February 2012
6 posts
Ms. CoCoVanDerChic's Blogcation
Ms. CoCoVanDerChic needs some time to preen her green feathers. She is connecting in real time with friends and family. No worries more flamingrelicious blogs to come.
Biodynamically Growing Bubbles
Biodynamic describes an organic method of agriculture that focuses on the holistic interdependence between the soil, plants and animals. Biodynamic farmers view their land as a self-sustaining microcosm.
When I hear the word biodynamic, the term eau de vie comes to mind… the water of life. . Eau de vie refers to a type of French cognac. For me eau de vie is champagne. Champagne is full of...
4 tags
Help Your Body Help Itself
‘Help your body, Help Itself’
What comes to mind when you hear that phrase? Eight hours of sleep, drink eight glasses of water, eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains, exercise and minimize your stress levels.
I think of my Grandaddy saying ‘God only helps those who help themselves.’ God is in each one of us. Yes, God imbues our mind...
They Say It's Her Birthday
Ms.CoCoVanderChic turns 35 this Valentine’s Day …
Her sweet treat home baked cilantro lime cupcakes with sea salted caramel frosting.
Make a wish!
My Voracious Vegan Valentine
The arrow has been shot, the myth cracked … you can feed your sweetheart donuts and drink the the Nectar of Venus under sheets … with this sweet and spicy treat.
Unique and adventurous taste buds inspired this donut filled with heart healthy fats, the warm comfort of ginger and a tangy taste of lime. It is sure to tease. After all I want to play on Valentine’s day, with a...
4 tags
Antiestablishment China with Lou Rota
A frolic with a preying mantis, amidst fire fly lit trees, good friends and rose petals. A secret look into the world of Lou Rota … one of my favorite designers. Thank you Lou, for sharing xoxo
How does nature inspire you?
Nature and the natural world is incredibly important to me, I couldn’t exist without it. The outdoor world is like my church. It never ceases to astound me....
January 2012
4 posts
Savory or Sweet ... Two Vegan Treats
Snowy days draw me to the kitchen … its warm, full of aromas that nourish the soul and quiet the mind. At the end of the day, I feel accomplished having created a beautiful meal. With a sensitive tummy and being lactose intolerance, I am drawn to vegan recipes. They are nutritious, easy on my tummy and satisfy my epicurean curiosity.
I am drawn to these tastes … tangy (key lime),...
The Other Air
Rumor has it that the cost of gas may soar as higher than $4.00 a gallon. At that cost, every penny saved is a plus. Recently, I have heard that filling your tires with nitrogen instead of air can save gas.
Air is 78% nitrogen. The rest is mostly oxygen, small amounts of water vapor,carbon dioxide and trace amounts of noble gases (neon and argon). So why is pure nitrogen like the filtered water...
In the Spirit of A Free Thinking Artist Commune
As winter’s cold blanket is about to cover the ground and I anticipate spending more time indoors, I crave an artistic retreat. Over the holidays, a close friend and I reminisced about days spent in Paris, reading, writing and dining in cafes listening to great music and the taste of cheese and fine wine. Hours passed this holiday season just thinking about what it would have been like...
Environmentally Responsible Drinking
Last Friday, I saw a Broadway show, Private Lives, featuring one of my favorite actresses Kim Cattrall. At intermission, my friend offered to buy me a glass of wine, I accepted his invitation, but not without hesitation. Yes, an occasional afternoon glass of wine is delightful. But intermission wine is hardly like having sipping a glass of champagne at a cabaret in Paris. You can hardly taste it...
December 2011
5 posts
3 tags
What is in a label?
I admit. A movie review seems out of place on a green etiquette blog. However as it is time to think about making resolutions for the New Year, perhaps you will see where I am going with this. This past Tuesday was a rainy dreary day and a change in plans led to seeing a movie that deeply touched me and shifted my mind. I was drawn to the movie Young Adult because I simply adore Charlize...
12 Days to a Greener You
On the 12th day of green-ess my true love gave to me 12 canvas bags to fill with groceries On the 11th day of green-ess my true love gave to me 11 acts of kindness On the 10th day of green-ess my true love gave to me 10 recycling bins On the 9th day of green-ess my true love gave to me 9 yoga lessons...
The Magic of a Dwarf Spruce Tree
As we approach the height of the holiday season, we face external pressures. Finding the perfect tree. Giving the perfect gift. Hosting the perfect party. Having the perfect moment. I emphasize the word perfect because it is an illusion. The more we strive for perfection the more un-perfect it gets. With perfection comes expectation. In life, we only have the ability to look within; we cannot...
5 tags
Home Baked Goodness
Tis’ the season to capture the magic of the holiday season … candle lit menorahs, angel topped trees, snowflakes, cookies … sugar, shortbread and gingerbread .. in all shapes and sizes.
We all want home-baked goodness, but do we have the time? And talent … it comes on a sliding scale. I will share my story. I am by no means the most talented baker … I ...
5 tags
Holiday
Holiday, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is day on which one is exempt from work. It is time to capture the magic of the season, sparkling white lights against moonlit skies, the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg, the sound of laughter among friends, the taste of warm cocoa and stolen kisses under mistletoe … and yes giving. Not just gift giving, but true giving that comes from the...
November 2011
4 posts
Thanksgiving Traditions
Each year, I listen to Alice’s Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie. This year, I truly appreciate that the dump was closed on Thanksgiving. Gone are the days when a holiday was a day when retailers were closed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmyXTOHC3w8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA83Xsj4WHM&feature=related
What's In a Name? Moniker, Nom du Plume, Cognomen
If you had one last thing to say, what would it be? Would you say something to guide others along life’s journey or would you capture your spirit? When you think about it, these few words are the ultimate label. I think of this as I select the perfect lines to inscribe on my mother’s tombstone. Now that her physical presence is gone, I don’t need to worry about boosting her...
I Chose to Love Life rather than Fear It
As Robert Frost said “There’s nothing I’m afraid of like scared people”
You can only love so much. Sometimes you just have to let those who fear be, so you are not swallowed by their fear.
This is so hard, but when someone cannot accept your love, you can only love yourself and hope they find their inner strength. Let go.
Love is the ability to connect. Love is a two way action … the...
How Green Are You? Losing Power
In the midst of a early Halloween trick, a early autumn blizzard, I lost power on the afternoon of Saturday October 29th . At first it flickered, but I did not lose hope. Then silence. No lights, no computer, no television and more than 20 minutes had passed. I did not even begin to think about losing no heat, a working stove, microwave and refrigeration on an unusually cold October afternoon....
October 2011
4 posts
Green Coffee In Bed
Each day, I try my best to love myself and those around me, think loving thoughts and do loving things. Recycling, composting, buying local and using canvas shopping bags are all things I do. However, I must confess … I have two wasteful habits. Using paper coffee cups and paper towels. I kicked the first this week when I spotted the perfect travel mug… a Konitz. It is hard to find...
Seeds ... Bring Natural Beauty to Life
Before there was paper embedded with seeds, there were seed packets. These envelopes carrying seeds, to spread across the land, are an art form. I am drawn to their unique size, rounded edges of the flap of the envelope and the seam that runs up the back of the packet. I love nature, biology and the study of any natural form. I have drawn for as long as I can remember. Whenever I want to see...
The Wonders of Witch Hazel
Growing up, Nana told me to put witch hazel on everything from bug bites and cuts to pimples. I just thought it was just some all natural isopropyl alcohol with a weird smell. Little did I know, she was on to something? Witch hazel is Mother Nature’s beauty secret. If you want to remember the wonders witch hazel has to offer just think MS. AAA
Moisturizer
Sun...
3 tags
So You Think This Is Love?
I want to share a story with you … one very close to my heart. I admit this is not my style, but I am acting on a whim … taking a chance and truly believing that we are all connected in spirit.
I lost the man I loved… at a young age.
I gave and gave to him, just hoping for love in return. I knew on some level, he did love me. But self-doubt and addiction clouded the truth. I did not love myself...
September 2011
5 posts
Ms. CoCoVanDerChic Mix
Go On Jack Johnson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsDaRh1V5Eo
Island in the Sun Weezer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C3zgYW_FAM&ob=av2e
Float On Modest Mouse ...
4 tags
Indalo Man
If you could catch the magic of a rainbow and tie it around your neck how would you feel? Indalo man holds a rainbow in his hands. It arcs over his head like an umbrella sheltering him from a storm.
My dear friend, Natalia, gave me Indalo Man. I wear him whenever I feel the need for the magic of a rainbow. Her father is from the Almeria region in Spain where Indalo Man was first discovered 100...
5 tags
Why Green Flamingos?
Why did I choose a green flamingo for my logo? Yes, I was coyly laughing about the reputation pink flamingos have as being kitsch and tree huggers for lacking style. But choosing a symbol to represent myself is no laughing matter. So I truly looked within. Why does a green flamingo capture the essence of my being?
Green is the color of love and pink flamingos embody elegance and beauty in nature....
5 tags
Coco Chanel comes to Life At Gena Lisa
www.genalisa.com
Did you know that Coco Chanel first introduced jersey fabric in women’s fashion? Yes, the timeless icon of haute couture used comfortable quotidian fabric, previously used exclusively for men’s undergarments, to create elegant designs. Coco Chanel was a visionary of her time, an avant guarde … and yes sustainable … We may think that only organic cotton is green, but … cotton does...
3 tags
time ... and yourself 2 things you will always...
time present and time past
are both perhaps in time future
and time future contains time past*
Time is precious. Time gives us memories of the past and hopes for the future. Today we are in a period of transition. We are just about to step over the threshold which will carry us out of times that have past and into the times that have yet to come. We are leaving a world that has been so...
August 2011
4 posts
Sustainably Sexy Skin with Living Libations
I want to share a secret with you …. The key to great skin does not contain chemicals and does not involve injections. Yes, it is a magic elixir but its ingredients come from Mother Nature. Your skin will come to life with Living Libations and drinking plenty of water …
I love these two products available at http://www.livinglibations.com.
· Seabuckthorn Best Skin Ever
·
Open...
7 tags
Georgia ...Graciously Green & Gorgeous
http://www.georgiany.com/
When you walk into Georgia located in New York’s Lower East Side … instantly, you escape a chaotic city street and enter into a salon that has the feel of an eclectic artist’s studio in the St. Germaine area of Paris. Upon arriving, Kiara, greeted me cordially and guided to a comfortable chaise lounge to relax before my hair cut. While I waited (as I was a few minutes...
3 tags
Electric Bikes … Pump Your Muscle Not Your Tank
Today I saw a really cool retro looking bike parked in front of a local restaurant. It caught my eye, but it grabbed my attention when I learned it was gorgeously green … yes Ms.CoCoVanDerChic hit a g-spot for the day (green spotting). With a little research I learned the bike is a Stromer Electric Bike … an e-bike. (there are other brands and bike kits). The Stromer has a detachable...
Genius
Genius is neither learned nor acquired
It is knowing without experience.
It is risking without fear of failure.
It is perception without touch.
It is understanding without research.
It is certainty without proof.
It is ability without practice.
It is invention without limitations.
It is imagination without boundaries.
It is creativity without constraints.
It is….extraordinary...
July 2011
5 posts
5 tags
Self-Care = Self Love + Awareness
Self care is a term that concisely captures a wide array of healthy practices that cultivate a more effective self. Such practices go beyond a regimen of healthy hygiene and diet. Practicing self-care means learning to cope with dis-ease without reaching for a BAND-aid … Behaviors, Alcohol, Narcotics and Disconnecting.
Self-care sounds like a basic concept, but for those of us who have been...
6 tags
The Network - Growing Green Vines
Positivity abounds when you take the time to spread the word about a product you love or meet with a friend in person. Online social networking is great but a drawback is the loss of human contact. I do not get the same release of feel good chemicals (endorphins, oxytocin) flowing through my body when I post or tweet about something as I do when I hear a person’s voice on the phone, see the...
8 tags
Practical Yet Posh Patio Bars
When I think of the perfect bar, I think of a bistro in Paris. A clean, crisp and cool counter. Anything less than the ice cold feel of champagne will not due. Think zinc, granite and marble.
I perused the market affordable portable patio bars and have yet to find one that suits my style and is not over my budget (OMB). The market for portable patio bars under $200 is a world of plastic...
Friends Who Flock Together Stay Together
Flocking is a great way to raise money for a charitable cause, spread love, bring people together and it is sustainable.
Flocking 101 … in the middle of the night, while you are fast asleep, volunteers are frantically installing a flock of flamingos on your lawn, hoping that you will donate money to support their charity… you continue to spread the love by donating more money to flock a...
6 tags
Circles
My fingers run through the beads and charms uniquely displayed in old printer’s trays by Rebecca Dolber, creator of R.E.D. jewelry. Magnetically, I am drawn to the turquoise circles. Turquoise always catches my eye right away, but today I keep coming back to the circles.
When I talk to Rebecca… I know why. Circles are never ending. Nothing is forgotten in a circle. It may get lost for a while...
June 2011
4 posts
6 tags
Concinnity (kuhn-SIN-uh-tee)
The word concinnity sounds complex but it is complete simplicity. This feeling of ‘internal harmony’ occurs when all pieces unexplainably fit together and you accept the perfection of the moment despite urges to change it.
In terms of design, concinnity is minimalism. You are in a wiser mind in this space of clairvoyance. To achieve this state of mindfulness, you must accept the present.
So...
7 tags
Something Borrowed, Something Green ... ...
nuggets of wisdom from eco-eclectic interior designer Arlene Angard
Ethereal and effortlessly eclectic describe the look of Arlene Angard Designs Upper East Side store. It captures the burst of bold colors and brilliant energy you feel when you travel to an exotic land. The space has an inexplicable feeling that cannot be replicated … I cannot use words to describe it … but it feels good.
...
4 tags
Where the Grass Is Greener …
A virtual staycation… does not waste fossil fuel and does not deplete your savings … take a few minutes and try an eco-friendly and budget kind escape.
Imagine taking a vacation without taking a step. This vacation does not require advanced planning. In fact, you can take it any place, at any time. Stay in the moment and use your imagination. Focus on your breath. Inhale … Exhale …
Find your...
11 tags
No Hanky Panky …
Proper use of a handkerchief (affectionately known as a ‘hanky’) is a serious matter. A hanky is a decorative way to discretely disguise allergic achoo’s and dry unwanted drops of perspiration. Do not distress, excess dewiness need not get you down this summer, once you learn the art of hanky etiquette.
A green gal does not use paper tissues more commonly by their brand name Kleenex and she does...