Next time you need a little energy boost, reach for Calnaturale Svelte energy drinks. With plenty of protein from soy and natural stevia as a sweetener you wont come crashing down like you will on most high protein Splenda headache inducing drinks. With names like Looking Good (French Vanilla), Enjoy Yourself (Cappuccino), and Hello Beautiful (Chocolate) you might just reach for these next time you need a little self endorsement. My fave-Just Your Style, a Spiced Chai that comes in around 200 calories with 16 grams of soy protein works great as a snack or meal replacement.

Enjoy!

One of our most valuable commodities is often the most neglected. I’m talking about our water. Water is our liquid gold, and if there is one company out there which truly has the potential to blow Groupon’s IPO, well, out of the water, it’s ZERO WATER.

ZERO WATER has the patent for ion exchange water filtration for residential use. Why is this beyond awesome? Think of it’s potential use to clean up the undrinkable in China. And what about places like Haiti or Japan which have been recent subjects of natural and man made destruction. What if everyone had one of these in their homes? What if every hospital and park used this technology? What if we started really using municipal water and got rid of all this water mining?

How does it work? In most basic terms, Zero Water holds a 5 part ionic filtration system. It is the only water filtration where you will see results of 000 total dissolved solids and it comes with a TDS testing device that ensures this is the case. I tested the water in my home filtered water(100+), the park, the fountain, and all-even the filtered were over 100, some 300. And it is much worse in other parts. The water in Vegas? You don’t want to know. Even in bottled water I have detected unacceptable amounts. In ZERO WATER, it came out at zero. What does this mean? Well, although not all dissolved solids are necessarily bad, I’m rest assured I’m not getting any of the lead to go with it.

When it comes to decorating, I like to think of myself as a re-user. I think once a piece has standed the test of time , it’s likely to do so in the future. Not sure if I can say that about IKEA or Pottery Barn, and with an older piece, it’s much less likely to be seen in every staged home on the planet.

One of my current obsessions is Maison Jansen. A Paris based decorating firm, that was started in 1880 and who’s client list has ranged from Jackie Kennedy (White House), The Biddle Family ( Cap Jean Ferrat), Lord and Lady Mountbatten (Brook House, London), The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, (Paris) and the Shah of Iran.

That said my  piece de la resistance is a 1930′s  couch I purchased recently. It’s pretty, and so comfy you can sleep on it-so my dog Schoko says. And from the look of it it’s value only increases with age. The pieces I passed on were on 1STDIBS.com for 5 times the price. With the downturn in the art market I was able to scoop up an ottoman, a desk, two beds, two chairs, a bench, and a vanity-at well….Pottery Barn prices.   How’s that for eco-friendly value? Touché.

Who doesn’t love the taste of a fresh baked Pecan Pie and some old fashioned donut holes. Everyone, right?
Except we cringe at the guilt from non-nutritive calories and a blood sugar spike that can put you in a bad mood. Thankfully, there is a healthy solution by Gimme Good Stuff by Mom and Me. Mom and daughter are raw food advocates who praise the China Study and produce the best tasting Raw Pecan Pie bars ever. I love to buy them by the dozen and cut them in half to serve at parties, they are always a hit-people don’t realize they are raw! They also have amazing “donut holes”, made from low temp dried nuts and fruits. My current favorite is gingerbread, but they are all awesome!

But don’t stop there. Since their prices are extremely reasonable for raw food, It’s my go to place for raw pecans and cashews in bulk. Try my recipe for Chai High, my take on a creamy chai shake using raw cashews:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup raw cashews
4 pitted organic medjool dates
2 organic chai tea bags or equivalent in loose leaf tea
1 cup filtered water

Directions:
Take glass container and steep 2 tea bags in 1 cup filtered water overnight in refrigerator. Remove tea bags and discard. Place 1/2 cup raw cashews in Vitamix or food processor with chai water. Blend untill creamy. Add medjool dates and blend again on high. Serve immediately or keep in covered glass container in fridge for up to three days.

Serves 1 or 2.

Enjoy!

Just a quick note for my readers. Alternative Apparel, a great brand for awesomely soft eco-friendly tees, sweatshits and more is having a two days only 30% off Friends and Family sale ending tomorrow. I like the Maniac Eco Fleece Sweatshirt, but the most popular tends to be the 95/90 ZIP Hoodie, the 10/70 basic tee for men and the 10/72 basic tee for women. These are super soft! You can wear them on the street or sleep in them. Enjoy!

Hello Girlonabike readers! I wanted to share my favorite raw chocolate treat with you, GONE NUTS by LIVING INTENTIONS. These awesome little raw treats are satisfying and sometimes I will eat a bag as a meal. I first found them years ago at Rainbow Grocery in S.F. and now you can get them online for much less. Buy more than 12 at a time because through June 30th you can get them for less than $5 and I have seen them in stores for up to $9. Either way they are worth it. My favorite is the Chocolate and Almond listed above. They kind of remind me old fashioned chocolate pralines that you would find on the streets of France, but you can rest assured that you are getting plenty of tasty low glycemic nutrients with these guys. Enjoy!

Degournay, a purveyor known for their exquisite taste in Chinoiserie handpainted panels, has something even more chic to show off, this year their bike at the Maison Objet.

Entering their store on Rue de Sevres in Paris and observing the fine velvet fabrics and china displayed in the bikes basket, I imagine taking the bike down the street, filling it with Eric Kaiser’s best and cruising down the Seine and back of course…the bike is not for sale, but here is what I ponder taking home. Degournay customizable wall panels, framed by panel or in sequence, like wallpaper scenery, are inspirational and will make a room. I adore the koi, the elephant, and the Laduree Green Chinoiserie, otherwise known as Fishes, Early Views and India, and Emerald Green Earlham. The piece de la resistance, however is the Chippendale George III Mirror in white.

Of heavy consideration are the hand-carved furniture pieces, using traditional woods which can be stained, waxed, polished or French-polished. At Degournay, the possibilities are endless and they work hard to meet clients specifications. In any situation, you are guaranteed to get quality results.

Just got back from Aspen Fashion Week and it was a blast! I stayed at the Viceroy Snowmass where I spent almost two weeks indulging in eco luxury and exceptional service. Make sure to stop by K-8 restaurant and try the Loch Duart Salmon, one of the few fish approved by Clean Fish Council, and the yummy fruit plate accompanied by greek yogurt dipping sauce. If you are looking for something quick, ski right off of Assay hill into Nest, the Viceroy’s pool side lounge cafe for a lowfat greek yogurt parfait served in to-go eco containers, or my other favorite-the organic mixed green salad topped with chipotle grilled chicken.

My trip just happened to coincide with Clicquot in the Snow, a four day champagne  filled event held around Aspen and Viceroy’s Nest and Pool Deck . Highlights were Saturday’s Apres Ski party at the Viceroy. Revelers, including E! Entertainment Giuliana Rancic tossed down champagne, oysters, and crab legs while dancing to tunes spun by Baya Voice. Veuve Clicquot made a donation to Challenge Aspen for every flute sold, and let me tell you-there was a lot of champagne going around, guests were donning their bright orange rayban-esque glasses and jumping into the Veuve Clicqout Gondola photo booth to snap party shots with retro fur coats and bottles of Veuve.

After recovering by the pool on Sunday, I headed downtown to the Snowstage, where KJUS and Obermeyer kicked off the Aspen Fashion Week with a energy charged show at the base of Aspen Mountain. Following the runway I headed to the Wolverine party at Tenet, where owner Jesse Warren  picks out hard to find eco luxury brands including Rogan Jeans.  After that I was off to the W Magazine Fashion Week kick-off party at Brexi and Dancing Bear. A fully packed upstairs and downstairs was filled with models, some I may have mistook for models, after all it is Aspen, and fashionistas from everywhere. Lauren Bush was there, sporting the weeks must have item, a FEED bag, featuring Aspen Fashion Week’s Logo in natural canvas and environmentally friendly dyes.

Monday had me back at Snowstage to watch Uber-Chic German designer Dannennmann and Obermeyer strut next years winter gear on the runway. Afterwards I headed over to Pucci for a cocktail party where shoppers envied hot pink retro swirl prints, gowns and puffer vests.  Ended the evening at Wheeler Opera House to watch Naomi Conquers Africa, a Douglas Keeves Film, that features her visit with Nelson Mendela, accompanied by Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, and Amber Valetta.

Tuesday was the FEED event at Ralph Lauren where I met FEED Co-founder Lauren Bush who was striking without an ounce of make-up! Picked up two FEED bears and headed over to Belly-Up for a memorable performance by John Forte.

Wednesday was my last day in Aspen and I spent it lounging at the Viceroy spa, and later went to town for a final Snow Magazine’s best of winter round-up, an after-party at Il Mulino with the Us Ski Team, followed by tacos and cervesas at Marmot.

Leaving my hotel Thursday morning, I was introduced to Bobby Kennedy, in town speaking to business leaders about his vision for clean energy and economic growth for our country-he even took the time to speak to the entire staff of the LEED certified Viceroy hotel, more on that later this week…

Looking for one-stop shopping and charity? Head to Ghirardelli Square’s Lower Plaza and find Helpers Bazaar, an amazing place to shop for everyone on your list including yours truly. Vintage clothing(very eco-conscious!), jewelry, table linens, and art work are just some of the treasures you’ll find. Christmas ornaments handmade by the developmentally disabled, hats, mittens, and scarves make excellent presents. There is even a Wilkes Bashford corner. Sounds expensive? It’s not. You can get designer labels at 80% off the retail price and many great gifts start under ten dollars. The best part? 100% of the proceeds benefit the mentally disabled.

 Make sure not to miss the “mouse couture”, cleverly dressed  4 inch stuffed mice dressed by the real deals such as Carolina Herrera and Armani.  

Helpers Bazaar, 900 North Point Street, Lower Plaza, Ghirardelli Square, 11:30-5:30

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