Pull Up A Chair

Origins

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:46:00 +0000

So many of the trends in interior decorating this year seem to be searching for our roots. Certainly nothing makes a house a home more than a firm grounding in tradition. In particular children's rooms and nurseries can benefit from the vibrancy and interest of ethnic inspired decor. And what better way to teach your children where they came from? Many parents of adopted children find great satisfaction in a room created around the child's culture. Hark back to their origins for inspiration.

The first in our series of genealogically correct interiors:

African Children's Rooms and nurseries

African inspired rooms offer a myriad of options. At Hygge we prefer a traditional approach rather than a cartoon safari room. The soothing muted green and gold palettes of the grasslands create a beautiful and calming nursery. Use bamboo accents and rich creams and browns too, as well as wheat, gray, green, and tawny golds. Add a splash of drama with a hand painted acacia tree behind the crib. Stand a tall stuffed giraffe in the corner for appeal and add a sisal rug and you have a nursery straight out of Africa. Toddlers, kids and teens love the vibrant colors that are common to the African continent. think of bustling markets full of jewel toned fruits and the handwoven fabrics of traditional clothing. Red, pumpkin, and saffron paint all work well with accents of blue, or black, or wood. A pillow or blanket made from Kente cloth or other woven materials adds drama. Accent with a fabric wall hangings, carved wooden animals, or a beaded curtain. Africa is a continent full of diverse and magical places. Research a bit to find an area you are drawn to and then explore the possibilities.

Handmade in Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of a job creation program that offers opportunities to local
craftswomen these felted wool stones with hand washable covers offer atmospheric seating and are great conversation pieces.

Petit Collage bamboo hand carved animal mobiles.

Colorful bags offer a clever way to put away toys and other kid paraphernalia. Handmade in Zambia and available from The Africa House.

Handwoven traditional Masai blanket from Aina Moja.

The beautiful traditional cloth of East Africa. Kente cloth pillows from Indigo Arts.

Children's story teller Eric Carle (of The Very Hungry Catapillar fame) has created this incredible kid's bedding. Available from many sources.

Stretched Fabric art from Avalisa evokes the African plains with her beautiful colorful animal prints.

We love these colorful prints by African artists with their scenes of daily life. From africanart.com.

Chairs Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Spring prelude has almost passed and summer is coming around the bend. It won't be long until we pack our picnic baskets and head for the pools and lakes. So naturally we need a good chair to take with us. These are, without a doubt, some of the most supercalifragilistic summer chairs around.

Stay cool, don't pee in the pool.
-Libby

The wave chair, the new resort classic. Close your eyes and you could be in Ibiza.

Lipstick Pool Chair at stardust.com. Lounge poolside Hollywood style.

Beach chair with a modern aesthetic by Trip Trap.

The Amphibious Lounger from Slack. Oh Yeah.

This teak sling rocker takes the classic to new modern heights. Beautiful proportions and graceful curves give this chair a lighter than air feel.

Tropicalia chair by Patricia Urquioloa for Moroso. All the fun of those 1970's pool chairs but no avocado green in sight.

The classic sailcloth beach chair can't be beat. By Cape Cod Beach Chairs.

Trends

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:39:00 +0000

The combination of blue and white has endured the millenia to surface again and gain as a trend in interior decorating. Perhaps it is the siren song of the sea calling us...a place of pure light, fresh air and clean lines of sand and sky.

To use blue effectively you have to create the right mixture of light and dark, texture and shine...too much blue and a room becomes gloomy, too little and it becomes stark.
This season look for blues the remind you of nature: the cerulean of the European coast, the tender china blue of a hot summer sky, the rich purpley hue of a Nordic iris.
If you don't want to make a big commitment to blue try an accent rug , a toss pillow, or a loosely woven throw. Add a line of fused glass tiles to your bathroom or across the threshold of a patio door. Or paint one wall, perfect for setting off white furniture, a plain wooden chest, or a splash of color such as tiger lily in a side chair. Simple blue and white rooms can also offer the perfect resting place for eastern influenced furniture, complimenting the graceful tracery and unusual lines and showing them off without distraction.

Often when I hear blue and white I think of the Blue Willow plates of my childhood. Blue and white has a tendency to feel country cottage or English countryside. To modernize this trend and give it zing we recommend looking to the Mediterranean for influence. Greek homes abound with blue and white in glossy paint and nubby weavings, glazed ceramics, or smooth embroidery...the simplicity of ocean and sky are represented in a palette of textures. Red blooms in a vase or wooden bowl full of tangerines are all you need to add zest and unexpected color.

The key to a clean, modern, blue and white room is simplicity, good lines, and a hint of saturated color for life.

How the other half lives

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:53:00 +0000

A showcase for innovative environmentally sustainable options in the design and decorating world. Cool pads and stuff to fill them made out of unexpected materials. These are the kind of places we dreamed up as children... made real. Enjoy.

This week:

Free Spirit Spheres

Touted as a tree house for adults these Free Spirit Spheres still make me think of Ewoks. We think they would make a fabulous guest house...or romantic get away.These spheres are available completed, or in a kit to build your own. You can also rent one if you happen to be in Vancouver. The creator envisioned "whole " spaces...floating suspended like a dream of a tree house.

This Land

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:23:00 +0000

WASHINGTON STATE

Continuing our search for the best of America's handmade goodies, we may have found the coolest thing ever in Olympia, Washington. Artist Tor Clausen builds these beautiful custom tables and chests in his Olympia studio. These durable, portable, rearrangeable symphonies are handcrafted to your specifications or can be bought pre-made. Watch the videos below. We think you'll be as impressed as we were. Tor is really getting hygge with it.

Check it out on the web at Musical Furnishings

Teen Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:13:00 +0000

Customizable i pod docks/alarm clocks for guys and gals.

Chinese lanterns and the flip lounger from Pottery Barn Teen. Hip stuff.

Storage that's too cool for school. This locker is the perfect place to shove stuff. From bedroomkeeper.com

The Moon in My Room. Teens and little kids all just love this. You can change the phases or just leave it full. Get it from Think Geek.

The loft bed from Ikea. This dorm room staple is high on the wish list for teen rooms.

The Japanese come up with the coolest stuff. first the marshmallow car and now the Fuwapica chair. It's soft and squishy and it changes color bases on your weight and position.

Chalkboard paint is just so cool.

This stick on wall decor gets raves from the young people. Easy to remove for apartment dwellers and fickle changes of mood. From 2Modern.

Teen Beat

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:24:00 +0000

Kids these days.

I look around and see a little Punky Brewster, a little Rainbow Brite, a little Anime, and a dash of Marilyn Manson. I must be getting older because I don't get it.
I remember when we tried to make ourselves pretty.
And yet, there is a bravery in this generation, a real desire to set themselves apart from all that has come before, to forge their own path and emerge with an identity that isn't recycled from their parents generations. Even the preppy kids that usually follow a predictable model are trying streaks of color in their hair, or piercing their nose, or wearing psychedelic tights. It's like London in the eighties, with less angst.
I was wondering what kinds of rooms these bright, music infested, pink haired, netted tight wearing, lollipop sucking teens want.

So I asked professional teenagers.

Paint...big splashes of color, reflecting their fashion choices. Accent walls of purple and red are the faves, followed by orange, pink, and yellow.
Gadgets...hd tvs, computers, hamburger phones, i pod docks, good sound systems. led lights in bathrooms and bedrooms. Anything kitchy and blinking. Lava lamps and beaded curtains still rate for some.
Glow in the dark stick ons.
Don't get rid of all their stuffed animals. They may seem to be growing up, but they stillw ant to hang on to the memories and comfort of a less confusing time.
Lots of pillows. teens and tweens spend a lot of time on the floor and they like to make little nests and perches.
I can see all you moms rolling your eyes...but this one topped the list. Black out curtains. Sleeping is a teens favorite past time. Be gone pesky sun!
Mini fridges. Ideally stocked with energy drinks.
Chinese Lanterns
Poster on the wall never go out of style...and no frames please...that's just lame.
Good mirrors for the girls(and some of the guys too)
I heard this again and again too. Don't try to get teens to organize like everyone else. They "hate" categories and labels. Give them storage with bins and baskets so they can group their stuff however they want or just toss it in. Be glad it's off the floor.

Respect your teens. They are people too. Strange people...but people with their own dislikes and likes. They need their rooms to be havens from the outside world. Places to figure things out, express themselves freely and rest up for another round of homework and gossip.

How it looks should be up to them as much as possible. Their rooms are the only places in the world they have any control....and if they don't make the bed...just chill.
They'll grow up eventually, and you might miss the crazy colorful people they were when they do

Off the Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:20:00 +0000

We've got a thing for removable wall art here at Hygge Interiors. It's perfect for apartment dwellers and renters because it comes off and can be taken with you. And it's ideal for children's rooms because it's easy to change as they grow.
Essentially vinyl decals, wall art offers everything from larger than life super heroes to sleek modern abstracts that are definitely not kids stuff.
Most decals start at about 25 dollars and can transform a room in minutes.

Above available at Rosenberry Rooms. The largest selection online.

I know why the caged bird sings. We love these from Wall Candy Arts .

Some of the classiest wall candy on the market comes from Dali Decals. Perfect for loft settings and modern rooms.

May we also suggest
Blik
The Surface Store

CONTEST ! CONTEST ! CONTEST!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:06:00 +0000

WIN A FREE BEDROOM DECORATING MAKEOVER!

Does your child have the worst bedroom in the world?

Closets spilling out over the floor? Sharing with you and your husband? Contemplating a nursery in the cupboard under the stairs? A teenager and a toddler in the same room?

Hygge Interiors would like to swoop in and save the day.

Send us your pics and tell us about your decorating dilemma and you could win a decorating consultation worth $200 dollars.

Winner will receive a free online consultation from a Hygge Interiors decorator, Including an in depth interview, three drawings to choose from, a presentation board with samples of all materials needed to complete you project, and a detailed custom source list so you can get everything you need to create that dream room. *

And everyone will get some free advice from our decorators and a tip or two from our blog readers. Whoopie!!!

So get into those ugly bedrooms and start snapping... WIN! WIN! WIN!

Send pics and pleads to info@hyggeinteriors.com

Winners will be announced in June. All families with children or expecting children are eligible.

* Hygge Interiors is a decorating firm and cannot consult on structural changes (such as additions, walls, windows, electrical work, or plumbing) to rooms.

This Land

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:47:00 +0000

Not knowing what we were getting into, we have taken on the task of finding something wonderful and unique in all fifty states. There are so many hidden gems made right here in America! These cottage industries do not use sweatshops, illegal labor, tropical hardwoods, or huge amounts of fossil fuels in transportation.
We have tried to find as many as we can that use sustainable practices and non toxic alternatives.
Most of all we sought out handmade pieces that were created with attention to detail and the spirit of the state they were created in.

If there is someone (including yourself) you would like to see showcased in "This Land" drop us an email at info@hyggeinteriors.com Be sure to let us know the state and contact info for the company or craftsman.

NEW YORK

Tyler Hays is a painter sculptor and incredible furniture maker. His company
BDDW produces heirloom quality handmade furniture with smooth modern lines and old world heft. All pieces are made in Brooklyn of domestic hardwoods and finished with natural oils and lacquers. Cracks, rings, bark and other "imperfections" are often retained and highlighted leaving a stunning piece of furniture that tells a story of its origins.

BDDW
5 Crosby St.
212-625-1230

VERMONT

The furniture from Vermont Woods Studios seems to defy gravity, swooping and curling, full of unexpected textures and lines. Vermont craftsman use FSC certified woods and sometimes reclaimed barn wood to create these eco-friendly and absolutely stunning designs. Custom designs are welcomed. Pre-made pieces are also customized to fit your living space at little or no extra charge.

Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Hands down this is our favorite indoor play product. Germans love toys and they excel at making them. The Ikarus Swing from Haba. The seat is granulated so it's comfy and safer and the really cool detachable wings are a hit with the kids. All of our kids spent most of their time "flying" on their bellies. Be sure to get two or they will fight over it.

Ikea's Ekorre line offers indoor play sets like these hand rings. The height is adjustable. Boys and teens really like these.

Blocks by Oeuf.
Stack them, sit on them, build them. Sustainable too.

A new meaning to wall art. Color by Numbers wallpaper. Looks really cool uncolored too.

We love these stone crayons. The colors are beautiful and they're easy to hold. Store them in a clear glass container for decorative appeal. From Crayon Rocks.

Forget the tire swing. Cedar Works offers this beautiful sustainable play structure. This ain't your daddy's playground.

Hard core do it yourselfers can build their own indoor rock walls. Search rock climbing wall handholds and instructions to find out how.

Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:57:00 +0000

I recently returned to working full time with the single minded zealotry of the newly converted. Unfortunately, my dedication to my career has taken its toll on my normally fun loving and playful family. Add to that a long Midwestern winter in the semi-gloom of those same four walls and you have a recipe for the doldrums.
As the sun comes streaming in my windows and the children start to bounce with all that springtime in their blood, I am readjusting, learning to play again.
The best thing is the world is running barefoot through the grass with your children. (Especially if you were raised in the sticker infested yards of the west.) But the inside of your home should not be a place you escape from, it should not be static and uninteresting. A home with children needs to be a place to play and get creative, full of spaces that welcome activity and exploration.
We have learned that the only way to survive a long winter with children is to bring the fun of the outdoors in. Many companies make products designed for indoor play that keep little bodies moving and imaginations pumping. So get moving folks...get outside and look around...the world is still there. And if by chance the rain keeps you behind closed doors...open the windows, take your child's hand, and do something.
Play is not just an outdoor sport.

Ask A Decorator

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:01:00 +0000

Q. What is the most important thing I should know when decorating my house?

A. Any decorating scheme has to have harmony and flow. You don't want any of the colors or styles to jar you as you look or travel from room to room. Make sure the colors you choose in each room are compatible with the others in the house. And don't mix styles unless you know what you are doing. Often I see someone with a very traditional sort of bedroom with flowers and pastels, and a contemporary living room with say western elements. Your house should tell a story and all parts of it should relate to each other.

There are many ways to accomplish this unity and continuity. Using the same color in every room in varied ways is the most exciting. In one room you may have a blue accent wall, in another a beautiful blue accent piece highlighted, in another blue toss pillows...and so on. Someone I knew painted a very thing red strip along the wall in each room. They not only brought the house together but created movement and interest.

The elements should be both subtle and dramatic...don't use the same paint in every room. Or overload any one room with too much. A feast for the eyes does not necessarily mean a buffet.

Q. What is the least expensive "fix" I can give my house to make it look updated.

A. In these tough economic times we're all looking for ways to save a buck and still have pretty modern spaces.

Paint is the single easiest and least expensive way to get dramatic changes for just a few dollars. Paint kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, walls, and furniture. Save trendy or vibrant colors for smaller areas. You can change an accent wall or repaint a table a couple times to keep up with Jones's latest look. Black is dramatic, white is fresh and clean, gray is modern. Bright colors bring energy into a room and neutrals make a room restful.

Do you have a question for one of our decorators? Email info@hyggeinteriors.com

Three Martini Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:00:00 +0000

If I could choose another life I would be an ad man in the 1960's.
I would wear a three piece suit, talk loudly, clap other men on the back, go sailing on long Upstate New York weekends, and have three martini lunches.
Back then men were men and advertising was advertising.
I am totally completely befuddled by the concept of advertising online. Pay per click, pay per view, pay through the nose.
I imagined blogging as this big touchy feely community of supporters sharing ideas, airtime, and giving each other a leg up.
It may actually be that way, but the sheer amount of stuff you have to wade through to post your blog, advertise your business, and network is overwhelming at times.
Here's my offer...Once a week in my Three Martini Lunch section I will advertise your business or endeavor ABSOLUTELY FREE NO STRINGS ATTACHED NOW OR EVER. It would be cool if you returned the favor (you might kind of look like a jerk if you don't) but that's your business. I won't ask you to. As long as you think we're on the same page so to speak, feel free to send me your spiel. Just jot down a quick sentence or two about who you are and your ad. HTML only please. And send it along to blog@hyggeinteriors.com
I may promote you here and there too if I can. Hey...maybe I'll even buy you a drink.

*Thanks to Pop Art Diva for the great pic. popartdiva.com

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Have a decorating dilemma?

Do it yourself with our help.

Hygge Interiors offers online decorating consultations for today's budget.

We specialize in Children's and Family Spaces.

www.hyggeinteriors.com

Available across the planet.

Life is Beautiful

Chairs Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:58:00 +0000

All the seating your butt can handle.

The Svan High Chair. Graceful lines and sustainability. Also it converts to a youth chair when your babe outgrows the tray. Available from The Little Seed.

We can't say enough about these Eame's style rockers. They add instant modern hipness to a nursery. Design Public.

Beautiful "Bouquet Chairs" by Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka.

Everybody needs a Fatboy somewhere in their life.

Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Here's the Poop Scoop...products that should make bathroom experiences easier and sometimes down right enjoyable.

Queen B Bubble Bath is made by stay at home moms in New Orleans. Socially conscience and bubbly.

Modern Potty from the Potty Bench. Made of recycled plastic and in our signature colors.

The disposable potty from Poteez. No more pulling over and going on the side of the road crouched down behind the car door.

3.5 million tons of diapers go into US landfills each year. Introducing the first biodegradable flushable diaper from G.diapers. The instruction s seem complicated but really it's a snap. A great way to have convenience and do your part for the planet.

Bea Squeaky petroleum free gummi bear flavored lip balm. Tastes soooo good it went over big with all the kids, even the tall ones.

A selection of washable wipes from Etsy.

The Flippee potty Shield is just what a boy's mother needs. The shield easily flips down out of the way when not in use.

How to Save on Therapy Bills

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:16:00 +0000

Nowhere (except perhaps the kitchen) is 'form follows function' more important than in the family bathroom. Bathrooms are at the top of the list for many of our interior decorating clients with kids. And as a mother I totally understand the issues at hand. I have four children (ages 15 down to 9 months) and one bathroom. Each child contributes his/her own unique requirements, issues, or demands to complicate the experience of bathroom sharing compatibility.
The teenager splashes water all over the place and takes hour long baths during which time no one is allowed to enter. My five year old boy is still practicing his aim. My three year old daughter is afraid snapping turtles will come up through the potty and eat her. The baby goes through roughly 567 diapers a day.
And then there's me. I have dreams of uninterrupted bathroom time, of a spa like experience returning me to womb-like peace.

I am always looking for ideas to create an oasis in my bathroom and the bathrooms I create for others.

Here are some tips for making a family friendly bathroom.

Safety First

Water is everywhere in a family bathroom. Make sure your floors, shower and bath all offer some traction. Leave the carpet out of the bathroom. The moisture encourages rot and mold. Yuck.
Electrical outlets should be above the reach of little ones and away from wet areas. Also store curling irons and such out of reach. A high shelf where they can rest while they are in use is ideal
For households with small people use toilet locks, faucet protectors, outlet covers, and door knob covers.

We love Think Geek's faucet lights so much for households with kids because the water changes color when its hot. Much easier for little ones to understand a visual rather than an abstract.
Medicines should be in locked cabinets. (Vitamins too...my three year old once gave me a scare by drinking vitamin B 12...everything is tempting to a child

Consider comfort and ease

Make sure there is adequate heat and good ventilation.

Towels should be easy to reach
It feels so nice to step out onto a plush bathmat. And they're easy to wash.
A wall mounted toilet paper holder is essential.

Good Form

Good storage makes bathroom life easier. Upper shelves and cabinets tend to be easier to organize and locate things in than the under the counter ones.
Pegs and hooks make it easy for little ones to hang up towels and robes (I learned this after years of piles of wet towels under the towel bar)
Protect walls with tiles or laminates. Water can do a lot of lasting damage.

If your sinks are high, add a sturdy wide bases stool with a grip surface and make sure toothbrushes and soap are within reach.

Please all of the people some of the time

Try to develop a bathroom routine that everyone adheres to. If someone seems to be hogging the prime time rotate the schedule once a week or so.

And remember when you decorate, that the bathroom has to serve several people who might not have the same taste. Unless everybody whole heartedly agrees on a theme try to avoid one. A lot of bathrooms are small and can benefit greatly from a coat of white paint. White makes the room feel bigger and fresher, and colored towels and accessories really pop against it. It's easy to change out towels too.

Safety is the most important feature in a family bathroom. And privacy is a close second. Make sure everyone in the family respects each other's needs.

FINDS

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:09:00 +0000

These towels are organic and guaranteed sweatshop free. So now you can dry off guilt free. From Satera Inc.
Recycled glass tiles from Eco friendly flooring. Available in more colors than you could shake a stick at. Let your imagination run wild. Do a border or a whole wall.

Asia bathtub from Victoria and Albert. We love the trestle and think we could spend hours in here with a good book. Don't you?

These faucet lights from Think Geek are totally cool. Teens and tweens love these. But the great part is that they change color, red when they're hot and blue when they're cold...so great for little kids too.Eco choices offers these great titanium razors. The handles are made from recycled plastic like Stonyfield yogurt cups. A good reason to eat yogurt and shave.

Sustainable Moso bamboo sink from Home and Stone. So Zen.

Cast Iron

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:00:00 +0000

If I could I would be writing this from my bathtub, a big white nest full of warmth and comfort and peace.

I have heard that King Louis the something-or-other used to receive visitors from his bath, and it has convinced me of his wisdom. I wonder if someone was employed simply to add hot water? I imagine his bathtub sits empty and proud in a museum somewhere kept clean and gleaming by someone employed to dust it.

Things should be built to last.

My bathtub is a claw footed cast iron behemoth, a relic from a by-gone era when things were built to endure forever. It is the bathtub I used to dream about when I lived in the west and everything was new and streamlined. We found it in Missouri in a neighbor’s yard where its purpose was to hold strawberry plants. I haggled to buy it for a handful of cash and the promise to write several articles for a local newsletter. The neighbor even delivered it. It took four of us to take the tub out of the back of the truck and put it in the shed where it would wait for three years for renovation to finish, first serving as a roosting place for chickens, then as a repository for old sheets and blankets we kept to keep the animals warm during bitter winters.

Eventually I decided to use it even if the bathroom wasn’t done. My father , the foreman of my house and man of all heavy jobs, wrapped a chain around it and dragged it to the house hooked to the back of his truck. The tub was set up in the mudroom while we repaired the bathroom floor, shoring up joists and replacing wood so that it’s weight would be supported. A cast iron bathtub full of water is akin to a small dinosaur and only a floor built to bear heavy burdens could handle it.

My father became sick that winter and the bathtub stayed where it had landed next to the wash machine. On one of his better days Dad rigged it up with the hosing from a shop vac, and a garden hose, and a plastic cup stuck in the overflow hole and I finally got to sit in my bathtub, water up to my neck, cocooned in heat and smooth porcelain until the children found me and jumped in like puppies in a pond.

My father died soon after, long before the renovation we had been doing together was finished. We abandoned the house including the bathtub and moved out.

Soon we made a new friend, Ken, who had a knack for plumbing and suggested that he could help us install the old bathtub in our new place. The house had a concrete foundation that could handle its weight and the walls were still open waiting for drywall. Our friend had a torch and knew how to solder copper.

My fifteen year old daughter and I hauled that old tub out of the old house into the new, grunting and straining and bruising ourselves, irritable and overworked like the chickens that used to perch on its smooth sides scrabbling for purchase.

In only a few days it was ready, plumbed to the wall like a proper tub with facets for hot and cold instead of a garden hose. The first bath was actually given to Ken who had earned it down on his knees on the concrete, contorted at all angles making the plumbing job sound. We lit candles for him, handed him a cold beer and a fresh towel, and asked him to christen the maiden voyage.

Soon it was my turn and I filled it as far as it could go, almost to the point of spilling over (no wimpy modern overflow for me). The little children joined me, and splashed, and paddled, and giggled, and spit water in my face. We stayed in the tub until we were waterlogged, toes and fingers puckered. I would drain just a bit of water now and then and add pure hot while the kids huddled at the other end. I thought of the hired hot water pourer in the king’s court and realized now luxurious this bathtub really was.

I often lie in the tub and wonder who bathed in it long before me, mothers, children, farm laborers, family dogs. I am part of the bathtub’s legacy, its silent history made up of my father and his improvisation, my long private soaks that are so rare and revitalizing, my friend’s help, my children’s laughter, all wrapped up in a story built to last.

A bathtub like that is not about instant gratification. Even a bathtub can teach us lessons about permanence, peace, and the joys of relaxing. Right now stop what ever you are doing and go have a long soak. Or at the very least close your eyes and imagine the warm water lapping your chin, the fizz of bubbles, the sweet honey light of a glowing candles...close your eyes and breathe...

just 1 thing...

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:06:00 +0000

Hygge Interiors has a love child, a non-profit called "1" (itonlytakes1.blogspot.com) that is essentially a community where activists and interested parties can gather together and create a village of ideas, ideas on how to save the world and its people by committing yourself to doing just 1 thing. Poverty is the number one cause of environmental pollution, illness and despair on the planet, and it takes so little to make a difference. Recently 1 has teamed up with Heifer International in a drive to bring awareness to the situation through blogger supported posts during Bloggers Unite.
Can you spare just 1 minute to check it out? It's that easy to make a world of difference.

The following post is from 1.

Letter from a starving child

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:20:00 +0000

Hello, hola, marhaban, jambo, ni hao, namaste, konnichi wa, ya’at’eeh,

My name is Lindsey, Juan, Amani, Matu, Guiren , Shanti, Akira, Olathe,

I live in America, Honduras, Iraq, Kenya, China, India, Nepal, Japan, on the Reservation,

I am five, eleven, eight, fifteen, two, seven, thirteen, three years old.

I am hungry.

My mother is a crack addict, a refugee, a widow, dying of AIDS, unable to find work , a prostitute, beaten, hopeless, an alcoholic.

My father is unable to find work, gone, a soldier, an alcoholic, doing the best he can, a drug addict, a farmer, abusive, dead.

I am hungry.

Outside my window I see concrete and dirt, I see trees and scrawny chickens, I see war, I see tin shanties and empty water spigots, I see smog, I see children not much older than me selling themselves, I see dying villages, I see factories, I see dust and trailers.

I am hungry.

But I am just a child so I believe that things will get better. I have hope that someone will help me, will help my family. I do not understand why I am hungry.

Soon I will give up.

Soon I will work in the fields or the streets.

Soon I will get sick.

Soon I will die.

But not yet.

Please help me.

I am just like your child. I cannot help myself.

I am just like your child except…

I am hungry.

Every minute children all over the world are dying of malnutrition and neglect. In just 1 minute you can make a difference that may actually save a child’s life. Not a child on a commercial, or in an ad, or created by a campaign. A real child just like you were, just like your own…with hopes, and dreams, and small fingers and toes, and eyes that see, and a desire to live longer than just tomorrow.

Take just 1 minute and give just 1 dollar. Together You and I and Heifer International can help them.

Please. It only takes 1.

For resources on how to help visit

itonlytakes1.blogspot.com

Don't Paint With Poison

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:17:00 +0000

Indoor air can be three times more polluted than outdoor air...

and according to the EPA, is considered one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes are among the leading causes.

Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint.

New environmental regulations, and consumer demand, have led to the development of low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes. Most paint manufacturers now produce one or more non-VOC variety of paint. These new paints are durable, cost-effective and less harmful to human and environmental health. Choosing environmentally friendly paints is critical for people decorating spaces that children will use. Besides reducing reaction from allergies and chemical sensitivities, low VOC paints are better for the environment and offer excellent coverage and easy clean up.

Types of Non-Toxic Paints and Finishes

The term "non-toxic" is used here in its broadest sense. With paints and finishes, it's more a matter of degree. Even Zero-VOC formulations contain some small amounts of toxins. Here are three general categories of non-toxic (or low-toxic) paints: Natural Paints, Zero VOC, and Low VOC

Natural Paints and Finishes

These are paints made from natural raw ingredients such as water, plant oils and resins, plant dyes and essential oils; natural minerals such as clay, chalk and talcum; milk casein, natural latex, bees' wax, earth and mineral dyes. Water-based natural paints give off almost no smell. The oil-based natural paints usually have a pleasant fragrance of citrus or essential oils. Allergies and sensitivities to these paints is uncommon. These paints are the safest for your health and for the environment.

The Real Milk Paint Company - non-toxic paint made with milk protein, lime, clay and earth pigments. www.realmilkpaint.com
Aglaia - plant-based natural paints and finishes for many applications. Available throughout the UK. No US distribution. (www.aglaiapaint.com)
Livos - organic paint, stains, oils and waxes made using all natural ingredients. Coatings are linseed oil and citrus oil based, non toxic, low VOC and are designed primarily for wood. (www.livos.us)
Auro - solvent-free, water-based natural paints and primers, finishes, stains and adhesives. Ships to US and Canada. (www.auro.ca)
EcoDesign's BioShield - line of natural paints and finishes. (www.bioshieldpaint.com)
Weather-Bos - line of natural stains, finishes and paints. Blends of natural oils and resins designed to adhere to the wood, forming a monolithic bond. (www.weatherbos.com)
SoyGuard - soy-based exterior stains, water repellants and sealers for wood surfaces. (www.soyguard.com)
Silacote - made from natural mineral compounds, for use on masonry, concrete and wallboard; interior/exterior. (www.silacote.com)
Anna Sova - natural paints from milk casein, titanium dioxide and food-grade ingredients. (www.annasova.com)
Green Planet Paints - high performance natural paints for interiors based on plants and minerals. (www.greenplanetpaints.com)

Zero VOC

Any paint with VOC's in the range of 5 grams/litre or less can be called "Zero VOC", according to the EPA Reference Test Method 24. Some manufacturers may claim "Zero-VOC's", but these paints may still use colorants, biocides and fungicides with some VOC's.
Adding a color tint usually brings the VOC level up to 10 grams/liter, which is still quite low.

AFM Safecoat - Flat interior latex; semi-gloss interior enamel. www.afmsafecoat.com (800-239-0321) ICI Lifemaster 2000 - Flat, Eggshell, semi-gloss interior; primer.(800 984-5444)
Best Paint Company - Zero-VOC Interior paints, primers and specialty products (faux glaze, varnish replacement, etc) and Low-VOC Exterior paints and primers. (www.bestpaintco.com)
ICI Decra-Shield - exterior zero-VOC paints. (800 984-5444)
Kelly-Moore Enviro-Cote - ENVIRO-COTE line of paints are zero-VOC. (916 921-0165)
Devoe Wonder Pure - odor-free interior acrylic latex paints. (www.devoepaint.com)
Ecoshield- Zero-VOC, low odor, ethylene glycol-free interior paints. Primer, flat, low-sheen, and semi-gloss. Manufactured by Dunn-Edwards. (www.dunnedwards.com)
American Pride - Zero-VOC interior latex and acrylic enamel paints. (www.americanpridepaint.com)
Sherwin Williams - new HARMONY line of zero-VOC low-odor latex interior paints. Flat, eggshell, semi-gloss and primer. (www.sherwin.com)
Frazee Paint EnviroKote - line of interior zero-VOC paints: semi-gloss, flat, and primer.
Allied PhotoChemical - supplies zero-VOC, UV-curable paints, inks and coatings to manufacturers. (www.alliedphotochemical.com)
Olympic Paint and Stain - Zero-VOC Olympic Premium interior line.
Yolo Colorhouse - Zero-VOC, low-odor, premium interior paint. (yolocolorhouse.com)
Green Planet Paints - Zero-VOC, clay-based interior paints. (greenplanetpaints.com)
Benjamin Moore Pristine EcoSpec - Zero-VOC, under 1 gram/liter. Flat, eggshell, semi-gloss finishes and a primer.
Mythic Paints - Zero-VOC, interior and exterior paints, primers. (mythicpaint.com)
Homestead Paints - Zero-VOC, flat and low-sheen interior paints. (homesteadhouse.ca)
EarthSafePaints - Zero- and Low-VOC line of craft paints and finishes, marine finishes, home decor paints. (earthsafefinishes.com)

Low VOC

Low VOC paints, stains and varnishes use water as a carrier instead of petroleum-based solvents. As such, the levels of harmful emissions are lower than solvent-borne surface coatings. These certified coatings also contain no, or very low levels, of heavy metals and formaldehyde. The amount of VOC's varies among different "low-VOC" products, and is listed on the paint can or MSDS. Paints and stains, to meet EPA standards. must not contain VOCs in excess of 200 grams per litre. Varnishes must not contain VOCs in excess of 300 grams per liter. As a general rule, low VOC paints marketed by reputable paint manufacturers usually meet the 50 g/L VOC threshold. Paints with the Green Seal Standard (GS-11) mark are certified lower than 50 g/L (for flat sheen) or 150 g/L (for non-flat sheen).
Low VOC paints will still emit an odor until dry. If you are particularly sensitive, make sure the paint you buy contains fewer than 25 grams/liter of VOC's.

Benjamin Moore Aura - Low VOC, covers most surfaces in a single coat, durable, scrubbable. (www.myaurapaints.com)
Benjamin Moore Saman - Water-based wood stains
Cloverdale Horizon - Flat, Eggshell, Semi-Gloss interior enamels
Cloverdale EcoLogic - Low VOC, under 10 grams/liter. Flat, Eggshell, Semi-Gloss interior.
Miller Paint - Acro solvent-free interior acrylic line
Vista Paint - Carefree Earth Coat line
PPG Architectural Finishes - Pittsburgh Paints Pure Performance line
OIKOS Paints - Interior and exterior paints, low voc, solvent-free. (www.oikos-paint.com)
Timber Ox Green - vegetable oil based, low voc wood stain and preservatives. (www.timberoxinfo.com)

Ethylene Glycol

A solvent used in latex paints, is listed as a hazardous substance and a toxic air contaminant under many federal and state regulations. A clear, colorless, odorless liquid, ethylene glycol and its vapor can be toxic to humans. Exposure may cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and allergic reactions are possible. Overexposure could lead to nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, coma, and respiratory failure. Repeated overexposure can permanently damage the kidneys. Among the major latex paint brands, the full line of Dunn-Edwards paints is ethylene glycol-free.

Non-toxic Paint Strippers

Most paint strippers are caustic - they work by melting the paint. The active ingredient, methylene chloride, is a potential carcinogen.
A new generation of biodegradable paint strippers is now entering the market. They are water-soluble, noncaustic and nontoxic - some can even be washed down the drain.

Some examples are:

CitriStrip - from Specialty Environmental Technologies, in Auburn Hills, MI.
Woodfinisher's Pride - from W.M.Barr & Co, in Memphis, TN.
Ameristrip - from Safe Alternatives Corp, in Ridgefield, CT.
Peel Away - from Dumond Chemicals, in New York. (212-869-6350)
RemovAll and Bio-Wash - from Napier Environmental Technologies in Vancouver BC.
The active ingredient in these products is N-Methylpyrrolidone, an organic solvent. Rather than burning or melting, the compound chemically changes the paint itself, softening
The downside? These new strippers are more expensive than their traditional counterparts, and they take longer to work.

This information was cheerfully borrowed from Earth Easy www.eartheasy.com THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENT INFORMATION!

Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:55:00 +0000

Always good to know what you're talking about.
The original Bioviva board game, the most recognized eco game of all time with 13 international awards. Combining tremendous fun with learning about science, nature and the environment, Bioviva is a popular game loved by many. Players travel the world laughing at some of nature's strangest scientific facts while learning to be environmentally friendly.
from zolagoods.com

Becca Stool made of sustainable bamboo from Vivena.

Elephant parade sheets from 2modern's eco- line. organic cotton and elephants...what could be better?

Origen lamp made of...can you believe it?...recycled egg cartons. Cool.

Art easel by a super company called Eco tots. Made with sustainable wood and using construction that doesn't require nuts and bolts. A snap to assemble. www.ecotots.com

Save (a little bit of) the World

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth, Jordan, Libby, Mom) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Many years ago when I had more time to be aware, I discovered a book called “the Culture of Make Believe” by Derrick Jensen. It was a horrific tome full of meticulous details and passionate discourse on the history of hate and the turning of a blind eye. It recounted the effects of everything from arms dealing to consumer indulgence in slave labor chocolate. It pointed a long and fearsome finger and implicated everyone, even the middle class suburban housewife in the wholesale destruction of humanity.

I was shocked and moved profoundly. I carried a dog eared and well-worn copy around with me and would tearfully open it and read to anyone who would listen, particularly shoppers at Walmart and unsuspecting friends that dropped by for coffee (coffee picked by small brown child hands ). My teenage daughter remembers it as a time when I made her play with wooden toys and she couldn’t drink Nestle’s chocolate milk. I was indulged to an extent, but certain information crossed a line, some of it was too terrible to hear and process, most of it was just asking for us to give up something we liked too much.

We do not like the truth. It is, as has been said, inconvenient. And so over time They-That- Must-Promote-Things have learned to give us sound bites and small doses so that we can muddle through and make a few small attempts to change things all while feeling good about ourselves.

Saving the earth sounds like an enormous task to me, impossible really to comprehend. I am only one of a several, several billion people, another grain of sand. What does it mean to someone starving in Darfur that I recycle my Pepsi can? Who am I saving the world for exactly… and is there something more important I could be doing?

Don’t misunderstand, there are many good reasons for going green, not the least of which is improving the environment that our children live in. But the most important implication in the green movement seems to me to be an acceptance of responsibility.

Because we are well fed, healthy, and relatively free and wealthy Americans (there are countries where food stamps seem like wealth), we are able to make choices, choices that improve the quality of our life, our neighbors life, and make the air and water and land a little healthier. But perhaps the real revolution taking place in the green movement is that we are learning to care about something beyond ourselves , teaching our children to care, to act, to try and make a difference no matter what the odds.

Going green is an investment in each other and in the future, both of which we are really beginning to believe in. If we can learn to respect our own piece of the world we may be able to learn to care for other parts of it as well.

What it really means to “go green”:

Where’d you get that dress!?

Those clothes on your back, the latest togs from Old Navy, Gap, Hot topic, Target. Someone grew those fibers and someone else made them into a garment. Frequently those someones are people whose responsibilities, if they were American, would include doing their homework and getting enough sleep at night. Sometimes they work alongside their mothers who are also making pennies a day. The land that cotton is grown on has been farmed to the hilt and is chock full of pesticides which the pickers come in contact with every day of their lives. Beyond the humanitarian issue lies the fact that importing foreign cheaply made goods into our country also requires fossil fuels.

Guilty Pleasures

The United States is one of the largest importers of cocoa, coffee, and tea in the world. To meet the demands of the first world, young boys from the ages of twelve are stolen from their homes by slave traders and sold to farmers in places such as the Ivory Coast of Africa. They work day and night under inhumane conditions. The majority of our cocoa and coffee products in this country have their origins in slave labor. That’s slave labor…no pay. Suddenly smores don’t seem quite so wonderful.

Timber!

Most of us know that forests are an important source of biodiversity. They offer undiscovered foods, medicines and other useful natural chemicals are present in these ecosystems. Forests are the habitat for millions of organisms, many of which are unknown to science. A fortune lies untapped in these places, not to mention many creatures under threat of extinction. Not everyone thinks of the fact that many native cultures have lived sustainably off of these ecosystems for thousands of years. Now they are lured by the chance to make some quick cash. They are selling off their culture and their livelihood for a pittance. Old growth forests take many lifetimes to reach maturity. What is given away cannot be retrieved in this lifetime and will alter the course of entire cultures.

Not a drop to drink.

There is a worldwide shortage of water. Only 6% of the world’s water is usable for drinking and agriculture and that must supply 100% of the population. 70% of that fresh water is used for growing crops and raising livestock. As more people in emerging economies gain middle-class lifestyles, they will consume more milk, eggs, chicken and beef, "which is much more water-intensive than the simpler diets they are replacing." About 5 million people die each year from poor drinking water, poor sanitation, or a dirty home environment -- often resulting from water shortage.

Isn’t that enough?

There are a hundred more problems and a hundred more after that. The average American consuming produce shipped from distant destinations across the world ingests about two gallons of pesticide a year.

Lead batteries and other refuse we put into landfills seeps into our groundwater poisoning our children, other garbage is carried out to sea and finds its way onto beaches across the planet.

Mining and metal processing to meet consumer demand of goods (uranium for medical needs, metals for factories)has some of the worst affects on people and the planet, resulting in toxic waste that infiltrates our air land and water and those workers and their families that live near it.

Urban air pollution indoors and out has caused an increase in asthma, allergies and many other respiratory diseases.

These problems affect everyone everywhere, in this country and in others we can only imagine. Children are affected more deeply by pollution than adults. They are smaller and more physiologically susceptible to environmental risks. Children only make up 10% of the world’s population though over 40% of the global burden of disease falls on them.

It is easy to put your recycling out at the curb and change to compact fluorescent light bulbs, it is more difficult to give up some of your favorite guilty pleasures. You may tell yourself that the Hershey bar in your hands was harvested by a child laborer but somehow that doesn’t seem real. Going green is so much more than just buying organic. It is a recognition of the effect we all have on each other, on our position on the great web of life that wraps around this planet.

Those of us that can make choices shoulder the burden of making the right ones. This is the hardest part of the truth. What you’re doing right now could be hurting someone small and helpless somewhere right now. Learn to do the right thing. Teach your children well. Teach them to be activists and not victims so that they can take that lesson out into the larger world, a world that we are saving one small part at a time.

What you really can do to help.

Knowledge is power. Get on the internet, go to the library, find out what is really going on in the world.

Buy organic whenever possible, clothes, toys, food. Large inexpensive chain stores now carry very affordable green options.

Look for items that are made locally or in this country, that helps the environment and the economy.

If you are building, or buying furniture look for items that are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved using sustainable practices. Bamboo flooring and reclaimed woods are wonderful alternatives to old growth woods such as oak.

For a list of slavery free chocolates (such as Newman’s Own) go to http://ihscslnews.org/view_article.php?id+62

Reduce Reuse Recycle. Everything. Don’t buy what you don’t need. Be a wise consumer.

Do something, anything; one small change can (literally) make a world of difference.

For more ideas and information check out these sources:

How to go green- http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green

World pollution report- http://www.worstpolluted.org/

Eco options for children- http://www.inhabitatshop.com/kids-baby/

Water Shortage- http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/zarticles/322watershortage.html

Stop chocolate slavery- http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery/index.html

Forest Stewardship Council- http://www.fscus.org/

Air pollution- http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/pollution-main.html