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-60595713331469957952010-01-05T17:01:00.000-08:002010-01-05T17:05:08.337-08:00

Saturday, we had our 2nd appointment with the cabinet designer at DirectBuy.  I have to say, they are so supportive of our desire to choose low toxin, sustainable products.  We've decided on Pacific Crest cabinets. It's a company with a long standing green philosophy, as well as an overall positive approach to their employees and making a difference in their community.  They use sustainably

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744377437279877740.post-38193497367583272382010-01-01T20:53:00.000-08:002010-05-03T19:48:05.612-07:00

Here we are at day one...or in some ways, day 10,001!  I started my journey to live green & healthier over 3 decades ago by changing to biodegradable laundry products & starting an organic garden. Today is day one of my blog about our kitchen remodel!  I plan to record the trials and tribulations, along with the fun and excitement of remodeling with the goal of creating a non-toxic, sustainable,

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670619008148217857noreply@blogger.com0