Living Facade celebrates Biodiversity in Copenhagen

I have a huge love for Europe and I'm especially fond of Denmark.  Here's yet another reason to swoon, the living green facade, Europe In Bloom, celebrating the UN's International Year of Biodiversity.  They just took it down, but what a magnificent feat!  Read more and watch videos on how it was done HERE.

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PLANET BIKE Protege 09 Bike Computer

I can't believe I've been riding my bike all this time without a computer!  Recently I've been using this Planet Bike Protege computer and what a difference.  Biking is more fun when I'm keeping track of my distance and it also makes me want to push a little harder.  It's also nice to have the time right there in front of me as it's easy to lose track of time when I'm out in nature enjoying myself.  The screen is anti-glare, and the readout is in big enough numbers that I can easily read it at a glance.

Readout features:

• Current speed
• Speed comparator
• Ride time
• Trip distance
• Dual odometer (for two wheel sizes)
• Average speed
• Maximum speed
• Clock
• Temperature

I installed it myself with no problems, set up was straightforward, just follow the directions.  It might take a couple of tries to get the magnet and the sensor to line up, but it will.  After installation, just push up on the bottom of the device, the readout will display, and off you go.

Planet Bike gives back.  A generous 25% of their profits go toward promoting and facilitating the use of bikes as transportation.  Their products add to the ease, safety and sheer fun of cycling while benefiting the environment at the same time.  I love the win-win philosophy--healthy people, healthy planet.  Find it HERE.  

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Labyrinth Balance Board from Fat Brain Toys

Here is something exciting in the world of kids' toys.  The Labyrinth Balance Board from Fat Brain Toys is perfect for indoor winter fun.  By combining physical dexterity with mental challenge, the Labyrinth will keep you, er, your child occupied and work out those core muscles without even realizing it.

My five year old has a ton of energy and this makes for a great outlet, it's also a good primer for the skateboard he wants.  You just place your feet on the anti-slip surface and surf back and forth trying to get the wooden balls into the center of the labyrinth.  It's really fun, for all ages, and you might find yourself vying to take turns with your child (much to their delight).

The Labyrinth builds concentration, coordination, and balance, increasing those motor skills.  The board is well constructed, made in the US, and has a hefty weight capacity of 275 lbs.  It's the kind of quality toy that could be passed on from kid to kid.  Not to be used indoors on hardwood or bamboo--use it outside, on carpet, or a protected surface.   Find it HERE at Fat Brain Toys.

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Organic and Vegan: Equal Exchange Good Morning Basket

Going somewhere for Thanksgiving and need a nice gift?  Wish you were going somewhere and would like to send something along?  The Good Morning Basket from Equal Exchange makes a wonderful gift for friends and family who are far away, or for the hostess you are visiting throughout the holidays.

Included is a 10 oz. bag of organic French Roast Coffee, Organic Breakfast Blend Black Tea, and two large organic vegan Liz Lovely Snapdragon Ginger Cookies.   This is a fabulous gift for vegetarians and vegans, but fon't feel that this is geared for vegans only--anyone who appreciates quality organic food would love this.  The basket itself is made from kaia grass and comes from Dhaka Handicrafts, a non profit organization improving the lives of families in Bangladesh.  Everything is Organic, Fair Trade, and vegan, yaay!  Find it HERE. 

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Smartwool: It's time to bring out the wool

Synthetic materials just don't cut it with me.  When it comes to warmth and performance, no matter how many times I try other materials I always come back to wool.  Smartwool is a brand I trust for quality, eco mindedness,  and animal well being.  "We would never hurt sheep," says Smartwool, "we love our sheep."  They participate in active promotion of enviornemtal stewardship programs and utilize eco friendly practices.  Wool is a natural, sustainable material and offers the benefit of managing temperature, odor and moisture.  The comfort level is high and so is the durabilty.

High Isle Socks are perfect to wear under boots.  They come in several different color combinations.  I love the Autumn colors in the Sienna High Isle.  Perfect for the season!

The Lupine Scarf is thin and wonderful to wear as an accessory beyond keeping warm.  I love the Charcoal Heather for wardrobe versatility but there are brighter options as well.  It's soft and cozy and very well made.

And for the days when you want to keep warm and still wear a dress or skirt, there are Smartwool Galoon Tights.  I find they run true according to the sizing chart, they are soft and look great with boots.

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Portia De Rossi, I love you.

Did you see the Portia De Rossi-Oprah interview yesterday?  It was a gut wrenching yet inspiring talk prompted by her new book, Unbearable Lightness, which chronicles  Portia's struggle with an eating disorder and her recovery.  It's almost more shocking anymore to find a woman that does not have some sort of disordered eating*, so I wasn't shocked.  But I was blown away by her sheer bravery and honesty.

 Here is someone who is stunningly gorgeous, just as beautiful on the inside, and she's just as effed up as all the rest of the women in this country.  I'm  not saying all women have eating disorders, but I think the American approach to food and looks in general is very unhealthy and quite bizarre and unnatural.  It can be hard to reconcile.  She has worked through it and has found her joy and deep authenticity, and I find it immensely generous that she was willing to share her journey.  

I remember seeing her on Ally McBeal and thinking, wow!  She was so beautiful, she reminded me of old time movie stars, she had that elegance and also some sassiness.  I thought she was rare in the celebrity world and I loved that she looked like a woman and not sort of undernourished like the other women on that show.  I thought she was the prettiest, the sexiest, and by far the most interesting.  She was a bombshell with a brain.  Then I noticed she seemed to be getting thinner and thinner.

And come to find out she was suffering from disordered eating and having a hard time coming to terms with her sexuality.   Have you ever wondered, looking at seemingly confident goddess-like women, what is life like for that person?  What is it like to move through the world in that gorgeous form?  Well, there you go, it is not always what we might think.  Mad props to Portia for her authenticity and for doing the world a service, she's a bright sun.

* Natalia Rose has done some wonderful and enlightened writing on the subject of eating disorders, for more on this, check out this post. 

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Pumpkin Pie

One of my favorite images from last night...

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