Fever Breaks

Before: Kitchen

2009-12-02T15:53:00.003-05:00

this is my new kitchen. Will be changing the colors here as well, but really love the layout, the open cupboards and the exposed brick. There is even a pantry closet! (not pictured here)

before: living room

2009-12-02T15:48:00.002-05:00

Here is one side of my new living room! I am going to post an extensive before and after of my new place once I make progress on it. well, once i actually live there and move all my new furniture in...but first, I will be painting. check back for new updates daily!

Ferns fronds

2009-11-30T22:09:00.003-05:00

I really love ferns. Something about their delicate curling spirals, symetry and soft green leaves...this is the type of fern I grew up with in the woods of maine as a child.

2009-11-28T22:39:00.002-05:00

this view will all too soon be a thing of the past. I can't believe I am leaving NYC!! I live in the east village, its been so great, and now...I'm headed to the coast of maine...can't wait to chronicle my views from my new place in Portland! (ie: casco bay)
(this is my sweet little daughter having a look at our puerto rican neighbors having a summer party)

customizing blackboard paint

2009-11-28T22:28:00.003-05:00

I painted these large circles in chalkboard paint for a fun decor. Siena has her space and I have mine, its a win win and added alot of balance to my small cluttered kitchen.

a pigs lair

2009-11-28T22:23:00.002-05:00

picking up sweet corn from a local farmer my father knows, and this is the favorite pet around their farm. she is huge! she tried nudging me into a live electric fence and I had to jump outta her way as she came up to my waist in height.

bike alot

2009-11-28T22:18:00.003-05:00

I used to ride my fixie all the time, now siena plays with it all the time as it gathers dust in my bedroom. at least its by my side while I sleep. ha

missing late summer

2009-11-28T22:08:00.003-05:00

really missing sandals right now as my toes are clad in wool socks currently.

a duo of photos

2009-11-28T22:01:00.004-05:00

Maine, Sept 2009. Taking a walk with Siena in the jogger and this is what we encounter down the dirt road...

antique finds

2009-11-27T15:10:00.002-05:00

...more antique finds in Maine via craigslist...really looking forward to outfitting my new home with all "new" to me antique and vintage finds. I am selling all my furniture except some small things... I already feel refreshed!
Happy Holidays everyone, hope thanksgiving was beautiful!

I felt the holidays

2009-11-25T11:24:00.002-05:00

Expand your eco home collection with one of these felted, recycled wine racks. Branch home provides many attractive eco and stylish home products. Conversation starter for sure! i know I am putting this on my wish list for the holidays/housewarming gift as I cozy up with new essentials for my new home in Portland, Maine.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

my photos

2009-11-15T22:54:00.006-05:00

I have yet to efficiently update my blog with tons of my photos..but in the meantime I want to share this one...(there is a post previous to this with an addtional set of Tulum Mexico photos)
Richard in Tulum Mexico, Dec 2008, Pentax asahi 35mm camera, with a light leak.

**You can check out some my photos of the Flagrant Fowl Boys over at their blog flagrantfowl.net, or on their myspace page. The bullshit shirt is the best
Sept 2007 Fader release party NY NY

and i am quoted... again!

2009-11-15T23:43:00.004-05:00

I have been quoted in some varied literatures, because of my position at Lodge as daytime manager/book keeper, in Williamsburg Brooklyn...as far as importance, the MCain's Business guide and the New York Post on Delivery.com's delivery awards are great runners up.

"The owners of Lodge restaurant (318 Grand Street) emerged with two victories as well, winning Best Comfort Food andBest Home Grown for its sister operation, Urban Rustic (236 North 12th Street).Open since 2005, and serving take out since summer 2006, Lodge is fast becoming a local institution, known for sleepy brunches and cozy date nights on the edge of Williamsburg’s South Side.
“We were quite excited about it, concerning all the super positive and super negative aspects of the delivery business,” said Mariah Brinton, Daytime Manager of Lodge.“It’s great to see that people have warmly welcomed our delivery and we couldn’t be happier to continue serving the Williamsburg community.”

(Read more: The New York Post Hunger Cravings article)

Dwell Mag's report on No VOC paints

2009-03-22T00:10:00.002-04:00

Picked up the latest issue of Dwell magazine today when I was out shopping for flowers, lemonade and soy milk. Oh and some Pacifico cerveza too for my housewarming party.

Pink: interior design

2009-06-05T00:09:00.007-04:00

I loved this article on Jade Jagger's home in London, featured in House and Garden. Alot of conversation about pink has come up lately in my life and I want to show some of my favorites.

I heart: Maine, my homestate

2009-10-27T12:48:00.006-04:00

To all of you dears, I have some big news: I am moving to Portland, Maine In February!! I was born in Maine, and lived there until I was 10 years old, at which point my family moved to New York. We attended Waldorf school outside of New York City...my father moved back to Maine when I was about 15, and he lives in the house my younger sister was born in, a beautiful early 1900's farmhouse on 25 acres with a huge old barn. We will be just an hour south of him and will be spending many a lovely weekend there!
I have been put to a test and that is surviving in NYC as a single mother...its not financially fantastic, and I would like some room to breathe, a garden to tend and a view and accessibility to the gorgeous maine coastline. So...I have made the desicion to live better and in a cleaner environment while my dear child is still young. I will better be able to pursue all the dreams I have been having in the past 18 months. My photography has been on a serious hold and I would like to release it again...plus my obsession for antiques will be fed by driving to all the small towns and collecting some beautiful pieces for affordable prices.
Plus, I can't wait for the Rogues Gallery collection for LL Bean called LL Bean Signature to debut in March '10 and I want to be there in person to snap up the woman's pieces.

many posts to come about all Maine made things that I adore, and the eco-ways of my homestate.

my philosophies behind my eco life style

2009-11-15T22:01:00.009-05:00

I want to shed some light on the reasons and philosophies behind my choices and views on eco living. (I wrote a small intro touching on this same topic back in aug 2008, you can read n compare by clicking here) I was raised with a very “back to the land” kind of attitude by my parents, who had met on a biodynamic farm in PA in the 1970’s. Their opinions and choices throughout my childhood have greatly influenced me, and I find myself thinking similar things as they did, with a modern approach. I grew up in rural Maine with a garden, a compost bin, natural fibers such as wool, cotton and silk, and free range to run and play. Any comparison to other friends who claim they had a “hippy-ish” upbringing and I always have come out the victor on that topic. Hey what can I say, I loved being barefoot every summer!

When I discovered I was pregnant, I found myself wanting to pursue a more natural path. I want to support the earth’s natural resources without causing harm to something or somebody. If I wish to change the course of my existence from a major carbon footprint to a semi smallish one, I asked myself where I could truly start. What are the things I am passionate about, and what is easily incorporated into my life? I think those are the first, most important steps; along with education; reading literature supporting new ideas and inspirational ones too. I found that my ideas and philosophies are closely aligned with the ideas of Permaculture. The importance of using and being aware of what the earth’s natural ecosystem provides, and can offer, and the simplicity and awareness it brings to one’s life. “Permaculture blends the concepts of self-sufficiency and living a natural lifestyle. To practice permaculture is to live within the natural bounds of an ecosystem. It is the study of nature and using what is learned to design, build and maintain natural systems that provide life's necessities.” (source: http://www.daycreek.com/dc/html/dc_permaculturephilosophy.htm)

This is not a trend or phase in my life. It’s a lifestyle I live. I feel enriched and happy because of these choices, and the joy it brings me by sharing them with my fast growing daughter is amazing.

I decided the list is divided into my dreams and what I currently choose to do. One of my dreams is to have a home built to incorporate the landscape and utilize the outside environment to cool and heat the house. I dream to have a garden to provide me with 75% of my veg/fruits…and flowers to make me happy.

I’ve made the choices to:

-use biodegradable diapers, (Nature Babycare, read article I wrote HERE)
-natural plant based (no synthetics/chemical components) body products for my daughter (Weleda, read article HERE) and Avalon, Burt’s Bees, Dr. Hauschka and Weleda for myself.
-I use homeopathic remedies before resorting to conventional medicine.
-I use an amber necklace on Siena for teething. It helps release warming calming powers and also is handy for her to bite on.
-I shop at used clothing stores and do a lot of buy-sell-trade with both my clothing and Siena’s. also by joining a local parent community forum where swapping baby items becomes a breeze…
-I buy 90% organic foods and 100% organic milk,
-I try not to keep packaged items in their excess packing. Translation: when they arrive in my home I immediately remove the packaging and properly recycle it and place the item in a Mason jar or ceramic container I use for storage of most everything. (all bulk foods, tea, coffee etc) But for the most part I re-use my own plastic bags and purchase foods from bulk bins. I recycle the box an item came in immediately. (Like the juicer, the cuisinart, the blender, coffee maker…You will never use that box again!)
-If I do have to purchase a plastic item I make sure it is BPA free.
-I drop off all my #5 recycles to be turned into toothbrushes and razor handles.
-I say no to plastic bags at the grocery store. And all other stores in fact. Believe me I still get weird looks. Like I need to feel ok walking out of a store with a purchase in a logo bag…what’s the deal with that?!
(*The list doesn’t stop there.)

I do have to admit, I feel overwhelmed by products, packaging and errand-running! I have to make a really strong effort to avoid those things. I constantly ask myself, how am I being an eco person if I …x, y and z. These are some of the things I follow, along with my opinion and standpoint on medicine (holistic, homeopathic) and child-raising (along the lines of attachment parenting), I find that I am following a very au natural path, one that is less about commodities and more about where I am; my mind and where my energy is flowing to/from, and what directs and/or inhibits it. Am I aware of my daughter’s needs? movements? Am I attending to her in the cleanest, healthiest, most natural way that I can?

I thank my daughter for coming along and getting me to apply these ideas to life for real and to protect her and myself from synthetics, chemicals and other un-necessary pollutants.

As always, keep in touch, and do good work,
You NYC Eco mama

Mariah

My favorite daily readings are:

Mamabite Newsletter (sign up! its free and offers such great tips)

**the shirt I am wearing is Loomstate for Target 100% organic cotton, an the hat and pants Siena is wearing are organic 100% cotton by hanna andersson)

style crush

2009-11-12T11:43:00.004-05:00

I am crushing on Oh Joy's post about Hunter Dixon's collection...The skirt is so fun and full! and I love it paired with a hot pink top, very nice. The hooded top is sweet with the rolled sleeve detail and button. I really like this dress, even tho this piece is from spring 2009...

the Simple life

2009-11-10T16:03:00.005-05:00

I picked up these sweet pair of shoes for Siena this past weekend. Simple shoes, recycled, vegan and washable! all with elastic laces and non-marking, non-skid soles. And the biggest bonus, she LOVES them!

" * The Toddler's Doodle is a washable earth friendly suede shoe. The suede is from an eco-certified tannery (BLC/ISO 14001)
* Soft and fuzzy certified organic cotton fleece lining. Organic cotton comes from non-genetically modified seeds and is grown without the use of pesticides and herbicides
* The soles are made of natural, non marking rubber
* Only the finest sustainable shoes for the little one in your life
* Washable!! Whoohoo
* Recycled PET and natural latex elastic laces with user friendly pull toggle. PET is made of recycled soda bottles
* The foot form inserts are made of post consumer recycled paper
* Even our boxes are environmentally friendly – made of post-consumer recycled paper, soy based printing ink, natural latex and starch based glue
* Each size has a different animal on the box. Collect them all! Woof woof
* Contains natural latex. Latex is tapped from a tree like maple syrup..."
(info directly sourced from the simple shoes website)

"Experts in color theory say that purple nurtures the development of the imagination, which would be of great value to you as you tone and firm your devotional impulses.."

(source: Rob Brezny's Astrology Newletter for this week Pisces)

photo update

2009-11-06T15:20:00.002-05:00

This is a photo I took at the Common Ground Fair In Unity Maine this year. It is of gourds and tree pruning ladders. I don't often post photos I have taken as art pieces, and rather post photos of things more about things rather than the photo itself, and I need to do more art photos. I have archives and archives and archives of photos...Its daunting.
Enjoy and happy weekend!

I am who I am...

2009-11-04T11:09:00.000-05:00

"being wild and disciplined at the same time."

fall photo

2009-11-03T15:30:00.001-05:00

I took this Brooklyn Fall photo with my blackberry...because alas, I always forget to carry my real camera with me. (real, as in holga or at least my good digi) I love fall in NYC and have been really enjoying taking walks thru McCarren Park to and from work to pick up my lil one...it helps ease the trouble of the mind.

Mettes Pottery

2009-10-29T11:38:00.004-04:00

I am a huge fan of Sweden, Denmark, Finland style. Here is a lovely Danish kitchen.

(image via: http://mettespotteridanmark.blogspot.com/2009/02/retrospect.html)

2009-10-28T10:41:00.005-04:00

This amazing DIY light via Green is the New Black blog, has me thinking and oh-so inspired!

antique finds II

2009-10-28T10:04:00.004-04:00

from top to bottom: Farmer's Sink, Larkin Library table, Teapot, Danish Mid C. desk, and unique sewing storage table, and ...yes please!!