March 2010 Blog Posts (59)

Inspiration Point

It never fails to amaze me, the things that inspire people; I love it when a fashion designer will turn a movie or a decade or a 17th-century Dutch painting of fruit into a collection of coats and dresses. I still fondly remember that first episode of Project Runway, in which Jay McCarroll made that silver frock out of the Chrysler Building.

My… Read more

Added by Amy Maclin on March 31, 2010 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Laugh a Little

Part of the April Action Plan (entitled 'Lighten Up,' pg. 2) is literally lightening up and laughing more--because of its effects on your mood, even your immunity.

So it's no surprise that I find myself in need of some laughs these days too. I don't know what it is--I just have found myself in a funk that past few weeks. It's lifting, as all low-pressure weather does, and is part and…

Added by Terri Trespicio on March 31, 2010 at 1:11pm — No Comments

When Life Gives You Lemons - Preserve Them

The last month was rough mentally, physically, and emotionally. I spent the weekend with an old friend who unloaded a cache of old magazines on me. Among People and Elle, there was an older issue of Body and Soul, which I sat down with over a cup of coffee and a scone.

Full disclosure: I am a planner. I ended up in Atlanta after graduate school in a small college town for many reasons, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that the most important one had a name: C___. I met C. at wedding.… Read more

Added by Mary Warner on March 30, 2010 at 10:14am — 1 Comment

Eco Graffiti

In the spirit of the pothole gardener I posted about earlier, I love how someone altered this billboard. Yes, it's defacing property, but I think the creativity and the message makes up for it, don't you? Click over to Treehugger for more.

P.S.… Read more

Added by Sarah Engler on March 30, 2010 at 9:00am — 1 Comment

Making Bite-Sized Green Changes, One at a Time

I have this little fiction going about myself, that at some point—always in the very near future—I’ll be able to implement all at once the changes I’ve been so diligently planning (oh, the piles of magazine clips and self-help books!), from finally starting to compost to beginning a morning yoga practice.

And then, naturally, the days and then weeks slip by, with a pile of excuses and no action.… Read more

Added by Alex Postman on March 29, 2010 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Toxic Products

One of my web design clients is aromatherapist Rose Chard. Her blog insights are always helpful, so thought I'd share.…

Added by Kathleen McManus on March 28, 2010 at 11:07pm — No Comments

Do It! Declutter. It's So Satisfying.

So as part of the April action plan, we've been LIGHTENING UP--in more ways than one.

Recently, we gave you an assignment: to lighten your load by getting rid of stuff you don't need and creating order from chaos, which really does have a way of making you feel lighter.

I have been doing this for two weekends. Not the whole weekend--just that Sundays seem made…

Added by Terri Trespicio on March 28, 2010 at 10:30pm — 3 Comments

Too many voices

One of the biggest struggles I face as an overweight woman is knowing whose advice to follow. There are so many options for plans that work and so many things to try. And yet, many of them contradict each other and leave me feeling hopeless to find one that actually works.

Another obstacle is the controversy about whether or not you can lose significant weight. I've read entire books by well known authors that claim a set point from which your body will only vary +/- 20 lbs. Any… Read more

Added by jlaramsey on March 28, 2010 at 10:19pm — 4 Comments

Jamie Oliver Tackles the Unhealthiest City in America

Tonight Jamie Oliver's new show, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution will premiere on ABC at 8pm EST. Seriously, this is not a shameless plug for some TV show, I honestly believe that everyone should try and watch this program, it's truly a breath of fresh air in this obesity-riddled country.

The six episode series will follow the celeb chef as he attempts to bring change to Huntington, WV, dubbed "the unhealthiest city in America" by the Associate… Read more

Added by Caitlin Losey on March 26, 2010 at 4:30pm — 1 Comment

What's for dinner?

I was wondering if any whole living blog readers have suggestions

for an alternative organic dog food to 'chicken soup for the dog lovers soul'? ...My dog rusty is getting a little bored ....so i think its time for a change! ( any ideas for organic treats would be great as well) …

Added by Matthew Axe on March 26, 2010 at 10:30am — 3 Comments

It's Here: A Tax on Tanning

According to CNN, a part of the health care bill includes a 10% tax on indoor tanning customers.

As an editor who has long been hearing and reading about the connection between skin cancer and indoor tanning from the AAD, dermatologists, and studies, this makes sense to me, in line with a tax on cigarettes.

Per the article, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, "...indoor tanning before the… Read more

Added by olessa pindak on March 26, 2010 at 10:28am — 1 Comment

My Impromptu Closet Made out of Fabric and Pipes

If you've been following my ramblings, you might remember that I'm in the midst of renovating my 100-year-old Brooklyn apartment. (I say "I" but the real home improvements have been done by my super-handy significant other, Charlie. I'm more the one who comes up with ideas, hands the tools, paints, and cleans up at the end.) Anyway, our particular crappy old apartment came with a crappy old closet in the… Read more

Added by Sarah Engler on March 26, 2010 at 9:00am — 3 Comments

Is Running Barefoot Better For Your Health?

When the runner Siraj Gena crossed the finish line in first place at this year's Rome marathon on Sunday he was missing his footwear. The Ethiopian had started the race wearing trainers but he ditched them about 500 meters before the end in tribute to legendary Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila. In 1960 Bikila ran the entirety of the Olympic marathon, which was also held in Rome, barefoot.

Most runners put a lot of emphasis of their trainers and spend time and money finding the perfect… Read more

Added by Thomas Smith on March 26, 2010 at 8:30am — No Comments

Take us to open

Open…

Added by Syl Porter on March 26, 2010 at 4:30am — No Comments

Beauty Doing Good: The Body Shop and Sex Trafficking

I almost hate to post this after a serious of cheery posts, but there's never a good time to talk about sex trafficking, is there? I first became aware of the importance of this issue back in a women's studies class in college and as heart wrenching as it is that this is still going on (and in shocking numbers), I'm happy to see it getting some serious attention lately.

The Body Shop has always been a huge… Read more

Added by olessa pindak on March 24, 2010 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Building a Better Samoa

Happiness! It's Girl Scout Cookies season!

And while I don't know any girl scouts, I lucked into finding someone here at Martha Stewart who did—and who was selling cookies on her behalf. Two boxes of Thin Mints, one box of Tagalongs, one box of Do-Si-Dos, and three boxes of Samoas later (some of these were for my husband and sister-in-law, I swear), I was feeling pretty excited ... until I… Read more

Added by Sari Lehrer on March 24, 2010 at 2:28pm — 7 Comments

How Do You Like Them Apples?

I was just chowing down on my apple and it occurred to me that I have

not bought anything but Fujis since I discovered them five years ago.

Is there any apple more perfect? Just crisp enough, sort of sweet,

sort of tart.

But maybe I'm in a produce rut. Does anybody have any kind of apple they'd recommend for somebody who likes it crisp? (Sweet-sour ratio is much less important.)

These are Pink Ladies (I… Read more

Added by Amy Maclin on March 24, 2010 at 12:17pm — 2 Comments

Act II, Scene 1: Life Sans Bread

So there I was, sitting at the kitchen table on the fifth Sunday of Lent, staring at a loaf of garlic bread I'm (temporarily) not permitted to eat, which my Pops prepared not only with culinary expertise, but "a whole lotta Extra Special Love," as he likes to call it. While closing my eyes and taking a deep breath would seem a likely way to battle temptation, (or anything else, really. Breathing: the multi-tasking, multi-curing action) I knew it would only make my situation worse: by breathing… Read more

Added by Elizabeth McGorty on March 24, 2010 at 9:30am — 4 Comments

And...Rolling! Behind the Scenes at Whole Living

So one of the many new, exciting projects we've got going on here at Whole Living is a series of web videos we hope to get up on the site in a few weeks (not sure when that'll happen). It was really so much fun. While we were in a photo studio at Martha Stewart HQ, it actually felt like a real TV soundstage.

I came up with a few different scripts for one-minute videos, Andriana Verdi our editorial assistant, styled the shoot, our videographer got the minute-long bits on tape, and… Read more

Added by Terri Trespicio on March 24, 2010 at 6:00am — No Comments

New From Bon Ami

Bon Ami, the family-owned company that has been making an amazing (and eco-friendly!) powder cleanser since the 1880s, just expanded the line to include a liquid cleanser, dish soap, and all-purpose spray. I'm completely obsessed with the tangerine and thyme, but there is also a free and clear unscented option. And you have to love that… Read more

Added by Sarah Engler on March 23, 2010 at 4:30pm — No Comments