the goode life

Happy Human Rights Day

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." (United Nations Human Rights)

World Gratitude

grat-i-tude:  the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

That's how the dictionary feature on my computer defines Gratitude.  We tend to express gratitude when something good we were hoping for actually happens for us; we show our thanks and appreciation after the fact.  What about before?  Why not be grateful without having received anything in return?

There's a movement that has been started by Stacey Robyn called World Gratitude.  She has gathered a community together of other like-minded individuals who express their gratitude everyday for everyday things.I would encourage you to peruse her website and maybe even sign up for the 42 days of the gratitude gathering (I've followed along twice), even though the new wave has already started you may join any time.

I really enjoyed the daily reminders of being grateful for things I tend to overlook! Go Gratitude!!!

The School of Life

My cousin and I are both completing our Masters Degrees.  She in Business, me in Green Building.  I prefer online, self-paced schooling; she prefers classroom instruction.  Online education is perfect for do-it-yourselfers like me.  I can teach myself anything from a book and oftentimes have, but some people need the discipline of a classroom and teacher.

Life is a lot like school, you live it, you learn it.  Sometimes life does seem to be a bit tricky to maneuver, but I never thought of going to school to teach me about it.  I always thought just living your life was the school.  

Well I thought wrong, apparently there is a school for life, called The School of Life, located in London.

(from their website):

 "Have you had one of those mornings lately in which you got up and wondered why you were doing a job that exhausted you or that you didn’t really enjoy? Or found yourself spending the day running against the clock, too stressed to eat properly but not actually creatively challenged?  Do you waste time brooding over unresolved arguments or feeling guilty for not being kinder to those in need?  Do you notice your mind flitting unsatisfactorily from what the government should be doing about the world’s financial situation to what you are going to do with your weekend?

The School of Life is a place to step back and think intelligently about these and other common concerns. You will not be cornered by any dogma, but directed towards a variety of ideas - from philosophy to literature, psychology to the visual arts – that tickle, exercise and expand your mind. You’ll meet other curious, sociable and open-minded people in an atmosphere of exploration and enjoyment."

This is most interesting.  I wished I lived in London.  I would love to stop by and sit for a class!

The Monarch

I saw this photo over at Jezebel.com and thought Oh Wow!

The "Conscious" Life

I really like the Conscious Lifestyle website.  Their motto is eat well. dress well. play well.  Three things we completely subscribe to here at The Goode Life!  I encourage you all to visit their site especially if you are a student and want to learn more on making a difference in your community or at school:

"Are you passionate about making the world a better place? Have an idea about how to make your fellow students and your school more socially responsible? Want to turn that idea into a reality?"

Conscious Lifestyle is accepting applications for its 2008 venture program, (click on the link to learn more about the venture program and what other schools and students are doing in their area).

Submit an application for the chance to win:

    * Up to $1,000 in start-up funding
    * Web space on consciouslifestyle.org
    * Monthly skill-building workshops
    * Personalized support
    * Access to a network of social entrepreneurs

To learn more and download an application, visit http://consciouslifestyle.org/ventures.

Application Deadline: February 15, 2008.

Technorati Tags: conscious lifestyle students schools

The EMAs

Last night the Environmental Media Awards - EMAs (pronounced emma) was on at the same time as the Country Music Awards.  I'll bet my "I'm Not A Plastic Bag" bag (<----people still want this bag), that more viewers were watching Carrie Underwood than Niecey Nash!  And the crazy thing is - the people watching the CMAs were exactly the kind of folk that needed to be watching the EMAs!  The EMAs is often watched by those already in the know so you are kind of preaching to the choir.  Yet I'm sure the NASCAR crowd does not want to hear anything on energy and fuel conservation.

I'm sorry to say I was very bored watching this program.  I wasn't expecting any dancing polar bears but half way through the show I was like where is the entertainment?  This is an awards show for the enter-tain-ment industry isn't it?

Incubus won the 2007 Pepsi Music award and even they did not perfom.  Sienna Miller won The Futures award which I totally do not get or believe.  Corporate sponsor of the event Toyota won the Corporate Responsibility award (surprise), Happy Feet won the Feature Film award, and adorable Bindi The Jungle Girl won the Children's Live Action Television award.  To see a complete list of all the winners and honorees go here.

The most deserving awards of the night went to Trudie Styler for Lifetime Achievement and Al Gore and Kevin Wall for Outstanding Achievement (The Creators of Live Earth).  Congratulations!!

There finally was a performance from the group The Roots (is it wrong that I often confuse them with the Black Eyed Peas? I kept looking for Fergie until I realized this was a completely different group,and I've seen the Roots in concert so you think I would know better!).

All in all there isn't much to report on last night's show as it was sort of anti-climatic, the tips they gave out during little breaks were ho-hum. C'mon who doesn't know by now you can recycle aluminum cans!!

But on a positive note at least they are doing something to make a difference and that's all that we ask.

Technorati Tags environmental media awards celebrities

Environmental Media Awards

Tonight is the 17th annual Environmental Media Awards!  It's a night to honor TV shows, actors, musicians, artists, films, basically anyone in the entertainment field who uses their talent to bring awareness to environmental issues!

The EMA has a very impressive list of distinguished members that make up it's board of directors including DJ AM and Lance Bass (who knew)!

I have to admit I'm a little bothered when I read the gen-e section on their website.  Gen-e stands for "generation environment" (boo!), and its the new generation of Hollywood stars promoting environmental awareness through personal appearances and celebrity role modeling.  Some of their "activities" include a stylish dinner party hosted by Mary-Kate Olsen, attended by Jesse Metcalfe, Nicole Richie, Mischa Barton, Joshua Jackson, and other young celebrities.  This event was covered in Teen Vogue.[ema]

I'm sorry but since when does driving a Range Rover, sipping non-fair trade coffee from Frankenbucks, and wearing fur equal sustainable living! I do believe there are many celebrities who really walk the talk (Ed Begley Jr., Edward Norton, Daryl Hannah) and then there are those who are hopping on the fad du jour train (see above).  I'm so sick of this!  I can't wait for the green backlash to really take hold (it's already begun) that way we can do away with all the wannabees, and just be left with those who truly give a damn because Hollywood has the attention span of a gnat (Kabbalah anyone, whatever happened to all those red string wearing celebrities?).

Anyways I'm only watching to see the incredible hotness that is Gerard Butler walk the green carpet!

I'll keep you posted, it's on E and I wonder if they will be doing their fashion coverage like they do all the other shows.  I'm curious to know how many celebrities show up in organic, sustainable, and fair-trade fashion!

Ciao for now......

Eco-Nouveau

All you Goode Lifers in the Los Angeles area must get their name on the guest list of Eco-Nouveau.  A lifestyle group of party throwers that combine art, fashion, and music!

I always figured New York would probably be the first to spawn such an idea but of course it makes much more sense that sunny (and happy) California would be the first to REALLY take eco-fashion to a whole other stratosphere!

Last month they had a fashion show that showcased designers Amanda Shi (Avita), Bahar Shapar, and Gary Harvey (who I heard brought the house down! - more on him later). 

Finally a place for the green elite to meet!

Technorati Tags eco-nouveau fashion Los Angeles

West Coast Green

I shall be gone all day tomorrow as I will be at West Coast Green, the largest green building tradeshow, ever!  So posting is going to be slow and next week I'll be in Detroit at General Motors special showing of their 2008 hybrids to bloggers! They are paying my all my expenses to go and test drive their new cars....ah The Goode Life, indeed!

I will be posting Splendicity's daily contests, so be sure to enter.  Teri did a great job of procuring goode prizes!

Ciao for now......

Technorati Tags: splendicity west coast green

Splendicity.com

The Goode Life is a proud member of an exciting new community launched September 4 called Splenditicy.com, the Destination site for splendid style on the web is kicking off it's launch with a month's worth of contests!

Check  here daily as I will post contest rules and how to enter daily.  Over $2000 in prizes will be given away, plus it's going to be fun.  Ciao!