Living eco-consciously and other fun stuff!
Yummy Sloppy Jo At Karyn's Cooked on Wells
One of my girlfriends and I are starting a Veggie Supper Club to try out all the great vegetarian/vegan restaurants around the city. You don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to join us – everyone is welcome! Dinner will be the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7pm – beginning on May 25. If you’re interested in joining us please email me at cups@ecocupscious.com
I’ve seen a lot lately on guerrilla gardening. Spring is pretty much here – will you be doing any guerrilla gardening? Pretty much Guerrilla Gardening entails “bombing” empty spaces of earth with plant life – from flowers to produce. I think it’s a super cool thing to do! Check out the blog at GuerrillaGardening.org Kabloom is an awesome Scottish company that makes seedboms like these… I don’t think we can get them here in the states but if I come across anything similar that we can purchase here I’ll definitely post it!
Thanks to the following for enlightening me a little more on this subject!
GuerrillaGardening.org
Tomorrow evening at 8:30pm your local time, be sure to join Earth Hour by turning off your lights, TV, etc. While helping the earth you can enjoy the simple pleasures in life…some quiet time alone, a candle lit meal or the company of friends. Whatever you decide, make sure you at least turn your lights out from 8:30 to 9:30pm 
I wish I could go to this event but I’ll be off getting some sun in Mexico If any of you are in Chicago February 27, please try to attend! This is a great cause – dogfighting is a disgusting industry. I’ve seen some pretty disturbing videos. One thing that stands out is how loyal these dogs are to their owners. They’ll be put in a ring and told to fight and even while they’re getting their faces ripped a part, they keep wagging their tails as they hear their owners shouting, encouraging them on – in their mind they’re being obedient and they’re pleasing their owners. It’s extremely depressing 
The annual Spotlight Humane gala features dogs, drinks, and fine dining…
Jorja Fox, of the CBS hit crime drama “CSI,” will host the fifth annual Spotlight Humane: Chicagofundraiser at the Hotel Sofitel Water Tower on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010.
The benefit will support End Dogfighting in Chicago, a program of The Humane Society of the United States. EDC is an innovative, community-based program that works to turn Chicagoans away from dogfighting through street-level intervention, free dog training classes, humane education in Chicago public schools, religious leader outreach, and collaboration with law enforcement.
“As a dog lover, I am honored to be the host of The Humane Society of the United States’ Spotlight Humane: Chicago,” Fox said. “All proceeds from this event benefit the End Dogfighting in Chicago campaign, which reaches directly into high-risk communities. No one else in the country is doing more than The HSUS to end dogfighting.”
Spotlight Humane: Chicagois a festive evening of live music, dancing, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and extra features, including:
Spotlight Humane: Chicago
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010
7 p.m. to midnight
Hotel Sofitel – Water Tower
20 East Chestnut St.
Chicago, IL 60611
To register, please call 866-448-5052 or visit spotlighthumane.org.
Category : Animals, Fun Things To Do
I’m very excited to invite all of you Chicagoans to PAWS Chicago Animal Magnetism on Friday, February 5. The event raises money for PAWS and all the great work they do saving animals and dramatically lowering the number of euthanized pets in the city. I’m on the committe for the second year in a row and I absolutely can’t wait for the event. It’s a fun, young event where you can even bring your four legged furry friends! There will be buffet for humans and a buffet for pooches, cocktails, dancing, a fun photo book, a silent auction and a live auction. Click on the graphic above to go directly to the site – you’ll even see Eric, Winston and I at last year’s event in the little slide show on the front page!
On a side note we’re looking for donations for the silent auction, if you or someone you know may be interested in donating something let me know! I really appreciate it!
At the holidays we’re all so busy wrapped up in ourselves, our families and our friends that we often don’t stop to think of people outside of our bubble. I’m sure like me, you’ve received countless emails from various organizations asking for money and most likely you’ve quickly deleted them or maybe in your rush to get somewhere you haven’t had time yet to slip $1 into the hanging pail the Salvation Army Bell Ringers hold. As Chanukah quickly goes by and Christmas nears, take the time to slow down and see where you can help.
In an effort to do something good for others I created my own way of giving that might work for you too! I live in Chicago where there are countless homeless people and it always breaks my heart to see them out in the freezing temps this time of year. This will be the second year that I will pass out gift cards to them so they can get a hot meal. Many don’t like to give people money as they’re not sure what the person will use it for. This is a great way to give money but be certain that it will spent on a hot meal. I have chosen a particular fast food establishment which I will not name as to be honest I don’t even eat there since even their fries have beef flavoring on them and nor do I really care to advertise them but they’re on nearly every block downtown. Thus, they’re convenient, cheap, provide three meals a day and are open long hours, and as far as I can tell wouldn’t discriminate a homeless person coming in to purchase food.
I purchased several $10 gift cards which should cover a meal and a cup or two of hot coffee on other occasions. I simply take a marker and write $10 on the plastic gift card and pass them out to the people that I see on a regular basis downtown. It’s a small gesture but I’m happy to know they’ll be able to enjoy a little warm food on these terribly cold winter days.
Sunday I made it over to Nina to check out her selection of organic cotton yarns. She carriers a pretty vast selection of colors from Blue Sky Alpacas line of hand spun organic cotton. I do love the stuff yarn I’ve been using from JoAnn’s but they don’t have many colors and of course it is always better to support a local business
Blue Sky Alpacas Handspun Organic Cotton, the perfect addition to our expanding line of feel good yarn. Grown from 100% organic cotton, there are no pesticides, herbicides, agro-chemicals or dyes used in the growing, harvesting or production of the fiber. The yarn is hand spun on drop spindles by a women’s cooperative in Arequipa, Peru. Knitters will love the rich feel of the yarn. They’ll also feel good, knowing that the yarn production is helping preserve a centuries-old tradition of eco-friendly cotton cultivation in Peru and improve the lives of the poverty-stricken women who live there. Working with a local charity, Blue Sky Alpacas employs women to spin Hand Spun Organic Cotton, providing them with a living wage that helps them care for their families and send their children to school.
nina: a well-knit shop
1655 west division street
chicago, illinois 60622
view a map
Category : Fashion, Fun Things To Do
I’ve gotten crafty and have started knitting. I learned how to knit as a child but haven’t done it in so many years that I’d rather not say as it kinda makes me feel old – even though I know I’m not really old! There are so many great websites with instructions and lots of videos out there on You Tube to guide you every step of the way. I found some great 100% organic cotton yarn by Lion Brand at JoAnn’s which I’m in love with – it is super soft and lovely. I just finished this scarf as a birthday gift for my sister and am looking forward to starting my next project!
Nature’s Choice is grown and spun without the use of pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals. The dyes used to create our beautiful colors are certified according to the Global Organic Textile Standard by the Institute of Marketecology. Nature’s Choice is a soft, versatile yarn that’s so easy to work with and perfect for everything from baby blankets to fashion items. It’s good for your knitting and good for the planet. Made in the USA
Recently Marisa from Kind Green Planet and Vegan at Heart included Eco-Cupscious in her weekly mission! What an honor! Marisa sends a weekly mission for veganism. It isn’t just for vegans or people who are making that change but for anyone! You learn so much about food, health and good things for the environment! Check out her site and sign up for her missions.
Anyway, the misison I’m referring to was called Insta-Community: Awesome Vegan at Heart Reader Blogs & Sites. She was so kind to connect all of her followers so we can learn from each other as well. I’ve gone through most of these sites and they’re fantastic. What a great way to connect with other like-minded people and share information!
Blogs
http://sistersvegan.blogspot.com
Cooking, comics, current events, and the hijinks of our loopy vegan sisterhood!
http://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/
Your guide to glamazon living
http://vegangirlnextdoor.wordpress.com
It’s Easy Being Vegan!
http://zpoeschl.wordpress.com
Conscious consumerism for every aspect of life
http://www.ecocupscious.com
Living eco-consciously and other fun stuff!
http://www.tinychoices.com
Our thoughts on small (and not-so-small) environmental choices
http://nashvegan.wordpress.com
Eating (and living) as a vegan in Nashville, IN
http://friendordoe.blogspot.com/
Featuring vegan fashion & recipes, it’s a lifestyle blog that highlights veganism as both normal, easy & pretty hot too!
http://www.organikook.com
An organic, vegan, green living website
http://www.theapeman.blogspot.com
“Recipes for vegan dinners and baked goods and a few vegan tidbits that keep me motivated to be a vegan activist”
http://vivasustainable.tumblr.com/
Ideas, tips and philosophy on sustainability as it relates not only to our environment and both our personal and universal health, but our lives in general
http://itsnoteasybeinggreen.typepad.com
A planet and animal friendly blog dedicated to sharing the daily little things that make all the difference in the world– it’s not easy being green but it sure is worth the effort!
http://greenergirl.typepad.com/
Green, ethical, animal-friendly cosmetics, body care, food and fashion
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/
An online portal into the vegan world
http://www.twolia.com/blogs/livin-veg/
Livin’ Veg – animal rights, veganism and living a humane life
http://esgonevegan.blogspot.com/2009/04/dude-i-hear-ya_11.html
“My experiences with the hows and whys of starting a vegan diet.”
http://www.troofoodliberation.com
“Fighting Food Crime Since 2009″
http://pandoras365.blogspot.com/
“This is my 365 blog where I post a pic (or more) each day for a year, a way to get inspiration for the future by looking back.”
Social networkingOrganizations
http://www.meetup.com/Vegan-Long-Island/
Vegan Long Island is a meetup group for vegans, vegetarians, and the veg-curious founded in April ’08, now with over 200 members.
http://meetup.com/Northwest-Connecticut-Vegan-Outreach
Northwest Connecticut Vegan Outreach is a meetup group whose purpose is to help folks meet vegans, vegetarians, and raw foodists in the area, and be an active voice for farm animals.
http://www.novoiceunheard.org/
A non-profit organization who has found a niche as an independent publisher of books about animals, including Ninety-Five: Meeting America’s Farmed Animals in Stories and Photographs, due out next spring
Businesses
http://www.twoinatree.com or http://kitcolorado.etsy.com
Unique, often up-cycled, hand-crafted jewelry (we do custom orders!)
http://www.mdyoga.com/
Chicago and Indialantic, FL-based yoga teacher who is “spreading joy and mindfulness for a kinder, gentler world.”
Category : Fun Things To Do, Household
I think these Ecopods are the coolest things – if only they had a kitchen and/or bathroom. They’re a little rustic for me to use as a vacation home – a once a year camping trip yes, but probably not much more than that If you’re the type of person to enjoy the more rustic vacationing these are for you! – WAIT! there is a chance they do have some sort of kitchen or bathroom as I just read on their site something about a refrigerator and a composting toilet. It is possible there is a toilet but not a shower and a refrigerator but no stove. They’re $27,000 Canadian and can be put anywhere – so if you have a piece of property in a beautiful area and want something a little more substantial than a tent the Ecopod is perfect. The floors are made of recycled car tires and the one side of the shipping container folds down and becomes the deck. So – if you really could have a toilet and some kitchen amenities I really might enjoy it after all!
