Saturday, February 28, 2009
Stick your neck out...
...with these skirts. Leave it to Anthropologie to have the perfect printed skirts. In the new March catalog there is a very cute giraffe skirt and a parrot skirt!
Friday, February 27, 2009
He'll ask for a glass of milk...
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a delightful and smart tale of a tiny rodent who always wants more the cookie leads to milk, the milk leads to a straw, the straw leads to a napkin, the napkin leads to a mirror leads to scissors......all winding back to wanting another cookie.
Be mice elf....
Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf) by Sly and the Family Stone is my new favorite song. (And as an added bonus The DMB covers it) Why is it "be mice elf"......what does it mean? And is there a hidden meaning? Absolutely not! It is simply another way of saying: Thank you for letting me be myself!
Check it before you REC it....
Some background info.....
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), also known as Green tags, Renewable Energy Credits, or Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs), are tradable environmental commodities in the United States which represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was renewable (generated from an eligible renewable energy resource).
These certificates can be sold and traded and the owner of the REC can claim to have purchased renewable energy. While traditional carbon emissions trading programs promote low-carbon technologies by increasing the cost of emitting carbon, RECs can incentivize carbon-neutral renewable energy by providing a production subsidy to electricity generated from renewable sources. It is important to understand that the energy associated with a REC is sold separately and is used by another party. The consumer of a REC receives only a certificate.
In states which have a REC program, a green energy provider (such as a wind farm) is credited with one REC for every 1,000 kWh or 1 MWh of electricity it produces (for reference, an average residential customer consumes about 800 kWh in a month). A certifying agency gives each REC a unique identification number to make sure it doesn't get double-counted. The green energy is then fed into the electrical grid (by mandate), and the accompanying REC can then be sold on the open market.
In states which have a REC program, a green energy provider (such as a wind farm) is credited with one REC for every 1,000 kWh or 1 MWh of electricity it produces (for reference, an average residential customer consumes about 800 kWh in a month). A certifying agency gives each REC a unique identification number to make sure it doesn't get double-counted. The green energy is then fed into the electrical grid (by mandate), and the accompanying REC can then be sold on the open market.
*Source Wikipedia
Now that you are fully educated on RECs, are people/company's really willing to buy and sell these things. While there is no official REC czar (per my boss who will remain nameless) in the United States, people/companies are trading these ghost goods. But for what and how are they accounted for, and when do the expire? Do we know for sure? The answer, not exactly but it seems that customers want green options, and some companies want to show that they have green options. One of these companies is Frito Lay with its Sun Chips product. PepsiCo who owns Frito Lay has purchased RECs. These RECs match 100% of the electricity needed to produce SunChips snacks in the U.S. Electricity is one of several energy sources used to produce SunChips snacks.
We have coined the term Sunning the RECs meaning that the RECs have been sunned or consumed through advertising.
But the question is do RECs have a market? Do we as consumers want green? Well, it seems so even major sports teams like the Philadelphia Phillies are jumping on board. They have created a new site to advertise the fact that they have purchase RECs to offset their energy usage. RECs are becoming a marketing tool whether it is simply to attract consumers or really offset carbon we can't be certain but one thing is for sure RECs are here to stay.
We have coined the term Sunning the RECs meaning that the RECs have been sunned or consumed through advertising.But the question is do RECs have a market? Do we as consumers want green? Well, it seems so even major sports teams like the Philadelphia Phillies are jumping on board. They have created a new site to advertise the fact that they have purchase RECs to offset their energy usage. RECs are becoming a marketing tool whether it is simply to attract consumers or really offset carbon we can't be certain but one thing is for sure RECs are here to stay.
Jiminy cricket!
No Jiminy Creek! Stop the presses this ski resort has become a little greener, how you might ask--a windmill! When people go skiing at Jiminy Peak in the Berkshires, there's more than just trees on the horizon. At 378-feet tall, the wind turbine stands taller than the Statue of Liberty and is the only one of its kind on a ski resort in North America. During the winter months, when the wind is strongest, it is estimated that the wind turbine has the capability to generate about half the electricity needed to run Jiminy Peak.
Who'd have thought green snow--much better than its counterpart, yellow snow, that is....
Fast Facts:
How much on average does it generate? 1524 kilowatts
How much did it cost? $4 million with an estimated payback period of 6 years according to Jiminy Peak president
Why? To make a difference if you look at the long term, you can invest in alternative energy that will be good for future generations
Here are some of the basic statistics:
It is a 1.5MW wind turbine capable of producing up to 2,000 H.P. for the snowmaking plant
A 1.5MW wind turbine will provide approximately 33% of the electrical demands of Jiminy Peak annually. During the winter months when the wind resource is the strongest it may provide as much as half of our electrical demand.
The turbine will generate approximately 4,600,000 kWh and Jiminy Peak consumes approximately 7,500,000 kWh a year.
The wind turbine will sit atop a 253 ft tower.
The nacelle that sits on top of the structure and houses the shaft for the blades, the gearbox and the generator is approximately 13 ft wide and 13 ft tall and 26 ft long.
Each of the 3 blades is approximately 123ft, therefore to the tip of the blade the entire structure is 386 feet tall.
Who'd have thought green snow--much better than its counterpart, yellow snow, that is....
Fast Facts:How much on average does it generate? 1524 kilowatts
How much did it cost? $4 million with an estimated payback period of 6 years according to Jiminy Peak president
Why? To make a difference if you look at the long term, you can invest in alternative energy that will be good for future generations
Here are some of the basic statistics:It is a 1.5MW wind turbine capable of producing up to 2,000 H.P. for the snowmaking plant
A 1.5MW wind turbine will provide approximately 33% of the electrical demands of Jiminy Peak annually. During the winter months when the wind resource is the strongest it may provide as much as half of our electrical demand.
The turbine will generate approximately 4,600,000 kWh and Jiminy Peak consumes approximately 7,500,000 kWh a year.
The wind turbine will sit atop a 253 ft tower.
The nacelle that sits on top of the structure and houses the shaft for the blades, the gearbox and the generator is approximately 13 ft wide and 13 ft tall and 26 ft long.
Each of the 3 blades is approximately 123ft, therefore to the tip of the blade the entire structure is 386 feet tall.
The blades will turn a maximum of 22 RPM even in high wind conditions.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Jump for my love!
Well, there is nothing like jumping ahead of the curve when it comes to fashion and all things in life. Last summer I bought a jumpsuit, yes jumpsuit. I know you are all thinking something akin to the 60s or 70s, but where did this one-sy begin? These garments originated from simple utilitarian needs for aviators and skydivers to name a few, but later made the jump into both street and high fashion. The ever-so-chic jumpsuit I purchased was a BCBG Max Azria Collection sample from an outlet, and today the same garment is being sold as new spring merchandise on their website. Talk about good taste and timing.
Playing house.....
Can it really be? A tiny house. Where do you live? Where do you eat? Where do you sleep? Where do you do anything? Can you do anything? Let's find out.
This house, if you will, was developed by Richard Horden, and small living at its best (and worse). The homes are about 10-by-10 square feet and are made for two people. The homes, first launched in November 2005, are produced in Austria and available for purchase throughout Europe. It takes only 8-10 weeks from order to delivery, which is faster than many lead times on single pieces of furniture.
The Micro Compact Home combines techniques for high quality compact 'living' spaces deployed in aircraft, yachts, cars, and micro apartments. Its design has been informed by the classic scale and order of a Japanese tea-house, combined with advanced concepts and technologies. Living in an m-ch means focusing on the essential . For $96,000 a cube (including delivery and installation anywhere in Europe), owners get a fully integrated interior teched out with everything from a flatscreen TV to a dining room table that seats five. In the future, solar panels and a roof-mounted horizontal-axis wind turbine generating 2,200 kilowatts of power a year will make m-ch models self-sustaining. 
Can less really be more? And does less have to be smaller. I am a proponent of all things larger (bigger bags, bigger cars, taller shoes...you get the idea). This house is smaller than my car essentially and has been touted as packing more utility. Maybe you can cook, can eat, and can sleep.....but can you do so comfortably?
Essentially this creation is the same size as a U.S. prison cell or mausoleum perhaps.....those are meant to punish people and house people's bodies after death. Do you really desire to live in something of the same size? Is it worth sacrificing space to sacrifice sanity?
This house, if you will, was developed by Richard Horden, and small living at its best (and worse). The homes are about 10-by-10 square feet and are made for two people. The homes, first launched in November 2005, are produced in Austria and available for purchase throughout Europe. It takes only 8-10 weeks from order to delivery, which is faster than many lead times on single pieces of furniture.
The Micro Compact Home combines techniques for high quality compact 'living' spaces deployed in aircraft, yachts, cars, and micro apartments. Its design has been informed by the classic scale and order of a Japanese tea-house, combined with advanced concepts and technologies. Living in an m-ch means focusing on the essential . For $96,000 a cube (including delivery and installation anywhere in Europe), owners get a fully integrated interior teched out with everything from a flatscreen TV to a dining room table that seats five. In the future, solar panels and a roof-mounted horizontal-axis wind turbine generating 2,200 kilowatts of power a year will make m-ch models self-sustaining. Can less really be more? And does less have to be smaller. I am a proponent of all things larger (bigger bags, bigger cars, taller shoes...you get the idea). This house is smaller than my car essentially and has been touted as packing more utility. Maybe you can cook, can eat, and can sleep.....but can you do so comfortably?
Essentially this creation is the same size as a U.S. prison cell or mausoleum perhaps.....those are meant to punish people and house people's bodies after death. Do you really desire to live in something of the same size? Is it worth sacrificing space to sacrifice sanity?
No furniture required. The m-ch's space-saving interior includes:
1 Fire alarm and smoke detectors
2 Sliding table that seats up to five people
3 Two 7.5-foot-long Double Beds (a bunk above the dining table and a slide-out at floor level)
4 Shelves and drawers for storing clothes, bedding, cleaning supplies and, equipment, and so on
5 Control panel operates all electrical systems: heating, air-conditioning, TV, CD player, and LED lighting
6 Bathroom with a sliding screen that separates the toilet and the shower, plus a drying area for clothes and shoes
7 Kitchen equipped with a microwave, fridge/freezer, sink, waste unit, and double-level work surface
No shrinking violets around here.....
Shrink·ing vi·o·let • n. inf. an exaggeratedly shy person
I am definitely no shrinking violet, but I need more of an edge in the competitive business landscape, so this year I have been charged with the task to be assertive, and be assertive I will! Who knows, there might be some truth in the age old cheerleading chant to be aggressive, be, be aggressive.
I am definitely no shrinking violet, but I need more of an edge in the competitive business landscape, so this year I have been charged with the task to be assertive, and be assertive I will! Who knows, there might be some truth in the age old cheerleading chant to be aggressive, be, be aggressive.
On the fringes....
I am in quite the bohemian spirit this morning and saw this last night. It looks like a cross between a Whiting and Davis and a Minnetonka boot.
Peacing out.......
Peace be with you and your shoes.....Here is another great creation from Minnetonka. They have Had the kilties for years but just added the peace thongs to their lineup.
Don't mock me....
Or my shoes! With the world in a turmoil economically stores are offering more sales than ever and I received an email from The Moccasin House this morning. I have begun to want another pair of moc boots in addition to the kilties and boots I already own. I use the word begun because I wanted them back at Christmas but that hankering was easily stifled with a pair of Uggs, but sadly summer season is rolling in and I need lighter weight boots and love the low look of some of these.
These are actually named Woodstock! Can we say summer concert a la Kate Moss or Sienna Miller.
These are actually named Woodstock! Can we say summer concert a la Kate Moss or Sienna Miller.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A knack for good design............
Knack Studios is a blog I follow routinely and it is clear the designer has more than just a knack for good design! Take a look at these pieces.
These plates are ingenious I had seen some previously on Etsy that were painted with the seven sins, but these contain a lovely verse. Perfect love casts out fear.
These are the originals from Trixie Delicious. I guess you can play with your food.
Mirror, mirror on the wall.
These plates are ingenious I had seen some previously on Etsy that were painted with the seven sins, but these contain a lovely verse. Perfect love casts out fear.These are the originals from Trixie Delicious. I guess you can play with your food.Mirror, mirror on the wall.
Something old.....
Something new.....continuing on with today's theme of mixed media jewelry I found some more at Bluemoss. This heart on a string is perfect for any occasion and can easily be wrapped twice to create a shorter necklace if you so desire.
Color me wonderful!
Don't squint too hard, or you'll miss it! Squint is a modern purveyor of all things patchwork and fabulous! I discovered this site today and it reminds me very much of some Free People creations.
Squint was founded by Lisa Whatmough, a former sculptor and painter. the boutique opened in East London in 2005. Lisa's initial desire was to showcase the antique textiles she had been collecting and found that a fusion of period furniture and fabrics made for unexpected one off pieces.The range comprises of items such as Victorian chaise lounges and iconic Egg chairs and includes all types of upholstered furniture as well as mirrors and lighting, each piece bespoke incorporating a mix of contemporary and vintage fabrics. As Squint has grown it now makes to order, classic designs meticulously made in England and upholstered traditionally, with tied springs and hand stitched seams. Each design is priced individually depending on the final mix of fabrics used and a selection of sofa shapes can be made as bed settees. Squint sells internationally through Squint, Liberty, Designers Guild, Lane Crawford, J Roaman, Barneys New York and AADesign Museum Seoul.....Leave it to me to find something from Barneys!
Take a look at these designs.....couch of many colors, eh?
De colores.....
Squint was founded by Lisa Whatmough, a former sculptor and painter. the boutique opened in East London in 2005. Lisa's initial desire was to showcase the antique textiles she had been collecting and found that a fusion of period furniture and fabrics made for unexpected one off pieces.The range comprises of items such as Victorian chaise lounges and iconic Egg chairs and includes all types of upholstered furniture as well as mirrors and lighting, each piece bespoke incorporating a mix of contemporary and vintage fabrics. As Squint has grown it now makes to order, classic designs meticulously made in England and upholstered traditionally, with tied springs and hand stitched seams. Each design is priced individually depending on the final mix of fabrics used and a selection of sofa shapes can be made as bed settees. Squint sells internationally through Squint, Liberty, Designers Guild, Lane Crawford, J Roaman, Barneys New York and AADesign Museum Seoul.....Leave it to me to find something from Barneys!Take a look at these designs.....couch of many colors, eh?
De colores.....
Look at that rock!
The Beside has created a rock of a ring. Chunks of metal replace the gem in this alternative ring.Centre piece is gold plated. Secondary stones and band are sterling silver. Not that I would personally want this, but it is a fun thought taking a classic piece and make it contemporary.
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