Photo Friday | Merry Christmas!

Twas the Friday before Christmas, and all through the house, Caitlin and Phillip were making their lists and checking them twice, while watching the 43^rd viewing of Elf on Freeform.

Wait...that's not how the tale goes...

I am happy to report we are 95% done with our gifts - just a few more to pick up and wrap, but our little tree is looking very festive now. For as much as I tend to procrastinate on wrapping gifts now, I always love the look of a tree with an array of presents underneath, and always get a little emotional after the gifts are unwrapped and it's empty again. Maybe next year we'll be better at shopping and wrapping earlier in the season.

All of our gifts are wrapped with an eco-friendly touch, whether it's decorative kraft paper wrap, Wrappily recyclable paper (which I completely forgot is reversible!), reused gift bags and tissue paper, reused ribbons, or even a bed sheet from our donation pile.

One thing I AM proud about is getting our Christmas cards printed and mailed out earlier this month. I took advantage of a great Paper Culture sale, so I saved money while still getting to use recycled paper, and having a tree planted for my order. I couldn't decide between two different card designs (one foil and one non-foil), so I split up the quantity and got them both!

As a small Christmas gift to you, I'm also sharing this Christmas playlist I created this week. In my Tuesday evening yoga class, I joked with my teacher that she should play Christmas music for our Thursday yoga class, as it was the last one before the holiday. She said if I created a playlist, then she would play it in class.

So, I present to you my Christmas OMMMM mix that we flowed to last night! (I can now say I have done yoga to a Hanson song in a studio!) It follows more of a vinyasa class style - faster, upbeat songs followed by slower, mellower songs.

This weekend is sure to be hectic, nonstop and a little stressful, so take a few minutes to do a few stretches, meditate, or even an at-home yoga flow. Hit up this mix and take a few deep breaths before going back for more egg nog.

 Or click here to open in Spotify!

I'll be back on Tuesday sharing some eco-friendly post-Christmas tips. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

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Photo Friday | Greenery

Happy March, y'all! Have we all recovered from Mardi Gras yet? My holiday was mostly bike rides, parades, documenting the parade litter, and a minor sinus infection - laissez les bons temps rouler, right!?

So, now we're officially into March and thisclose to the official start of spring (although it's unofficially been spring since like January 7 in Louisiana.) The muted colors are starting to get a little brighter, and the trees are starting to grow their yellow-green leaves. As much as I love the winter season and the holidays, springtime always leaves me feeling a little brand new.

Spring greens at Moncus Park at the Horse Farm

Today, let's celebrate the oncoming of spring with the 2017 color of the year, Greenery! Definitely my favorite color of the year in recent memory. During the unveiling of the color back in December, Pantone described their choice as:

Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.

Greenery is nature’s neutral. The more submerged people are in modern life, the greater their innate craving to immerse themselves in the physical beauty and inherent unity of the natural world. This shift is reflected by the proliferation of all things expressive of Greenery in daily lives through urban planning, architecture, lifestyle and design choices globally. A constant on the periphery, Greenery is now being pulled to the forefront - it is an omnipresent hue around the world.

A life-affirming shade, Greenery is also emblematic of the pursuit of personal passions and vitality.

via Pantone

Since I'm feeling a little extra pep in my step today (and since I've been less wordy around here), I put together a nice little Greenery Spotify mix for you to enjoy this weekend! A completely random mix of songs with "green" in the title (and I've at least heard most of them before!) and a small shoutout for any Suits fans out there.

I hope you all have a great, springy weekend!

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Another Year Older

Welp, I'm solidly in my thirties now. Most of what I have to show for 31 so far is a new driver's license (no more photo from age 22!) and a few more gray hairs. But, let's attempt to age gracefully, shall we?

Photo: Family Sponge

It's been a low-key celebration so far, but a fun one nonetheless, from visiting with my parents, to volunteering at a bicycle safety festival, to a dinner date at Bread & Circus, an amazing local restaurant.

So, what do I want for my birthday? A little love for Mother Nature! Doing any of these would be an amazing gift. :)

• Pick up a piece of litter you come across, and either throw it away or recycle it.
• Use a reusable mug for your coffee or water.
• Go for a walk outside (weather permitting).
• Turn the water off while you rinse dishes or brush your teeth.
• Turn the AC up a degree or two.
• Don't idle your car unnecessarily.
• Check out my newest birthday Spotify mix, 30+1 songs I'm currently jammin'.

I'll be back later this week with a look at summertime sun and fun without all the chemicals and waste.

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Music for Earth Day

Tomorrow is Treehugger Christmas, also known as Earth Day. It's a great time to practice your reduce, reuse, recycle skills, and just a fun day to appreciate our planet and our natural resources.

And why not celebrate to music? I've put together another little Spotify mix featuring some of my favorite artists and some well-known environmentally friendly musicians. Check it out below or follow me on Spotify (ecocajun, of course!)


Last week, as I was celebrating the 19^th anniversary of my favorite band's first single (ahem), I got to thinking about how music has changed since 1997 (and long before that too). I used to buy CD singles for my favorite bands, and now I listen to the same song in my car via Bluetooth, streaming from my phone.

From vinyl to 8-tracks to cassettes to CDs to digital formats, the footprint has gradually shrunken. I will always love physical copies of my favorite music, but digital music has taken over in terms of saving space in your home or your car, and has cut down on physical materials needed in production. The trade off is in the increase of power consumption, from keeping your devices charged to the servers that store files (and backups of backups).

Jack Johnson is one of the most well-known eco-friendly musicians, and the album below was recorded in his solar powered studio in Hawaii. He's also a member of 1% For the Planet, an organization dedicated to giving back to the environment through business sales.

The Meiko CD was "pre-loved", so I gave it a second life!
 

Want to learn more about which musicians are committed to protecting the environment and work to lessen their tour's carbon footprints?

• Fuse: 12 Ultra-Green Musicians and the Causes They Support
• Fuse: Goin' Green: Your Earth Day Playlist
• The Dead Trees: 25 Green Musicians and Bands

 

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Photo Friday | Spring Green

I can't believe it's already the first Friday in March! Spring is arriving right on track, so this weekend, get out and enjoy the weather! The highs in Lafayette are in the mid 70s and the sunshine will be in full force.

Head out to the park, spread out your picnic blanket, and maybe throw a Frisbee around for awhile. Oh, hey, that's what we did last weekend! (And it was glorious.)

And while you're at it, head over to Spotify, or simply click below, for my Eco Cajun Spring Green Mix—20 fun, springtimey songs that sound even better while you're laying on a picnic blanket at the park.

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Holiday Tunes to Kick Off the Season

Oh, the weather outside is...gray and drizzly! Ugh. Happy December 1, alright. It might not feel like the holidays yet outside, but I'm getting there.

One viewing of Christmas Vacation on Thanksgiving evening, a few decorations pulled out of the closet to replace all the autumn color around the house, and a desktop tree at work are all helping to fully transition the mood.

I've still got some work to do in terms of getting a tree for our house, and getting my shopping done. But, all the chores are made more tolerable with the addition of some good holiday music. I didn't even mind my Sunday afternoon cleaning because it was set against a soundtrack of Christmas tunes. Dax, however, did mind my dancing around the house (and the vacuum.)

So whether or not it's a winter wonderland where you live (hello, alliteration!), here's to getting in the holiday spirit with a few cozy photos of Christmases past, and a brand new Eco Cajun Spotify mix, featuring some of my favorite versions of holiday songs!

Make yourself some hot chocolate, put on your slippers and press play!

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cold weather, hot chocolate

If you haven't noticed yet, it's cold outside. Perfect excuse for scarves, boots and gumbo overloading!

Business first...make sure your home is also bundled up and winterized with these tips from last year.

Fun next...throw another log on the bonfire, grab a blanket and some hot chocolate and fire up this Eco Cajun Spotify playlist, Cold Weather, Hot Chocolate!

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green celebrities

Celebrities are not always known for the good things they do, but there is a great group of celebrities who have made headlines for their green efforts.

Instead of trying to share the most comprehensive list of eco-friendly celebrities, I'll focus on a select few (some of my favorites!) and what they're most known for.

Jack Johnson is one of my favorite eco-friendly musicians. A section of his website is dedicated to his green efforts on tour and with his All At Once campaign. Jack lives in Hawaii, and his record label, Brushfire Records, is headquartered in a renovated green building, including a number of innovative features to keep the environmental impact low, such as solar panels providing all power for the offices and studio, interior and exterior wall insulation made from 100% post-consumer waste (cotton from blue jean scraps), a Duro-Last green roof and recycled shingles. The past few Jack Johnson albums were recorded with solar power!

The Dave Matthews Band works in partnership with Reverb to put on the Bama Green Project. Created by the Dave Matthews Band, REVERB and IZSTYLE, the Bama Green Project encompasses all of the environmental efforts of the band while on the road, in the studio or at home. In addition, the Bama Green Project educates DMB fans around the world about how to take simple and positive environmental actions. Dave also rides his bike while on tour and made headlines last year when he was stranded before a show with a flat tire, and got a ride to the venue with a fan.

Image: Make It Right Foundation

Brad Pitt has focused some of his green efforts close to home, with his Make It Right Foundation in New Orleans. Following Hurricane Katrina, the Make It Right Foundation worked to build eco-friendly homes in the Lower Ninth Ward. Over 100 homes were certified LEED Platinum, the highest level of green building certification by the US Green Building Council.

Image: PAAW

Ian Somerhalder heads up the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, which focuses on animal welfare and the environment as interconnected parts the earth. A couple of years ago, he came to Lafayette as the emcee for Strut Your Mutt, an event that helped raise money for homeless animals in Acadiana. Yes, I missed it. Yes, I'm still a little mad about it. His foundation's environment work helps promote different issues, such as solar energy, bees, native plants in your garden and composting.

 

Image: LA Times

Ed Begley, Jr. is one of my favorite celebrity environmentalists. A few years back, he had a show on Planet Green called Living With Ed, featuring his wife Rachelle. I remember episodes showing their green home renovations, and they installed solar tubes in the ceiling for light and wind turbines for energy. Ed is someone who very much practices what he preaches.

 Image: Energy Times

Alicia Silverstone is known for her vegan diet and cookbook. Part of her reasons for her vegan lifestyle include health improvements and environmental concerns. A section of her blog, The Kind Life, focuses on Green Life. Alicia brings a refreshing view to environmentalism and ties it in to her vegan lifestyle beliefs. Her cookbook helps introduce newcomers to veganism and gives steps on easing the transition.

Image: E Online

Leonardo DiCaprio's foundation focuses on environmental and humanitarian issues, including wildlife preservation, water access and climate change. He's also known for driving eco-friendly cars, like the Fisker Karma electric vehicle.

Image: Be Youthful

Natalie Portman is another famous (and gorgeous) vegan. She's a big supporter of animal rights, which inspired her to design a line of vegan footwear a few years back. It seems as though the brand, Te Casan, is out of business these days, unfortunately. She also had a vegan wedding a couple years back in 2012, where the dinner menu was all vegan and guests received packets of wildflower seeds as thank-you gifts.

Who is your favorite eco-friendly celebrity?

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eco cajun birthday!

Image: Creative Party Place

Break out the magazine pages and cardboard boxes, make yourself a party hat and pour yourself a drink, because it's this Eco Cajun's birthday!

But of course, I had to give y'all a present! 29 songs for 29 years, including "Everything She Wants" by Wham, the song that was #1 the week of my birth in June 1985. (What were y'all thinking, people in the 80s!?) The rest are songs I'm enjoying right now, from my favorite bands to my favorite summer songs.

Next week I'll feature some ways to have an eco-friendly birthday, and share some fun ideas for children's parties! Hope you all have a fantastic summer weekend!

Image: Etsy

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Happy Earth Day!

Soooo...

How have you been doing on your Earth Month pledges? I've shown y'all a few new ways to be a little greener, and I've been sharing photos on Instagram. Posting new pictures each day is certainly one way to reinforce the idea of daily little green moment!

I've got on my favorite Dirty Coast shirt and I am ready to celebrate! No styrofoam, no unnecessary trash, and recycling everything that isn't reusable. And, chances are, you can find me neurotically picking up litter I cross paths with. I just can't help it!

Have you been keeping up with the EPA's daily Act on Climate tips? Are there any you already practice, or ones that you'd like to start doing? These are easy ways to make a difference in your household and car! Read more about each on the Act on Climate EPA page.

• Change five lights
• Choose WaterSense
• Recycle
• Drive smart
• Caulk entrances
• Take the Energy Star pledge
• Power down
• Reduce your carbon footprint
• Take a shower
• eCycle
• Maintain your car
• Think life cycle
• Use smart thermostats
• Fill your dishwasher
• Fix a leak
• Check tire pressure
• Reduce food waste
• Clean outside air conditioner area
• Save energy at home
• Reuse
• Spread the word
• Turn off the tap
• Compost
• Give your car a break
• Insulate water heater
• Change air conditioner unit filters
• Plug into power strips
• Try the Energy Star online home advisor
• Wash efficiently

This year, I decided to make you guys a little Earth Day present, because I love y'all just that much, and I now present to you the Eco Cajun Earth Day Spotify mix! 30 songs, spanning 2 hours. From nature imagery to environmental messages, I think this mix covers the spectrum pretty well.



Hope you enjoy the mix, and I hope this Earth Day treats you well!

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royal teeth on american idol

In the nature of supporting local businesses, I also love to support local musicians and artists. Some friends of mine, Royal Teeth, are performing tonight on American Idol's results show! This is a huge performance for them, and we are all so excited to watch tonight. I do hope you'll check them out, and I'm not sorry if "Wild" is stuck in your head for the next 24 hours. :)

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farewell, december

The closing track off one of my top albums of 2013 is so fitting today. Farewell, December, indeed. 

Happy New Year everyone!

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