GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK (GTW)

Green Tip of the Week:  Use LED Lights for your Christmas decorations!

Turkey day has come and gone and now its time for everyone's favorite holiday, Christmas.  Although I do not celebrate this holiday, I absolutely love the Christmas decor and spirit.  One of my favorite Christmas activities is driving around the suburbs of Chicago and looking at all the Christmas lights and decorations.

To all you Christmas maniacs that whoo us with your amazing Christmas displays, GREEN YOUR CHRISTMAS by using LED Christmas lights instead of the regular Christmas lights.

LED lights far outweigh incandescent lighting for power saving by using up to 33% less power and saving you some money at the same time!  LEDs also won the durability test as well as sustaining over 4,000 hours of light! via

LED Lighting is a lot brighter as well as enhances the colors of the bulbs

via

via

via

You can purchase LED lights here, at your local Home Depot, or just about anywhere!

Merry Christmas and happy lighting!

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami

My Dream House...the Fantasy Continues...

When fantasizing about my dream home, I envision concrete floors.  This may sound strange but I am obsessed with concrete anything!!  Not only do I love the various looks of concrete flooring choices but concrete is a sustainable choice when it comes to flooring materials.  My "dream house" will have lots and lots of concrete but will also have other flooring materials as well.  This idea just really get my heart rate going....

"Because of their thermal mass and ability to retain heat, concrete floors are ideal for passive solar home designs.  When homes are built to take advantage of solar radiation entering through windows in the winter months, concrete floors will absorb the heat from the direct sunlight and release the stored heat as needed at night to keep rooms warmer.  Conversely in the summer and in hot climates, concrete floors shielded from the sun will stay cool longer and can actually help lower air-conditioning costs." via

When properly installed and sealed, a decorative concrete floor should last a lifetime and will never need replacement.  This outliving other flooring materials such as carpet, hardwood and tiles.  Wow-even better!

Here is a concrete floor with wood detail inlay.  Luang Prabang, Laos

My siblings and I came across this store in Asia and I instantly fell in love.  I love the distressed/industrial look of concrete.

I love how concrete floors create a seamless look.

via

A polished concrete floor in a few areas will create a beautiful brightness and a sense of variety when only using one material

via

So sleek, so in love

via

In my dream house that would be located in Chicago (obviously) I will make sure that the concrete floor will be HEATED.  Nothing beats a heated floor in the cold winter.  I also love this light colored concrete.

via

via

THIS IS MY HEAVEN.  I am beyond in love with the concrete floors and walls complimented by the beautiful wood kitchen and ceiling beams.  This is an ideal look for my dream house-100%

via

NATIONAL DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH

For those of you who don't know, the month of November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.  Diabetes is a disease that has directly effected my family; my brother was diagnosed at age 7 as Type I.

My bro, Josh and I.  Vietnam, February 2011. 

Nearly 26 million children and adults in America are living with diabetes and another 79 million are at high risk for developing Type II diabetes.  This disease is taking a devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on our country.  Most Americans don't consider diabetes as a serious matter..well wake up people, it is!!!!!

Here are some stats from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

*Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes

*Diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined

*Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take the necessary steps to find a cure for Diabetes.

(facts and stats from http://www.diabetes.org/)

Years after my brother was diagnosed, my mom and her close friends started a group called Friends United for Juvenile Diabetes Research.  

Their goal is to raise awareness/educate our communities about Diabetes and raise money for research   Money raised from Friends United helps fund research at Kolver Diabetes Center, University of Chicago, Mayo Clinic, Pancreas & Islet Transplant Program at University of Chicago, Harvard Medical School, Diabetes Research Institute at University of Miami and many more research centers/universities/hospitals.  

If you are interested in joining the Friends United team or Junior Board, please contact us here.  Please join this local charity that was formed by love and devotion to help cure this disease.

Watch a Friends United video here!

Visit http://friends-united.org/ to learn more about Diabetes and what FU is all about!

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK (GTW)

Green Tip of the Week:  Wood Burning Fireplaces vs. Gas Fireplaces

It is sad to say but now that temps are cooling down, it's time to turn on the heat.  In Chicago, it is pretty standard to have a fireplace in your condo/home/apartment.  I LOVE lighting my fire in  my apartment because I love the feeling of warmth that radiates throughout my condo and the way it makes my living room glow.

Some may ask, which is better for the environment, wood burning or gas fireplaces?  Here is the down-low on the two...

Wood Burning Fireplaces:
Although fireplace may be romantic and produce that wonderful crackling sound, they are also messy, time consuming and tend to be net heat losers.  The amount of heat lost by opening your chimney flute greatly counter-acts the actual amount of heat that a wood burning fire can produce.  Also, you are burning wood-wood cut from living or dead trees that can be reused or recycled elsewhere.  The time frame for a log of wood to burn doesn't have a significant time-span to produce the amount of heat you would ideally want; the shorter the fire, the greater the net heat loss.

via

 Gas Fireplaces:
Gas fireplaces provide all the beautiful, heat-generating benefits without all the inconveniences of wood fires.  Gas burning fireplaces can help reduce the problem of amount of heat loss created by wood burning fireplaces.  There is no need for firewood that costs money and harmful to the environment or the other resources that can be used from wood.  Natural gas fireplaces is much cleaner!  Also, you have the option to control the actual fire and the amount of heat it produces.  Choosing gas fireplaces over other alternative sources of heat allow you to save on your heating bills as well sustaining trees that take decades to grow!  It is a total win-win situation!

My dog Tula, LOVES snuggling up to the warm gas fireplace I have in my condo.

EcoSmart Fireplace installs...

EcoSmart fireplaces

EcoSmart fireplaces

Stay Warm!

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK (GTW)

Green Tip of the Week:  ECO FRIENDLY COSTUMES!

Halloween is just around the corner.  I read over the weekend that American's spend over 5 billion dollars a year on Halloween costumes and decorations..kinda crazy!  Here are some money saving and eco-friendly tips for this "holiday" that I have a love/hate relationship with. 

-Use existing clothes in your/your child's wardrobe as the base for their costumes.

-Invest in props that can be reused for multiple costumes over multiple years.  Swords, capes and belts can be used to complete multiple children costumes

-Buy face masks made of natural latex not polyvinyl chloride.  PVC is a non-recyclable plastic that off-gasses dioxins that have been shown to cause cancer.

-Search through thrift stores for funky/interesting articles of clothing.  You never know what you can find!!!

-When building/constructing your costume, use materials such as cardboard, foil and paper that can be recycled after Halloween is over.

-Purchase water-based face paint that is non-toxic and hypoallergenic.  Use natural sea sponges to apply face-paint that can be rinsed and reused.

These helpful eco-friendly hints were from National Geographic.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami

A Mandell Nursery

 I am SO beyond excited today because my cousin emailed me saying she wants me to do her nursery for her lil bun in the oven, and its a girl!  The Mandell family is completely dominated by men and when we found out that a baby girl is coming into the family we were all so ecstatic.  I can't help but start brainstorming ideas and schemes for lil princess.  I can't also stop thinking about how superstitious Jews are when it comes to preparing everything before the baby is born...a big no no!  My mom said that when my older sister was born, my Dad had to rush home and put together the crib and changing table, thats seriously superstitious!

I am very excited to work with my cousin because she is a handbag designer for Mia Bossi (beautiful diaper bags that don't look like diaper bags!) which means she is super chic and stylish.  This should be real fun! Here are just some ideas I came up with on the fly after getting this amazing news...  

Precious polka-dots

My favorite scheme of the bunch...soft, sweet, and super chic!

For the glam baby

This scheme is runner up for my favorite.  May be too sophisticated for a babygirl but like I always say, "A fabulous design is a timeless design."  She will grow into it.

What could be better for a baby girls room than a pink crib?!?

via

This one may be more practical...love modern cribs

via

Seriously, could this crib be any cooler?  So major!

via

Ok so my cousin Rob is a die hard Jayhawk (as am I! Rock Chalk!!!) and wants to keep his pictures/memorabilia in the nursery.  That aint happening!  But maybe these silver KU letters can make an appearance 

Obviously there will be a Baby J in the crib for her to cuddle with.  

Can't wait to get started!  Stay tuned for more details!

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK (GTW)

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK:  "Weatherizing your home"

Now that the weather is starting to cool down (tear), now is a perfect time to prepare you home for the frigid cold weather us Chicagoans endure.  According to the Department of Energy, "Heating accounts for the biggest chunk for your utility bill, accounting or more than 40% if you include heating the space in your home as well as your water.  Weatherization can save you 25 to 40% on your heating and cooling bills."   via.  Believe it or not, doors, windows, and other sources of exposure to outdoor air can cause major leaking thus creating more energy for your heating system to counter-act the cool air.

Here are some tips to weatherize your home for under $20
*Identify areas in your home where you may have leaks.  Look for gaps in your doorways where you can see visible light filtering in.  Hold a match or incense near windows or areas where you have large cracks.  If the fire flickers or the incense is drawn to the outdoors, you have found a leak!

*Buy weather stripping for your doors and windows at your local hardware store or Home Depot.

*Use caulking to seal up areas where you have cracks.  You can also buy caulk from your local hardware store.

Stay warm!

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami

Antiquing

Yesterday I had a few hours of some downtime, so what do I go and do...visit just a few my favorite antique spots in the city.  I can go Antiquing all day everyday if I was financially stable and had no responsibilities.  I would also buy out all the malls.  Here are  a few of my favorite pieces I saw yesterday.

 This adorable tray

 Modern chair with sweet upholstery

 Love the burnt orange

 These are the perfect side chairs for any modern home

Hand blown lamp base

Call me crazy but I LOVE this couch.  Love the shape and the fabric.  Plus they did an amazing job with the upholstery.  Look at how everything lines up perfectly.

This shag rug looks like its on fire and I love.

4' tall candelabra  in black.

Perfect for the retro-chic urban man

Perfect for the glam girl, perhaps a nightstand or side table

Obsessed with this Merimekko canvas art.  Love the color blocking

 

Old school (literally) lockers.  Can be used as cabinets.

 

Steel boxes

What can I say?  I have a weakness for anything industrial looking.

The perfect office chairs

Such a rad mirror.  It's HUGE and only 200$

Drooling over these lucite barstools.  May have to purchase...

Fainted when I saw this sweet lil bench.  How fabulous!

Again, with the industrial look.  I can't resist.  Desk with what looks to be old mailboxes from an office or school.  

Hope you enjoyed my finds as much as I did!

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami