Better than a Staycation

It seems everywhere I look, be it magazine covers to online headliners, people are sticking close to home this summer season. Jazzing up the idea with terms like "Staycations" trying to find inspiration to tour your hometown, or at least someplace plane ticket free. Blame it on the economy and the way of the changing world- it's hard to spend money these days without guilt- for everyone else I guess. Meaning, it's always hard for me to spend money- I don't know what it is? A running joke now with my boyfriend as I carry around a pair of pants for 30 minutes while out shopping, get so close to the counter to pay and then somehow talk myself out of the purchase. "I have enough pants, don't I? I work hard for the money that I do have and want to spend it on things I can enjoy, like traveling, wine and cheese, rather than a cute little halter?! Please ladies keep reading...That being established I've decide to share with you my secrets on how I travel, green-minded and economically, and really get to explore and enjoy. Greenstream Gourmet- Goes camping!! I want to share how easy it is to find affordable adventure all across this amazing country. How fun it can be to throw together amazing campfire dinners inspired by the local specialties. As long as you start out with the must have items packed tightly in your outdoor pantry- campfire cooking can be some of the most gourmet meals you'll ever have the guts to put together. It's all about breathing that fresh air, taking time to hike around, explore, and marvel at the something that is greater than all of us put together. Then dig in to our bountiful riches and digest under the stars. I bet you'll find it hard to spend money on hotels again after a peaceful nights sleep in the great outdoors. No one is claiming to be Davey Crockett here either- don't get it twisted. We are real, easy going people who happen to love the outdoors and also love the finer things in the gourmet world. It's easy and most of all really FUN. My first camping trip out west absolutely changed my life for the better. Now I am going to show you how to still get away without blowing your budget. Lucky enough to live in the US, our National Parks are some of the most coveted natural areas in the world. It's time to think creatively, outdoorsy and get moving- your best vacation yet is waiting for you! Stay tuned....

Food Revolution!!

This is such a fantastic show. One time Naked Chef- Jamie Oliver filled with passion and excitement for.....Vegetables?! It's amazing. Working to clean up a rural town in West Virginia's school lunch program, Jamie must battle with children's habits, school politics and the inevitable, sort of scary, lunch lady who thinks everything is fine the way it is. Obese parents raising obese children on frozen pizza and chicken nuggets. It made me mad, and then sad, and then really hopeful that these people see the blessing that it is that Jamie has rolled up into their town. It's been about 5 episodes now and the folks of Huntington are opening their minds and mouths to wholesome, REAL food. Bravo Jamie!! Anything I can do to continue this revolution- Greenstream Gourmet is on board.

Olympic Time!!

  

From the interviews on morning shows to the billboards in Times Square to the magazine covers of all of our USA hopefuls- I am feeling the excitement! Being a huge sports fan, I  know that the Olympics is as good as it gets for competition.  The best of the best! It's not because of a special trade or a huge endorsement, but because these are the chosen ones, by a higher power; that have the ability and the extreme self discipline to mold their bodies into forms that beat the odds. An admiration I will never lose sight of. Their physical appearances do not lie.  I also  believe this can be a time of great spiritual enlightenment as well. Communities, countries and all the world watching together with intense hope and belief in realizing the dreams of these athletes.  A reason to believe that hard work pays off, an idea I think we may have lost sight of in today's times. The power of intention-the power of energies joining to make a truth.  Watching others fulfill their dreams lends hope and passion to the belief of one day having our own dreams become a reality too.   I love it!  So until I figure out my personal masterpiece idea on  bringing the Sports world and the Green world together, I will share instead a small idea from the Vancouver games on recycling:

Vancouver's green Games to recycle banners

Earlier banners celebrating the city being awarded the Olympics were sewn into schoolbags for local children.

The city plans to recycle the banners when the events are over, and Mayor Gregor Robertson said he welcomed ideas for what to do with the flags.

"Reusing these banners will reduce the environmental impact of the Games," Robertson said Wednesday.

"At the same time, we want the banners to be transformed into something that will help people in our community and will become a lasting, meaningful legacy." 

Not bad- Not great- but it's a start.  I hope to fill you in with more acts of Eco-Friendliness from Vancouver very soon.  Good Luck Olympians!!!  We'll be watching with open hearts-

Rooftop Garden

Here it is!  The Rooftop Garden in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  I finally made it over to the greenest spot across the river and it was just what I had hoped it would be.  With plenty of visitors that day, I'm hoping their final Farmer's Market of the season was profitable.  Available for sale were greens like purple kale and various lettuces.  The head farmer Annie was there walking and talking around the garden to many of its guests.  I overheard her inquiring with a friend about how to get fish juice to the farm.  The oils and juice will nurture the soil with tons of vitamins and minerals, allowing for more nutrient rich veggies next spring. They have started a volunteer list for the upcoming winter projects and I'm hoping I get a chance to participate.   It was SO cool to see such a wonderful project excelling.  I'm looking forward to seeing more of these rooftop farms next spring. This city never ceases to amaze me.  Besides its being awesome on every other possible front,  now we get to enjoy farm fresh, LOCAL produce too?  Revolutionary- The term the "Big Apple" now has new life. 

Rooftop Rose

As I was knitting away on my rooftop tonight, with a glass of wine and NYC as my backdrop, I was suddenly comforted with this great gust of garlic.   I quickly realized this is just one of the reasons I love being back in NY.  Garlic is in the air!  It's also the month when the San Gennaro Feast and other Italian festivals pop up all over this area and frankly- I love it! Garlic is known for a number of medicinal uses such as warding off colds, the flu and Vampires.  It has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that our bodies appear unable to build up resistance to un-like pharmaceutical antibiotics.  It supplies great amounts of Vitamin C , B6 and Maganese- an important mineral for cardio vascular health.  So enjoy the tasty benefits of the amazing stinking rose-Cheers! to your health, and so much more.  

Brooklyn Flea

I finally made it over to the much anticipated Brooklyn Flea this Saturday.  It was kind of a gloomy, misty day so it wasn't the full show but still - a Great experience.  Independent artists, jewelers and foodies with their awesome goods.  A couple of furniture makers and vintage dealers as well. All that inspiration is free for the soaking in. A lot of the vendors are  selling vintage or reclaimed items.  Pictured above are old records musically re-crafted and made into stylish jewelry.  The artist was nice enough to let me take a picture, so I'm returning the favor with a little blog posting love.  It runs until the end of October and it's a great way to spend your Saturday morning outside, supporting the local-(ish- I'm living in Hoboken at the moment) community, filling up on delicious soul satisfying crafts and grub. I love Brooklyn!

If You Plant Them, They Will Grow

It's true.  Since moving into Hoboken,  I've spent the last couple of weeks cruising around my new hood. It's so beautiful with the old, now re-stored brownstones and overgrown window boxes making up the mile squared town.  The views of the city are something to see and I feel blessed to now enjoy them daily. You can basically walk everywhere and if your short on time, you can simply hop on a bike. They've recently begun 2 Farmer Market's for the opposite sides of town where you can purchase local fruits and veggies weekly. Not always organic but on their way.  I've learned about IPM-Integrated Pest Management, something I hadn't heard of in LA.  It works to fight the pests that eat away the crops without compromising the soil?  I think it's a good thing.  One of my favorite discoveries so far is the creativity of planters for my neighbors need to grow things.  I've seen a cinder block lined patio filled with ferns and flowers.  Old cabinets loaded with dirt and now home to an herb garden.  The most out of the box idea thus far goes to the folks around the corner who decided to put to use their old claw footed tub and have a garden.  Have seeds- will grow! I think I'm going to like it here.