April 26, 2011 Go Green: Making a Green Commitment to The Environment That Goes Beyond Earth Day Vibrant &Trendy Colours For Your Home What to Do When Things Fall Apart
Quote of The Week
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. -Chief Seattle, (US) Divamish Indians
Editor’s Note
Look no more! We have the perfect colours that can transform your home to represent the true island in the sun in which we live. Earth Day has ended, but this in no indication that our efforts in the continued preservation of the environment should also come to an end. See how you can make a green commitment to the environment that goes beyond Earth Day and more in this issue.
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GoGreen:
Making a green commitment to the environment that goes beyond earth day
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t is no secret that the world we live in is not the same as it was 100 years ago, as the continuation of our species and lifestyle have led to the depletion of natural resources and hence a degeneration of our environment. Some activities are intentional while others are not, but we all have a part to play in the preservation of our world. April 22, 2011 marked Earth Day, which offers a tremendous opportunity for us all to promote and encourage the protection of the earth, for that day and beyond. Earth Day is celebrated every year, but we can all make it a priority to aid in environmental preservation through a few simple daily activities in our lifestyle. Reduce waste Reduce, reuse and recycle. Think carefully before you throw something in the trash; you would be amazed at the alternative uses that you can find for old items. Before you throw anything away, ask yourself how you can reuse it or if you can recycle it. Do the obvious to reduce your waste. Switch from disposable diapers to cloth. Use cloth shopping bags -- not paper or plastic. Skip the bottled water and put a filter on your faucet instead. The recycling of plastic bottles has been on the rise in Jamaica, so get information the nearest recycling facility and take all your plastic bottles there. Energy Conservation Reduce energy and gasoline consumption with these seven simple suggestions. • Switch to energy-efficient appliances. • Replace traditional light bulbs with CFLs or fluorescent. • Invest in a programmable thermostat (only heat/cool your house when you are home).
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• Turn off your electronics and unplug them from sockets when they are not in use. • Never drive when you can walk. • Organize a carpool for your office or with other parents to take your children or theirs to school. • Buy a fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicle. Save water • Wait until your washer is full - Don’t run your dishwasher or washing machine until you have a full load. • Do not run faucet continuously – Do you keep the tap running while you are brushing your teeth or while you lather in the shower? If the answer is yes, we recommended that you turn the tap off until you are ready to rinse. This will reduce the amount of water you use monthly, resulting in a reduction in your water bill. Green Cleaning Be eco-friendly by reducing the use of toxic chemicals in your home. You can make natural cleaning solutions from your kitchen cabinet: salt, baking soda and vinegar for example, are tough on dirt and grime. • Window cleaner - 3 tablespoons of vinegar to one gallon of water • Oven cleaner - Add table salt directly to baked-on food while your oven is warm, then wipe away • Bathroom cleanser - 2 tablespoons of baking soda to one quart of warm water • All-purpose cleaner - 2:1 solution of water and vinegar, plus a squirt of lemon juice Backyard Garden “Eat what you grow and grow what you eat” is something the Ministry of Agriculture has been preaching for years. Growing food in your backyard garden can save you money; in addition, it cuts down on the energy used to mass produce and transport food. If you don’t have a green thumb, help organize a community garden or, at the least, buy all your food from local farmers. your style eZine
cover story
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Vibrant &Trendy
Colours for Your Home
ransform your home by switching out the dark colours and thick fabrics for more breezy linens and lighter, trendy colours. After all, we are living in a tropical atmosphere so why not let your home say it? This year’s trendy colours are all about bright, bold and fun shades that invoke playfulness and relaxation, which are perfect for any season. While the list of vibrant colours is a bit more expansive than this, here are our favourite colours to try in your home for 2011.
Lavender Soft tones like lavender are being used for walls and linens since their tone gives off a sense of crispness without being too overbearing. It’s a great colour to use on an expansive space.
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Pier 1 glass lamp Silk lavender roses throw pillow cover L’Occitcane lavender scented candle
Honeysuckle The pink tint of honeysuckle is being used everywhere this spring as an accent colour. Large, splashy patterns with flowers showcasing this colour are perfect when used on throw pillows, curtains and lamp shades.
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Honeysuckle dancing orchid stem Handmade ceramic flower vase Cherry blossom throw pillow
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cover story Blue Curacao If ever there were a spring colour, it’d be blue curacao. This oceanic colour exudes warmth and playfulness and is perfect for punches of accent colours. While this colour could be used on a wall, it’s best kept at a minimum with an accent wall. It’s also great to use in a group of accessories, like a bevy of frames.
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Blue multi photo frame Blue curacao chair pad
Casual dinnerware, Garden Collection
Russet Russet is the complimenting factor to balance out the other strong spring colours that are popping up this year. This brown colour is a fantastic base for walls or bedding. Since it’s much more subdued than the others, it will provide an excellent canvas to allow the other accents to shine.
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Gold and russet swirled box pillow Lily slipper chair Russet bath towel set
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Beeswax Beeswax is another fun colour that could be used as both an accent or a base. Since the colour isn’t too overwhelming, it can work really well as a wall accent. Its warm and comforting tones can also be a great colour for a sofa or chair, or even for a decorative painted table.
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Crate and Barrel beeswax yellow planters Chinese lotus stems in yellow Decorative throw pillow your style eZine
relationships
H “We need to talk.”
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hese four little words drive mortal fear into the hearts of men and women whenever they fall from the lips of a significant other, a death knell pealing the end of the relationship. Whether you’ve been together for six months or six years, casually dating, living together or married, breakups take a hard emotional toll, especially if you didn’t see it coming. You might feel like falling to pieces when things fall apart, but allow yourself to grieve the loss of the relationship, surround yourself with people who care about you and take things one step at a time. Resist the urge to ‘still be friends’ ‘We used to be the best of friends. Why should that have to end because we’re no longer together?’ you might ask. Here’s why: even if the breakup was mutual or amicable, the dynamics of the relationship have changed and there might still be hurt feelings on both sides. Trying to hang on to a friendship after a breakup or divorce can be confusing and uncomfortable. Allow yourself and the other person time and space to resolve your feelings and deal with the issues that arise. Sometimes a new form of friendship develops over time but don’t force it; let it happen naturally.
What to Do When Things Fall Apart by Tracey-Ann Wisdom
big brother to ‘fix his business’, take some time to process your emotions and seek professional advice if you are especially out of control. Do what’s best for the children They are usually the ones who suffer most from a relationship breakdown as they often get caught in the middle with spiteful custody battles, and are sometimes forced to act as go-betweens for feuding parents. Where possible, try to iron out child care issues without going to court and never use your children as messengers. Also, don’t bash your ex when your children are around, which could damage their relationship and adversely affect their relationship with you. Go easy on the ‘rebound’ action Many rebound relationships come about from a place of loneliness and need. These feelings are natural, but resist the temptation to jump into a new relationship or have careless flings to assuage your needs. You might feel good in the moment, but you run the risk of getting hurt again and also endanger your health and well-being.
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Forget about revenge Some breakups are acrimonious and each party wants nothing better than to see the other suffer. In these cases, it is natural to be angry and think up creative ways to make the other person suffer, but wanting to pull a Jazmine Sullivan and bust the windows out of his car, is far different from plotting actual bodily harm. Remember there are serious consequences to these actions, including jail time, which will take you away from your loved ones. Before you call your
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