Snow in Wyoming in June. Extreme droughts and floods. Seasonless years. These are the results of climate change. If you are ready to talk about it and learn more about the reality of climate change, then you are ready to join the conversation on September 14, 2011 at 7pm EST hosted by the Climate Reality Project.

Al Gore is at it again. He is revealing the inconvenient truth that climate change exists. Gore and 23 other presenters from around the world will be doing a livestream broadcast on September 14th to share stories and facts about climate change. With awareness and communication we can make a change. RSVP on FaceBook and I’ll see you on the livestream!

An intense and perhaps disturbing infograph. Which state are you from, and do you find the stamp of shame to be accurate?

Join Project Green Challenge’s upcoming 30-day eco lifestyle Challenge in mobilizing high school and college students nationwide through fun, simple, and high impact daily steps. We challenge you to complete themed actions each day in October. Can you do it? Can you take your life from conventional to conscious? 

Sign up to take the 30-day eco lifestyle Challenge and they’ll deliver the daily challenges directly to your inbox, complete with resources, tips, a glossary, experts, videos, and more. I’ll be contributing to the Challenge, by providing a daily challenge that relates to sustainable fashion and beauty, so keep you eyes out for that and help us create a more conscious world through this fantastic challenge!

Loving the way the world is progressing and making living well easier for a vagabond like me! Move over expensive car rental companies and make way for the people! Similar to the home rental site, Airbnb.com, GetAround.com connects people who have an extra car to rent with those looking to rent a car for a fair rate. There’s an eco-bonus too: Each shared car takes 10 cars off the road and reduces personal carbon emissions by over 40%. This is definitely a must on my list!

By now we should all feel really guilty about buying bottled water. The statistics are staggering and the waste intolerable. Yet, when you are on the go without your trusty water bottle in tow, you may need to just buy a bottle of water. Luckily, the folks over at Project 7 are providing an alternative to the standard wasteful plastic bottle and offer a biodegradable bottle. 

Committed to ‘changing the score’ or in other words, moving the needle on proactive consumption, Project 7 was created to give back when we buy. In their words:

Simply put, Project 7 exists to give. We are a cause-related company that makes every day consumer goods, like bio-bottled water, gum, mints and coffee. We aren’t asking you to buy more stuff, just change the products that you already buy.

For every purchase of a Project 7 product, some good is done in seven areas of need – Feed the Hungry, Heal the Sick, Hope for Peace, House the Homeless, Quench the Thirsty, Teach them Well and Save the Earth. Non-profit organizations supporting any of these seven areas of need can submit applications to Project 7. 

So, now you can purchase some of those every day goods you already depend on through a brand who actually gives back and help move the needle too. Sweet.

Get ready for a change in seasons and the revival of your cold weather wardrobe with The Butler Box. They’ll arrive with storage containers (made of recycled plastic—-score one eco-friendliness!) that feature complimentary locks so you can pack your summer clothes and secure them. Once you’re all packed up, give them a call and they’ll come back for it! They’ll store it for you in their warehouse and delver it back to you when the seasons turn again.

Right now you can get a deal on this service through Refinery 29’s Reserve site.

Jet-setting around the globe this summer, I’ve picked up a few pieces that will forever shape my image of the summer of 2011 when I look back. I like to pack light, yet have all the things help contribute to a a comfortable and easy trip, so the following items have made the short list, so to speak!

1. Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying, a classic piece of American literature written in 1973 lives on today as a required reading for men and women alike. An essential exploration into sexuality and intellect from one of the great writers of our time.

2. Aveda Outer Peace Acne Relief Pads, perfect for wiping down your face when you are on the go and changing environments regularly- helping your skin adjust and fight bacteria from planes, trains and automobiles!

3. Weleda Wild Rose Soothing Day Cream, a lightweight moisturizer with the sweetest subtle scent or roses. I use it both day and night.

4. Becca Ultimate Mascara, I was recently introduced to this by a makeup artist on a shoot. The formula creates tubes around your eyelashes producing the most alluring and long lashes you’ve ever had. Amazing.

5. What I am listening to now… On a ten day trip to Costa Rica with Hands Up Holidays, I was thrown back in time whilst being escorted by a driver who had but one CD in his van, The Police. There is something so wonderful about being in a tropical country listening to musical classics; it is like time has stopped and it feels so good. Springing forward about 20 years, I am also enjoying the Kings of Convenience, whom I have marked under my ‘Chill & Study’ playlist on Spotify.

6. Rodin olio lusso Lip Balm, an all natural lip balm created by an iconic New York model turned stylist who sought a product to quench her skin’s thirst and wound up making her own popular blend.

7. Matt & Nat coin purse, a must have when traveling to Europe where coins are actually worth something and need keeping track of! Vegan leather and made from 100% recycled nylon on the interior.

8. Yves Saint Laurent recycled bag, a limited edition collaboration to produce a high end upcycled plastic bag. You might be able to track one down through Barney’s New York, or YSL directly. Good luck, it is a gorgeous bag!

What is in your bag this summer?

Summer calls for a good loaf of corn bread with some seasonal blueberries! As usual, I adapted a few recipes from online to make a sugar and gluten-free corn bread. Here’s the skinny on this tasty summertime treat!

Ingredients:

grapeseed oil, for the pan
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup gluten-free flour (rice or almond)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup soy yogurt (plain)
1 egg
1/4 cup brown rice syrup
3 tablespoons melted soy butter (optional- replace with oil)
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square pan (or a 9- or 10-inch cast-iron skillet) with grapeseed oil.
Combine the dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Combine the wet ingredients (including brown rice syrup) separately. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry, mixing just enough to thoroughly combine. Fold in the fresh blueberries. Spread into the prepared pan.
Bake for 20-40 minutes, or until the center is firm to the touch and a knife inserted comes out clean. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature. Enjoy!

I like to wash my clothes on delicate with the temperature on cold/ cold using a biodegradable detergent, and then hang dry almost everything. Sometimes, however, certain pieces call for a little extra care and for that I like to use an eco-friendly service. In New York and London, Jeeves of Belgravia is my cleaner of choice. 

Jeeves New York is the first luxury dry cleaning firm to remove all petrochemicals from the cleaning process. Using our ECO2 Cleanse process your clothes are cleaned in a biodegradable cleaning solution (similar to Purell) and liquid CO2. The US EPA considers only one dry cleaning method safe; the CO2 dry cleaning process.

(happily sponsored post)

Joining the rest of the world’s coconut craze, the other night I had a hankering for vegan mousse with a coconut twist! Adapting a couple of recipes I found online to make my own vegan and sugar-free version, here’s what I came up with:

COCONUT CREAM MOUSE

1/2 cup soy milk (or other non-dairy milk)
1 can full fat coconut cream
1 tsp sea salt

 2 Tbsp Brown Rice Syrup

1 16oz. block of silken tofu
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp arrowroot powder

Directions:

1. Chill you coconut milk can and scoop off the coconut cream on top. Set aside in a bowl. 

2. In a sauce pot, add the soy milk and dissolve the arrowroot. Over medium heat, continuously stir until mixture thickens (about 2 minutes).

3. Place soy milk and arrowroot mixture in a CuisinArt. Add silken tofu, sea salt, brown rice syrup, vanilla extract and set aside coconut cream.

4. Blend thoroughly until smooth (about 2 minutes).

5. Spoon into small serving cups or bowls and chill in refrigerator for 3 hours. Top with fresh berries before serving.