Resolutions

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007, 9:02 pm

I just started working on the iGo Green project at iVillage, and I have to say I've learned a lot in the past couple of months... like, I've learned I should go buy a UV-ray-proof bubble and LIVE in it. Just kidding. But you can start to feel overwhelmed by how important it is to start reversing (or at least minimizing) our impact on the planet.

That said, it's energizing too. I've learned so many incredibly easy ways to stop being such a trash-spewing chemical-ingesting energy hog, and I really love the feeling of possibility it gave me. I also just came back from a wonderful vacation in an absolutely blessed and beautiful place, and (I hope this doesn't sound nerdy) it made me feel a renewed sense of excitement about taking action to protect the places I love.

So, in the spirit of embracing possibilities, these are my Green resolutions for this year:

1. By hook or by crook, start growing something. I live in a cruddy little city apartment with no outdoor space, so this one will be hard. But one thing I read that really stuck with me was one writer's observation that American lawns represent millions of acres of arable land that aren't being used to PRODUCE anything anymore--just think of the possibilities inherent in starting a vegetable or herb garden and making your lawn more than just another pretty green space. I don't have a lawn (sniff) but I'm determined to get a tomato plant started, or a windowsill herb garden--just something that's a small step down that road.

2. Start buying organic produce. In the past, my excuse has been, "Eh, I'm a poor little underpaid media-industry slob, I can't afford fancy organic grapes." But you know what, I can. An excuse is really just that, an excuse. I buy organic milk already (I'm paranoid about the hormones in regular milk), and this is the next natural step. Fancy organic grapes, watch out.

3. Replace one bulb in my living room with an energy-efficient CFL bulb. Amazing but true: I found out that just one bulb replacement (used for a year) can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as taking 1.5 million cars off the road for a year.

I have a bad habit of making lists and then not doing anything on them, but these three? Yeah, I can handle that.

My Lovely Lady Hub

Friday, April 6th, 2007, 12:16 pm

You guuuuuuuuuuuuuuys... (sing-song)

We finally have a theme song for iVillage Connect! It's "My Humps," only, like, every time you're supposed to, like, say "My Humps," you say "My Hub." Instead. Get it? Get it?

We're really funny around here.

I discovered recently that some of my co-workers suffer from the same affliction that I have: I compulsively make everything around me into a mashup, and sing it, without being able to stop, until I come up with a new one (to the delight, believe me, of my patient desk-neighbor Josey).

So while I was making the Stuff We Love group, I was singing "I'm gonna keep on lovin stuff" to the tune of REO Speedwagon. And while I was working on this thing about sticky lint sheets, I was singing "I'm bringin sticky back," in honor of JTimb. The people who sit around me do not like this, and who can blame them. So imagine my excitement when I discovered recently that over on the other side of the office, they do it ALL THE TIME.

Stop us before we mash again. No, seriously. Stop us.

Hey, cool kids: New Stuff We Love video

Monday, March 12th, 2007, 6:27 pm

One of my favorite projects here at Da Village is Stuff We Love, our product recommendation series, which requires me to, um, shop online a lot. I know, sucks to be me. But actually, if you saw the kind of luggage I have to bring to work with me on days when we shoot the Stuff We Love video series, you might be inclined to feel sympathetic.

This week we shot new video clips that included a cool piranha-wannabe floss dispenser and a nifty little beehive-shaped tee infuser, and last week we did one about a hilarious doggie tee-shirt...can't wait for them to launch! I love that part of my job is digging up insane/awesome/practical/gorgeous stuff. One of my all-time favorite websites is OhMyThatsAwesome.com, which seems to be run by people with super-human Web-trawling skills, and which inspires me to try to be funnier every day. 

If you see anything you like that might make a good Stuff We Love pick, send me a link!

Now I am a keeeeeeeety

Tuesday, February 6th, 2007, 2:15 pm

My profile photo is a picture of my mom's awesome cat Hopper, who we found in a back lot. He rules, other cats drool.