Found in Portland, Oregon, Card Rave is all about “Saving the Earth One Card at a Time.” They’re showing everyone that Earth friendly cards can be trendy and astoundingly affordable. All of Card Rave’s products are printed on 100% Recycled paper. Printed with dazzling and eye-catching colors, you’ll find party invitations for boys and girls.
Elegant and rich, this organic honey is called the “moonflower honey” in Italy and is produced in the Southern Italian Alps. It has a clean, light vanilla flavor and is delicate on the palate. It tastes delicious in coffee or tea or served drizzled over toast, ricotta cheese or shaved hard cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano. A unique and decadent hostess or housewarming gift.
A Northern Californian inhabitant with a heart for the Arts and Crafts Movement, Whit McLeod took the barrel ends left behind from their Wine Barrel Folding Chair assembly to create Hexagonal Oak Flooring Tiles. Specializing in handcrafted furnishings made with reclaimed materials, the furniture-making studio is located in the heart of redwood country. The majority of materials used are from recovered oak wine barrels – and in some cases Douglas fir rescued from industrial waste. The flooring comes unfinished but tiles are available in a rustic look, with the original burgundy patina or branded side up and an edge detail. So whether you’re looking for the flooring in your living room or want something unique in your bar, you have options available.
“Through my original designs, I feel we capture the heart of the Arts & Crafts Movement while preserving the provenance of the wood in a piece of furniture to be cherished for generations.” — Whit McLeod
McLeod began his career as a wildlife biologist and that passion for the environment can be seen in his Arts and Crafts furniture line. With a new eye, the Craftsman style has been transformed. Something gorgeous is being added to the world without taking anything away – it’s taking the idea of rescued materials to heart. Natural resources are not being wasted and landfill waste is kept to a minimum. In fact, everything is done in-house, just like the good old days, so every aspect of assembly is being watched. This has gone so far that even the manufacturing process relies on vintage machinery. McLeod retooled the machinery himself and scrounges through the scrap yards to find copper that he will be able to melt down for tiles used in their tabletops.
“The California Integrated Waste Management Board recognized Whit McLeod Furniture for successful efforts to reduce landfill waste in 1999; and in 2003 California Assembly Member Patty Berg honored Whit with the North Coast Green Entrepreneur Award.”
Summer is officially here and if you’re looking for a fashion statement that screams “I’m green” in retro style, look no further than these Bamboo Sunglasses by KAYU. Handcrafted by artisans, these sunglasses feature oversized lenses framed with bamboo. And for every set of glasses purchased, KAYU sponsors one sight-restoring surgery in the developing world.
Thousands of incredible natural wonders are available to travelers all over the world thanks to Mother Nature. Vast canyons, giant mountains and vibrant ocean scenery are found all over the globe. Hopefully you’ll be able to see some of these spectacular sights during your lifetime. And if you’re wondering where to start, try visiting the top 7 Natural Wonders of the World. Here you’ll find a little information about those wonders and a picture to help you envision your trip.
The Grand Canyon can be found in Arizona, USA and is mostly situated within the Grand Canyon National Park. The canyon itself is 277 miles long and 4 to 18 miles wide in certain areas. This massive ravine was etched into the natural scenery by the Colorado River. If hiking is your obsession, there are many choices for exploration from traditional hikes to extended backpacking trips. If you’re looking for something more unique, try riding on the back of a mule or take a ride down the white water on a rafting trip. Of course, the enormity of the canyon can only be truly appreciated with a helicopter tour.
Consisting of over 2,900 separate reefs and more than 900 islands, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest coral reef system in the world. At over 1,600 miles the Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space. One of the most diverse ecosystems in the world is supported by the great reef system and to truly view the vibrant fish, coral and marine life you should expect to get wet. Through the lens of a snorkel or dive mask, you’ll have a personal encounter with the local sea life.
Found in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro is surrounded by stunning mountains with unique formations. Traveling to the tops of the nearby mountains and overlooking the harbor will be one of your best bets to see the beauty of the harbor. The best time to explore the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro and avoid the humidity is during the months of September and October. Rio de Janeiro actually translated means “river of January” in Portuguese. Getting to the harbor is going to be simple as Rio de Janeiro is the largest and most popular city in Brazil.
Located in the Himalaya Mountains on the border between Nepal and Tibet, Mount Everest, also known as Chomolungma, is the highest spot in the world at 29,029 feet. If you are an adventurer at heart, you’ll probably want to make the trek to see Mount Everest and hike to the base of the mountain. If you are an advanced hiker and have $28,000 USD to purchase a climbing permit, you’ll most likely prefer to climb to the upper base camp. If you prefer a more comfortable and relaxed visit, try taking a guided flight around the mountain. Now trying to visit at the best time is more difficult to plan. You want to go when it’s not snowing. The best time to discover Mount Everest is at the start of the dry season in October and November, or at the end between February and April.
The Auroras, or Northern Lights, are naturally occurring lights that create fascinating and extravagant displays in the sky. The aurora lights frequently appear as diffused glow lighting up the horizon. The most amazing sight is when the northern lights appear as waves across the sky; it is almost as if the lights are dancing. The best place to see the Northern lights is to travel up to the Northern Hemisphere. The best chances of witnessing the dancing lights occurs March through April and September through October.
Having last erupted in 1952, the Paricutin Volcano in Michoacán, Mexico is the youngest cinder cone volcano in America. Its birth was witnessed by a human and therefore, it was established as a natural wonder. In order to truly see Paricutin, try to take the 12 mile round trip voyage to the top of the volcano through a laborious hike or by horseback. The volcano is located about 200 miles West of Mexico City and is surrounded by lava fields and sandy banks. On your way up you’ll pass buried village homes and a church. Paricutin can be explored at any time of the year, but if you wish to avoid the rainy season don’t plan on visiting from May through September.
Victoria Falls is found in southern Africa and is the largest waterfall based on width (one mile wide) and height (360 feet high). It’s protected by two national parks; Zambia and Zimbabwe. From the Zimbabwean side of the falls, visitors have the capability to see approximately 80% of the falls as compared to about 25 to 30% from the Zambian side. Visitors have the choice between two very unique and distinctive views of the falls. The first is a foot path that will put you at eye level of the falls. As soon as you enter the park and view the glory of the falls, you’ll understand the name, “smoke that thunders” when you observe the vapor rising and hear the water pounding. This is an essential way to experience Victoria Falls. The other way, and possibly one of the best, to see the falls is to take a microlite (small two person motorized aircraft) or helicopter tour over the falls. There are two seasons for the Victoria Falls area; the rainy and dry seasons. Late November to early April is when to expect the rainy season, and while most think this would be a perfect time to visit you’ll miss out on some of the most scenic views. The islets and rocky faces of the base of the falls is only visible during the dry months.
Many travelers are attracted to the lights and excitement of the Strip with the shows, casinos, and buffets. Let’s not lose sight of Mother Nature. She isn’t being left in the dark with some of her natural wonders that just happen to be within driving distance from the Las Vegas Strip.
For more information about the natural beauty Las Vegas offers, please visit “Mother Nature is Fascinatingly Close to the Las Vegas Strip.”
So now are you thinking about moving to Las Vegas? When compared to nearby markets, Las Vegas is still luring long distance movers to it’s vivid valley with relatively reasonable housing. There is a very large supply of homes available for sale and with the economy the way it is, prices have dropped below historic market value.
“There’s a pretty active housing market, it’s simply at a lower-priced inventory,” says Michael Feder, chief executive of Radar Logic, Inc. “And there are now bidding wars taking place over homes in foreclosure.”
Pardee Homes believes “green homes are better built homes.” The LivingSmart® homes offer four factors; EnergySmartTM, EarthSmartTM, WaterSmartTM and HealthSmartTM, to add Earth friendly features in every Pardee home. You’ll find every LivingSmart® home to meet and top local energy codes. All extra construction materials are salvaged, preservation of natural resources is taken to heart when Pardee Homes begins building. Preservation of water consumption is another key step to lower your impact on the community and save money.
Low-E Windows, Fluorescent lighting, iLevel Beams, carpeting made form recycled bottles, dual-flush toilets, WaterSense faucets, and low-formaldehyde insulation
Roof-Integrated Solar Panels, programmable thermostats, radiant barrier roof, Water-Friendly Landscaping, Lyptus Cabinets (short for “eucalyptus”), Bamboo Flooring, whole house water filtration, tankless water heater, low VOC paint and central vacuum,
Ready to Move In?
Here are three homes that have already been completed by Pardee Homes in Las Vegas, Nevada with “green” in mind. It’s easier than ever to call Las Vegas home and with a listing price under $200,000 you won’t have too spend much to still live an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Arrowhead – Plan 1C, priced at $169,750 (as of June 29, 2009)
Located in the community of Sunrise Highlands in Las Vegas, Nevada
Square Feet: 1,340
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
This residence is a singly story on an average lot size of 4,000 square feet. In the kitchen you’ll have Ceasarstone® kitchen countertops and Oak Light Wood kitchen cabinets. In the rest of the house you’ll have wood and carpet flooring. You’ll also have a 2-bay garage. The neighborhood is a Master-Planned Community with a children’s playground and tot lot. There’s also a park and a golf course nearby for the golfing enthusiast.
Arrowhead – Plan 2B, priced at $194,750 (as of June 29, 2009)
Located in the community of Sunrise Highlands in Las Vegas, Nevada
Square Feet: 1,680
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
This home has two stories on an standard lot size of 4,000 square feet. In the kitchen you’ll have Granite tile kitchen countertops, Maple kitchen cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. In the rest of the house you’ll have ceramic tile and carpet flooring. You’ll also find a fireplace and a 2-bay garage. The neighborhood is a Master-Planned Community with a children’s playground and tot lot. There’s also a park and a golf course nearby for the golfing enthusiast.
Rosetta – Plan 1A, priced at $195,400 (as of June 29, 2009)
Located in the community of Mountain’s Edge in Las Vegas, Nevada
Square Feet: 1,599
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
This house has two stories on an average lot size of 4,000 square feet. In the kitchen you’ll have Granite kitchen countertops, Maple kitchen cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. In the rest of the house you’ll have ceramic tile and carpet flooring. You’ll also find a 2-bay garage. The Mountain’s Edge community offers its residents several parks and a nature discovery trail at the base of the Spring Mountain Range. It’s located only 10 miles from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
