by Carrie Simmons
As the New Year dawns and resolutions are made, I encourage each of you to include travel on your list of things to do in 2012 – immerse yourself in different cultures, as travel has a way of expanding your mind and educating the soul. Here’s a list of some of the hottest destinations to suit every budget.
←BORA BORA WONT BORE YA
A turquoise lagoon teeming with turtles and colorful tropical fish darting through corals of every size and shape – all seen from the floor of your hotel room. Le Meridien Bora Bora’s over-water bungalows have glass floors offering spectacular views of the lagoon’s crystal-clear waters. If you want to venture outside your hotel, kayaks and sailboats await, or take a tour to the lagoon’s edge to snorkel with sharks, stingrays or manta rays. There’s also hiking, underwater helmet walking, Jet Ski tours, biking and more. For more information, visit www.tahiti-tourisme.com
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With the new year ahead of us and looking and feeling fresh is on our mind, Zethina, owner of Zethina Cosmetics and Skincare, shares the latest trends in makeup. She said this year ranges from “barely there” to bright, bold color. It’s all about personal expression, and it’s up to you to pick the trend that best defines “you,” or even the whimsy of the day! Zethina creates custom blended mineral cosmetics, are all natural and she has over 150 eye shadows and blush colors in every shade, from mattes to shimmers. They do not contain bismuth oxychloride, talc, fillers, oils or petrol chemicals.
Tip: When choosing makeup, make sure to look for products that are paraben, animal cruelty-free, etc.
Intense Lip Colors
and feminine, but this feeling can be lost if you overdo the rest of your makeup. Keep your eyes simple, and use a matte color in a natural shade for your blush.
Rosemary - a versatile herb that can be used for your home and health. Maya E. Nahra, RD, LD, shares all the different ways to incorporate this
sprig into your home, kitchen or on your body!
HOME
- Clean with it – Rosemary oil makes a wonderful natural disinfectant that smells better than any chemical cleaning product. Simply mix ½ cup borax into a gallon of hot water, toss in a few sprigs of rosemary and steep for 10 minutes. Store in a spray bottle for all your basic cleaning needs.
- Natural flea repellant – Add ½ cup chopped rosemary to 4 cups of boiling water. Let cool, strain out rosemary, and add to a spray bottle to spray on your pet’s furry coat.
- Natural air freshener – A pot of rosemary in your home isn’t just decoration; it’s the perfect ‘green’ air freshener!
- Repelling mosquitos – When planted outside in pots or in your garden, the natural, yet powerful, oils in the leaves repel unwanted insects.
- Aromatherapy – Add rosemary oil to your bath, or burn a bundle of it in your fire, for a relaxing scent.
BODY
- Hair tonic – Boil ½ cup of rosemary in 2 cups of water for a natural hair moisturizing tonic plus dandruff eliminator.
- Tea – Rosmarinic acid is the antioxidant compound, found to be useful in stimulating the immune system, increasing circulation, and improving digestion. Steep fresh rosemary in hot water with lemon and a tab of honey for a fresh tea. Read more
BY JEFF HECHT
Green Living sat down with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and wife Nicole Stanton to learn more about sustainable initiatives and goals for Phoenix and discuss the importance of supporting local business.
At 41 years of age, newly elected Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton is the city’s first to grow up as a product of a sustainability-conscious generation.
“From as early as I can remember, my family composted, and whenever we’d eat eggs, we’d put the eggshells in a special bag which we used for gardening later on. I thought every household was doing this. We didn’t call it ‘sustainability’; it’s just what we did, and these were lessons for today we didn’t even realize we were learning at the time.”
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and wife Nicole France Stanton with Ruben Alonzo (left)
With his election to the City’s highest office, Stanton is now in a position to apply those lifelong lessons and work toward his vision for a new and more sustainable future for the desert metropolis he now leads.
Green Living readers have submitted their favorite spots to relax as they take in Arizona’s landmarks. Enjoy the great outdoors and the beautiful weather that Arizona has to offer during our mild winter months by visiting these great places. Thank you to our readers for submitting their special places to relax within our beautiful state of Arizona. Share with us your relaxing places.
Andrea Aker overlooking the view at Schnebly Hill Road Lookout. This "backdoor" view of Sedona's red rocks is truly magical. You can take in the scenery and relax without many distractions. Photo taken by Kevin Korycanek
Sustainable technology is taking center stage as homebuilders produce innovations that represent industry milestones. In fact, 2011 brought one of the most significant advancements to impact the American lifestyle– a net-zero production home that can create as much energy as it consumes.
Last year, there were fewer than 100 net-zero homes in the nation, with the vast majority being either high-end, custom-built homes or showcase homes used only for display purposes.
In a complete reinvention of the American home, Meritage Homes took a leadership role in creating more sustainable homes—–including the net-zero home—to reduce homebuyer energy costs, as well as the environmental impact. What makes Meritage’s net-zero home so unique? Unlike other net-zero homes in the marketplace today, Meritage’s net-zero home was designed, built and sold at a price competitive with the production home market.
“So many people have said that net-zero homes are impossible to do cost-effectively,” said C.R. Herro, vice president of environmental affairs for Meritage Homes. “We knew it was possible if you challenged the status quo, and the net-zero home illustrates how new homes can and should be built in the future to maximize energy efficiency.”
Welcome, 2012! I can feel the energy shift already. This year is about capitalizing on the happy, energizing your passion, and progressing forward! January is always the “goal” month, so let’s get to our “to dos!” I challenge you to write down what makes you happy and keeps you grounded, and the ways you can make small, positive differences in your world. I also encourage you to take time and make a vision board—cut out pictures that bring meaning to your heart, and find words or phrases that will remind you of your focus!
Moving forward, remember that life isn’t about working, stressing and carrying on. It’s about having fun, being full of laughter, and opening yourself up to exciting new experiences! It’s up to you to make mental changes and decide to choose happiness, regardless of life’s bumps in the road.
The picture for this note was taken in Hawaii, one of the most beautiful places on earth! It was here that I set my intentions for the year and took time to meditate on the beach. I took this time to feel the breeze, listen to the sounds of the waves, and reflect on friends and family who encourage me to seek my passion. I was overcome by a deep sense of gratefulness and completeness, which reminded me that some days you just need to kick off your shoes and put your feet in the sand. Find your time to reflect and rejuvenate this year. Mahalo. Read more
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