The (Sort Of) Eco Renovation Continues - Hacked Ikea Platform
Posted on | January 27, 2010 | 2 Comments
Progress has been made! The platform or “elevated room” that I’ve been trying to explain to everyone (unsuccessfully) is almost complete. Just to give you a little background here, I’ve been renovating my tiny apartment and trying to be as eco-conscious about it as possible. That being said, I was really at a loss for where to source a custom platform like the one that I wanted for less than $500 without having to resort to Ikea.
Long story short, I ended up going to Ikea. LOL. Although there were quite a few replies to my Facebook poll about whether or not Ikea is green, I still think they’re trying harder than others and was willing to buy some of my stuff there as long as I made sure the vast majority of my furniture was either secondhand or that I just didn’t buy any more furniture in general (I already have an old dresser and dining table as well as some chairs I fished out of the dumpster at Stony Brook before I graduated). Anyhoo, read on for more pics and to see how I made the platform.
Read more
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Tags: bed platform > eco renovation > green home > green renovation > ikea hack > making platform out of expedit > studio renovation
the water-saving way to wash your hair
Posted on | January 21, 2010 | 2 Comments
just shampoo and condition at the same time. apply shampoo to your scalp and conditioner to the tips. then lather each area until you meet in the middle.
your tips will be healthier because they won’t have their natural oils stripped and you’ll shave a minute or so off your shower time.
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Tags: eco-conscious > hair > lather > shampoo > shower > water saver
saving the earth through sheer laziness
Posted on | January 21, 2010 | 1 Comment
as a level zero tech geek, i’ve been seriously torn between buying new gadgets and not contributing to the nasty crap that gets discarded in our (asia’s) backyards when i throw my old stuff away. that’s why i’m feeling last year’s model. it’s basically a bunch of tech geeks tweeting about how they’re gonna stick with the ipods, netbooks and blackberrys that they already own instead of upgrading.
it has a pretty sweet cardboardy look to it too!
update: had a convo with bridgette about this today and found that she’s doing a lot better at this than i am (being that i just bought a new berry).
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Tags: anti-consumerism > gadgets > gizmos > last year's model > recycling > reusing > technology
5 Things You Can Do to Not Be an Eco Hypocrite
Posted on | November 16, 2009 | 2 Comments
Am I Dwight?
Sure, this video is a gross exaggeration, but, like every scenario on The Office, it’s got some roots in the truth. As an “environmentalist” and someone who publicly encourages others to clean up their acts and turn to a greener lifestyle, I try to do as much as I can to actually walk the walk too. I say “try” because there are definitely things I still do (eating meat, taking cabs) that give me that cringeworthy “what if someone sees me doing this?” feeling, but now I actually feel like that’s a good thing because it helps keep me on track with the person I want to be. If you represent yourself as someone who lives an eco-conscious lifestyle, here are a few things that you’ll want to make sure you’re doing - or not doing - as much as humanly possible if you don’t want to be called a hypocrite (a.k.a. a self-greenwasher) along how well I am actually sticking to each of these practices myself.
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Tags: 5 things you can do to make sure you aren't an eco hypocrit > eco hypocrite > environmentally friendly > greenwashing > personal greenwashing > self-greenwasher
How to Make Tulle Rosettes from an Old Tutu
Posted on | November 7, 2009 | No Comments
Now that Halloween is over, I thought I’d try my hand at refashioning some of the old costumes I’ve accumulated over the years into accessories that I’ll actually wear now. My first project? Turning the sheer tulle of an old 1980s dance recital tutu into a pretty rosette.
1. Push a needle through a scrap piece of foam core to create a base for you to string the petals of the rosette onto.
2. Cut out teardrop shaped petals of the tulle.
3. Layer the petals onto the foam core base one by one, making sure to pass the needle through the tapered side of each piece.
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Tags: craft > diy fashion > diy project > green crafts > green halloween costume > recycle halloween costume > rosette > tulle rosette
Claudia Schulz Handmade Wool-Felt Hats
Posted on | October 7, 2009 | 1 Comment
Absolutely stunning felt hats perfect for the start of fall (and hiding a bad hair day). (via Ecouterre)
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Make Your Own Shoe Jewelry for Free
Posted on | October 2, 2009 | 5 Comments
Before:
After:
With the economy in shambles, accessories that allow us to add some flava to our existing wardrobe pieces and avoid having to buy brand new ones seem to be all the rage. My absolute favorite example of this trend? SHOE JEWELRY! Especially these fab pieces by Litter SF. While Litter’s glamorous baubles will cost you upwards of $70, there’s no need to feel left out if you don’t have a pile of dough to spare. I made my own shoe sparkle by taking an old dangly earring I had in my jewelry box and hooking it over the back of my heels. Just secure with a piece of duct tape, and voila - instant FREE shoe bling!
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Tags: eco-fashion > green jewelry > green shoes > litter sf > shoe bling > shoe jewelry > sustainable fashion
Vivienne Westwood + Melissa Wing Sandals for Greek Mythology Nerds
Posted on | October 1, 2009 | No Comments
Dame Vivienne Westwood and Melissa Plastic Dreams have done it again! I swooned pretty deeply when I first peeped these on Ecouterre, and will have to control my urges if I am going to resist the siren song that they are singing to me as I navigate this stormy day. Contrary to popular belief Melissas are actually non-toxic and made in a sustainably managed factory in Brazil, so I feel good about shodding myself in them. They’re also shockingly comfy! (via Ecouterre)
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Tags: eco-fashion > eco-shoes > ecouterre > green shoes > melissa plastic dreams > melissa winged shoes > sustainable shoes > vivienne westwood + melissa > wing
How to Make a Broken Barrette into a Three Finger Ring
Posted on | September 3, 2009 | No Comments
Turn this:
Into this:
I’ve been lusting after a three or four finger ring a la Radio Raheem’s LOVE and HATE jewelry in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing for some time now, but they are super hard to come by and when I do see them, they’re quite pricey. Well, when my favorite bow barrette broke the other day, I wondered if I could make it into a DIY version of the classic three finger ring. The existing hardware on the clip fits my fingers just perfectly so I didn’t even have to make any modifications! I’ll be rocking my sweet new ring around town. I think I’ll name it “Serendipity.”
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Tags: diy ring > diy three finger ring > eco-fashion > green fashion > radio raheem > recycled fashion > recycled jewelry > ring > serendipity > upcycled jewelry
Lightsaber Chopsticks
Posted on | August 7, 2009 | 3 Comments
Finally!
PicoCool - Lightsaber Chopsticks
And you know how I feel about chopsticks. They would be better if they weren’t made of plastic, but if you’re gonna reuse them instead of throwing away 25 billion disposable chopsticks a year, I am down.
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Tags: darth vader > lightsaber chopsticks > reusable utensils > star wars
Disk of Sausage
Posted on | August 4, 2009 | 2 Comments
I am truly, truly intrigued by this “disk of sausage” that I heard Duff Goldman of Ace of Cakes talking about:
I don’t even know if that is an actual picture of it - to be honest, I don’t think it is - but I really need to try it. The pic is deceiving because it looks more like a regular pizza, whereas Duff explained that the DOS is an actual 14 inch round slab of sausage mascarading as a pizza. They serve it at Gino’s East in Chi-town. Might have to take a trip there soon…
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Ironic Hipster T Shirt of the Day: Mic Arsenal
Posted on | August 3, 2009 | No Comments
All I need is one, wait make that seven, mics???
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Baileys Crying Teacup by (maybe) Helen Hunt
Posted on | August 3, 2009 | 2 Comments
Not really sure where I got this teacup, but I use it everyday for my morning, afternoon and night coffee. It “cries” coffee tears when I spill, which always brings me a lot of joy, it looks like it was designed by Helen Hunt judging from the signature on the back? Bottom line, I could never, ever throw it away because I love it so much.
Designers, more weird, creepy sentiment-evoking stuff like this please!
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- helen hunt signature?
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Tags: baileys teacup > child's face cup > coffee cup > creepy cup > crying cup > crying teacup > heirlooms > helen hunt > winking cup
How I Am Feeling Today
Posted on | July 27, 2009 | 1 Comment
I’ve been downhearted baby
Ever since the day we met
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Tags: primitive radio gods > standing in a boken telephone booth with money in my hand
Feeling It: Lara Miller Chelly Dress
Posted on | July 26, 2009 | 1 Comment
The perfect punchy pop of color with a racy open back. Plus, the shape is super flattering if you’re sporting a little belly like I am right now. (via inhabitat.com)
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why is this a site?
swyyne has always been an experiment for me. with all of the other super eco sites out there, i've been feeling like i want to contribute something just a bit different. so for now, here are my random musings.
look for stuff
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