Be Back Soon…

Due to some family issues, I will be taking a break from blogging for a little while.  Please keep my family and I in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you to everyone for your support.

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`·.¸. Organic City Girl ♥
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O.A.R.ganic

Last night my family and I went to the Citizen Cope and O.A.R. concert at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston.  With gorgeous weather and a waterfront view, I couldn’t have asked for a better outdoor concert setting!

Wandering around the venue there was a ton of food, drinks, promotional tents and excited fans, so before the show started I stopped by one of the O.A.R. tents to see what all the buzz was about.  In talking with the tent guys they told me that O.A.R. and the SAIC have teamed up to promote their eco-friendly campaign, The O.A.R. Green Dream.

Now in its second year, the campaign is making it even easier to recycle during the O.A.R. concerts with multiple recycling stations at every show.  O.A.R.’s goal is to raise awareness about recycling and educate their fans about the environmental impact they can have on their communities.  To help get fans excited about recycling, the band is raffling off 4th row tickets, tons of freebies and providing helpful information in the Green Dream Eco-Village tents at every show.

So far the campaign has been able to collect over 10,000 lbs. of recyclable materials!  Knowing how environmentally-friendly this band is makes listening to my favorite songs like “This Town” and “Hey Girl’ even better.  Make sure you check out the tour schedule to see if you can catch O.A.R. in your city!  Here are some quick pictures from our night….

We had an amazing night and did our part by recycling our cans and bottles at the end of the show!  Have you heard of other bands promoting similar campaigns to help the environment?  Let me know, I would love to check them out!

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`·.¸. Organic City Girl ♥
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Pump Up Your Protein…But Read Your Labels First!

My morning routine is…well it’s just that, a routine.  Wake up at 6 a.m., hit the gym, shower up, make a protein shake and head into the office.  I don’t really think about what I’m doing, it’s just engrained in me that this is what I do everyday.  I never stop to think about mixing it up or question my activities before 9 a.m.  Until this morning… In the middle of sipping on my usual protein shake, I stopped and wondered, what the heck is in this thing.  I know it’s a vanilla-flavored whey protein isolate, tastes pretty good blended up with a banana and almond butter and a trainer recommended it to me way back in the day to help build lean muscle, but that’s where my knowledge of all things protein ends. After a little research, I found out that most protein powders, including the one I had for breakfast are filled with ingredients I have never heard of and couldn’t even begin to pronounce.  These “healthy” shakes are packed full of gluten, preservatives, artificial color, artificial flavor and artificial sweeteners.  AHHHHH!  Time to find an organic option!  So, I checked out a number of reviews, made some calls and found two brands I’m going to pick up this weekend.

The first is Navitas Naturals Organic Raw Hemp Powder.  Made from finely-milled natural hempseed, this powder is a great additional to breakfast smoothies or baked goods.  Navitas Naturals hemp protein is made out of 100% pure hemp seed with no fillers or additives, and is raw, kosher, gluten-free, vegan, and 100% organic.  Can’t wait to check it out! And another brand that gets great reviews is Biochem’s Green’s and Whey and Hemp and Whey.  While not organic, these powders are all natural and do not contain any yeast, wheat, gluten, starch, preservatives, artificial colors, artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners.  Unlike the Navitas Natural brand, the Biochem protein comes in chocolate or vanilla, perfect for when I don’t have easy access to a blender and just want a plain shake.

In addition to protein powder, I also try to get protein from other sources including organic meat, nuts, soy, edamame, etc.  Mid afternoon I am always craving something sweet, healthy and filling.  I usually go for a handful of organic blueberries or raw almonds, but one afternoon I was really craving chocolate (okay..I’m always craving chocolate, but on this particular day I HAD to have some).  So, instead of grabbing a Reese’s cup from my cube mate’s candy bowl, I wandered into the office cafeteria and grabbed a NuGo Organic protein bar.   These protein bars come in three amazing flavors…Double Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Almond and my absolutely favorite, Dark Chocolate Pomegranate! Normally protein bars taste like dirt or chalk to me, and the “chocolate” flavoring does nothing for my sweet tooth, but NuGO bars are made with real, antioxidant-rich, delicious dark chocolate and sweetened with tapioca and agave syrup!  One bite and I was in love! Not only are they made from organic ingredients and yummy, but each bar packs in 10 grams of protein and the cacao dark chocolate helps neutralize free radicals and protect your body from cell damage.  These bars even take it one step further by being vegan-friendly and Kosher!  Geez…that’s a lot of awesome for a less than 200 calorie afternoon treat!

Ever tried a hemp based protein powder or another all-natural/organic type?  I would love to hear your protein shake recipe ideas!

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`·.¸. Organic City Girl ♥
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Mmmmm…Organic Sushi Roll(erblading?)

Tuesday night was Todd’s first night in town after my dad had driven up from Florida with him.  Excited to kick off the summer festivities, we drove to Stoneham to buy two pairs of rollerblades from Play It Again Sports.  Yes, blades are making a comeback this summer and are actually more fun now than they were when I was 8!  Double bonus, we bought used blades to be a more eco-friendly and now can cruise all over town this summer pollution-free.  We have already checked-out the Charles River front and a good majority of Brookline.

After our big adventure north of the city, we popped into my absolute FAVORITE sushi restaurant in Coolidge Corner, Genki Ya.  The fabulous, fresh and organic ingredients make this sushi unforgettable and the presentation is that of a five star restaurant with prices to match.  Thankfully, Genki Ya delivers this amazing quality and experience at fast food prices (we are talking $5 and $6 for eight pieces!)

Todd and I both have a hard time resisting a good plate of sushi, but toss in all organic ingredients, a swanky décor, great prices and amazing service…check please! Like always, Genki Ya didn’t disappoint.  Here are just a few of their wonderful specialty rolls:

After Todd raved about how cool all of their rolls are, like the Caterpillar and the Volcano, he finally decided on the salmon and avocado roll and two pieces of ahi tuna nigiri.  Not a fan of seafood, I devoured a few sushi alternatives to raw fish including the delicious fruit roll, made with mango, banana and avocado, and a grilled chicken and cucumber roll with eel sauce and brown rice.  Yummy!

Genki Ya’s high quality, healthy and delicious sushi is made with organic vegetables, naturally grown poultry, seafood with no additives, and various kinds of rice (including brown, multi-grain, and white rice).  They don’t use any trans fat, MSG, and other man-made raw materials in their prep or cooking.  And did I mention their organic sake?!  The sparkling pear sake is definitely an obsession of mine!

Looking forward to hearing about your favorite rolls and local spots to grab sushi.  A few other great spots in Brookline are Mr. Sushi and Fugakyu.  Have you ever tried making sushi at home?  I’m dying to try!

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`·.¸. Organic City Girl ♥
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Yogini in Training

I wanted to start out by saying sorry about the two-week blogging break…I had a few family things going on that kept me from posting, but everything is great now and I’m right back at it!  Today’s post is about one of my favorite relaxing activities, yoga.

I have always been intrigued by yoga and interested in the yogini lifestyle.  I love what it stands for (a disciplined pursuit of transcendence) and the relaxed and tranquil state you are in after a great practice.  Some key principles of yoga include relaxation, exercise, mindful breathing, a balanced diet, positive thinking and meditation.

Listening to the Tranquility du Jour podcast also helped inspire my love of yoga.  The show features tips on how to make the most of each day and integrate your yoga practice into your lifestyle on and off the yoga mat.  Kimberly Wilson, the podcast host, does an awesome job of combining great topics with a pose of the podcast and some perfect ideas for living a more mindful life.

Since living in Boston, the only yoga I have done has been at home with my P90x videos and a few other yoga DVDs I have lying around.  So, I was so excited when my friend, Melanie, invited me to check out the South Boston Yoga Studio with her last Sunday night.  Located in Boston’s trendy South End, SBYS is in Boston’s first fully green certified (LEED) building!

After Coco and Rocky (Melanie’s adorable puppy) had a play date, we headed over to studio for the hour and a half long gentle/beginners class.  This class, taught by fabulous instructor Tom Hogan, was designed to be a relaxing practice that incorporates the foundations of a solid yoga practice.  With the description assuring us that it would be suitable for beginners, new students, and advanced practitioners looking to complement a more vigorous practice, we were pretty sure we could keep up.

After a full body stretch, multiple vinyasas and a cool down, complete with some humming/chanting, Melanie and I were feeling very Zen.  While I usually don’t consider yoga the most intense work out in terms of burning up calories, I was definitely sore the next day from the unique poses and stretches.

One thing I wanted to mention was that our first visit to the studio was free and included a free mat rental.  I would definitely recommend trying out a few locations before signing up for a class because its a great way to check out the studio, see if you liked the class style and get a feel for the instructors!

If you are thinking about trying out a local studio or practicing in your own home, here are some yoga essentials I love:

1. While most studios will rent or provide yoga mats for you to use, I prefer to bring my own and found a great eco-friendly yoga mat from the Barefoot Yoga Company that is adorable, affordable and sustainable (what more could you ask for?)

2. Hydration is huge when you are practicing yoga, so I make sure to bring my KOR ONE hydration vessel to every class.  I love this BPA free water bottle in orchid pink!

3. Cute yoga clothes!  While not really an essential, having cute workout clothes does make it more fun when heading to the studio.  A cute tank or yoga pants always seems to perk up my motivation for getting my plank pose on.  I love Blue Canoe’s collection of organic cotton yoga and active clothes.

Looking forward to hearing about your first time with yoga, your continued practice and/or your favorite pose.  Namaste!

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`·.¸. Organic City Girl ♥
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Mother/Daughter Weekend in Beantown!

Living far from my southern roots is definitely different.   In addition to missing good-ole-southern BBQ and consistent humidity, the hardest thing about my cross country move is not being able to see my family nearly as much as I’m used to.  Fortunately, traveling to see each other got easier when JetBlue added a direct flight from Jacksonville to Boston last year.  With JetBlue’s green initiatives, pet-friendly policies, amazing complimentary snacks, in-flight television and stellar service this quick 2-hour flight makes flying back and forth an absolute pleasure!

Because we are so close, my family has been great about coming to visit me and my new pad!  In fact, last weekend my mom flew in for a much-needed grown-up girl’s weekend in Boston.

We had an amazing time walking all over the city and popping into little boutiques like Bobbles & Lace in the North End and Sabon Bath & Body on Newbury Street.  The weekend was also filled with amazing local food, drinks and desserts at Boston staples like Ristorante Fiore, Joe’s American Bar & Grill, Zaftigs Jewish Delicatessen and Top of the Hub (Boston Cream Pie…mmm).

But my favorite part of the weekend was stumbling upon our first Boston farmer’s market in Copley Square!  I have been anxiously waiting for the Brookline farmer’s market to open on June 17^th (this Thursday!) and was excited to find out that Boston is filled with farmer’s markets in the summer!

Packed with local, organic and eco-friendly food, pottery, herbs and flowers, we and had a blast roaming around to all of the vendors booths and sampling all the delicious goodies.

We loved Old Friends Farm’s stunning fresh flowers…

…Especially the delicate Bells of Ireland!

Next stop was Deborah’s Kitchen, where we got to check out her 100% all-natural and spreadable fruit.

And finally, after filling up on tasty treats we found the Siena Farms booth filled with gorgeous fresh produce, spices and nuts.

Most of the markets have already opened, but there are still a few more that are kicking off there season this week!  If you are in the area, here are a few to check out:

• South End/SOWA (Sundays)
• Copley Square (Tuesdays and Fridays)
• Kendall Square  (Wednesdays)
• Prudential Center (Thursdays)
• Boston City Hall Plaza (Mondays and Wednesdays)
• Cambridge Charles Square (Sundays)
• Central Square, Cambridge (Mondays)
• South Station/Dewey Square  (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
• Roslindale/Adams Park (Saturdays)
• Cambridge Charles Square (Fridays)
• Opens June 15^th: Harvard University Farmers’ Market, Cambridge (Tuesdays)
• Opens June 16^th: Brookline/Coolidge Corner (Thursdays)

For a complete list, check out MassFarmersMarkets.org

I love that farmer’s markets offer local people a chance to showcase and sell products and goods that stem from their hard work and passion.  I’ll definitely be posting soon about my trip to the Brookline farmer’s market this week!  Have you ever participated in a farmer’s market in your hometown?  I’d love to hear about it!

And Mom, thanks for a great weekend…it was a blast exploring Boston with you and was well worth the sore feet this week!  Come back up soon…Love you!

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`·.¸. Organic City Girl ♥
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Flowers that Haven’t Forgotten Their Roots

Whether you are giving them to friend or family member to celebrate a special occasion or picking out a bunch for yourself to bring some color and life into your home, it’s pretty much impossible not to smile when you see a bright bouquet of flowers.  There is just something about a flowers natural beauty and fragrance that lifts spirits and instills a sense of calm.

Some of my favorite varieties for this summer are…

Chartreuse Roses

Yellow Calla Lillies

and Pink Hydrangea

But all flowers are not created equal.  In fact, while some people may think that the blossoms in general are eco-friendly and organic, reality is quite contrary.  The harmful pesticides and chemicals used to help flowers maintain their fresh, unblemished appearances can be devastating on the environment.  And since the majority of flowers sold in the U.S. each year are imported from countries like Colombia and Ecuador, the extremely carcinogenic farming practices (that are banned in the U.S.) can not be regulated.  Additionally, many flower farm workers in these countires are treated poorly and subject to harsh conditions and poisonous chemicals on a daily basis.

Thankfully, in order to create sustainability standards for flowers, multiple eco-labeling programs have been created including, VeriFlora, an independently run program that checks farms for toxic chemicals, environmental protections and good employee treatment.   Of the 4 Billion flowers sold each year in the U.S., almost 30 percent are now certified through VeriFlora.  While the trend is slowly taking off, it’s great to see that farmers are now thinking about a triple bottom line that includes environment protection, social responsibility and economic factors.

To take it one step further, why not cut out the wasted energy involved in flying and trucking flowers over great distances and buy from local farmers just down the road from you.  This way, the flowers you are buying are not only fresher than those grown in faraway greenhouses, but they are healthier for the people who grow them and healthier for the people who enjoy them.  Check out Local Harvest to find organic flower growers in your area!

My favorite local farm is Allandale Farm in Brookline, MA.  TJ and I went there in October to pick out some festive pumpkins and just stopped by the other day to check out their summer farmstand and garden center selections.  This place is a little slice of heaven with the freshest products, amazing staff and an adorably charming setting!

And if you are looking to send a bouquet to someone you care about, check out Organic Bouquet.  This online retailer sells organically grown flowers that are gentle on the earth and safeguard ecology, while bundling it all up in sustainable, biodegradable, green packaging that is innovative and stylish.  All of the Companies products, from floral arrangements and gourmet gifts to home accessories, have been certified by third-party agencies, such as USDA, Fair Trade or Rainforest Alliance.  The Company even has a selection of bouquets for good where 5% of your purchase gets donated to specific charities.  I love this summery bouquet that helps support The Wilderness Society!

So go ahead and freshen up your city apartment, country ranch or suburban home with a cheerful bunch or organic flowers and help spread the eco-friendly love around!  I’d love to hear what you all think and if you have a favorite local flower shop, store or farm!

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`·.¸. Organic City Girl ♥
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Boston’s Crunchy Side: EarthFest 2010

Waking up last Saturday to a gorgeous summer morning I couldn’t wait to get to my first outdoor festival in Boston.  Channeling my inner hippie I headed down to Radio 92.9’s EarthFest 2010 with over 100,000 of my closest environmentally-conscious Bostonian friends to enjoy some great food, music and hopefully soak up some much needed sunshine.

Walking up to the event I was hit by a wave of nostalgia as some of my favorite bands from the 90’s rocked out in the DCR Hatch Shell amphitheater.  Collective Soul, Gin Blossoms, Crash Kings and Marcy Playground played throughout the day at the free outdoor event presented by Whole Foods Market.

Wandering through the park, nestled right alongside the Charles River, I got a county fair-esque vibe with an organic twist that found incredibly refreshing.  Showcasing environmentally friendly products, groups and activities for both adults and kids, EarthFest 2010 was the perfect chance for me to check out the latest eco-friendly campaigns.  Some great exhibitors that I already use on a regular basis and absolutely adore included Zipcar, Odwalla, Seventh Generation, Honest Tea, PHYTO hair products, Chipotle and Smart Water/VitaminWater.

But my favorite booth of the afternoon was Zico, where I got to check out the Companies new sports drink made from pure coconut water. With five essential electrolytes, more potassium than a banana, low acidity, no fat, no sugar added, and no cholesterol, ZICO is an all-natural way to hydrate and replenish after a workout and on top of all that, it tastes amazing!

I was also excited to find out that the coordinators of EarthFest 2010 practiced what they preached while planning for the large volume of people.  The event was produced in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, who helped Radio 92.9 implement environmental programs to minimize any negative impacts of the large gathering.  The station set up a comprehensive recycling program managed by Casella Waste Systems and also developed a carbon offset initiative to help protect Mother Earth.  And, to encourage concertgoers to use bikes as an alternative to driving to the festival, Mass Bike and International Bike Center staffed an onsite free bike-valet program.  

EarthFest 2010 was a great way to chill out on a beautiful Saturday in Boston and this quote sums up the day perfectly!

“The 17th annual Radio 92.9 EarthFest is meant as a celebration, honoring all of the individuals who are making a commitment to conserving and protecting the Earth’s resources,” said Ken West, program director at Radio 92.9. “This free event will help celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and remind people that even in tough economic times, it’s important for all of us to remember that we have a role in preserving the planet for generations to come.”

I love that I live in a city that takes the environment seriously and is working hard to promote its protection.  It was awesome to see how many people came out to support a good cause and enjoy a great day outdoors.   I’ll definitely be back next year…hopefully with a canoe to lounge in!

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`·.¸. Organic City Girl ♥
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Family Ties

“After a girl is grown, her little brother – now her protector – seems like a big brother.” – Author Unknown

My little brother has been my best friend since he was born.

Back when we were little, we built tree forts, played sports and I’m sure drove our mom crazy with our endless energy.   

As we both became teenagers, I taught him about girls, some basic rules of fashion (we are still working on not mixing brown and black) and how NOT to drive a car!

Now, my once little brother, towers over me at 6’1!  Yes Mom, you were right, he probably could beat me up now…but let’s not tell him that.   When he started college last fall at UF, we talked about football games, Greek life and how much harder his major was going to be than mine (I’m all for organic, but organic chemistry…no thank you!).

When life intervened and my little brother was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma a month into his freshman year, the plan changed a bit, but his witty personality always helped lighten the mood.

His journey this past year hasn’t been an easy one, but personal phone calls and signed Gator helmets from Tim Tebow, amazing friends and family, a new boat and his incredible attitude have made this experience life changing for both of us.

Instead of me teaching him about college life and how to soak it all up one day at a time…he has showed me how to appreciate the small things every day and is my biggest motivation and inspiration to go organic!

After 15 treatments, I really can’t believe that today is his last day of chemotherapy and that in less than a month he will be up in Boston to spend the summer with me!  The time has flown by and for that I am very thankful.

I love you little one and I’m so proud of the guy you’ve become.  Now hurry up here!

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`·.¸. Organic City Girl ♥
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A Snack You (and the Earth) Can Feel Good About

One of the best things about living in a large city is being able to walk to the grocery store.  In fact, within a mile radius of my apartment, I can cruise on over to Trader Joe’s (mmm!), Star Market or  Stop & Shop!

While roaming the aisles on my weekly shopping excursion Sunday night I discovered the loudest and thinnest chip bag I have ever picked up!  Apparently SunChips, one of my favorite snacks, has reinvented their packaging and to my delight the Company has created the first fully compostable (100% biodegradable) chip bag!

Without hesitating, I bought a bag of the garden salsa for “research” purposes…  I couldn’t help myself!  Not only are SunChips an incredible snack to munch on while watching Lost and 24, but now on top of the great flavor, the Company is taking social responsibility and green initiatives to the next level.  I love it!

The new chip bag material is made from PLA (polylactic acid), a corn-based polymer made by NatureWorks.  The Company claims that the material is the “world’s first and only performance plastic made from 100% annually renewable resources.”  The bag is even certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute and meets its biodegradable standards for sustainable packaging.

Curious to test out the new bags claim (that it will completely biodegrade in 14 weeks under ideal conditions,) a few of my friends and coworkers gave me the idea to start a compost bin in my apartment to see if it really works.  Assuming I would be setting up a stinky, open container of rotting food and garbage, my boyfriend (quickly) pointed out that our apartment is tiny and a compost pile in the kitchen would become a gross experiment that he would end up cleaning up in a matter of weeks.

Before he could veto my plan, I showed him the Stainless Steel Kitchen Compost Pail from Urban Garden Solutions, an indoor composting bin, perfect for Organic City Girls (and Guys)!  With dual odor-absorbing charcoal filters that are insertable into the lid, he agreed to let me order one for our kitchen.  I can’t wait to try composting all kinds of stuff, including my garden salsa SunChip bag.

The new SunChip motto is “You eat the chips. The earth eats the bag. And we all live in a cleaner world.”  What a great plan, but does it really work?  SunChips did their own experiment when they created the new bag and to prove it does what it supposed to, the Company created this video to show the entire 14 week process:

All natural ingredients, amazing flavors and environmentally-friendly packaging…I’m sold!  I hope more companies step up to the plate and start considering their impact on the earth and their consumers.

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`·.¸. Organic City Girl ♥
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