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Me & my husband, Nadim

Deana is the super cool lady behind Living Green with Glamour. “It’s essentially a lifestyle blog devoted to all things sublime and ‘sustainable’—whether that’s an organic lip balm, a vintage YSL handbag, a recipe for Vegan Bahn Mi or the best new pieces in eco-fashion and home décor,” explains Deana. “I have a handful of writers who contribute, including Justin Bieber’s hairstylist (go figure), an arty, bohemian husband and wife foodie team, a TV producer with a proclivity for vintage clothing and a Southern belle obsessed with DIY… but I do write most of the posts and edit everything else. The crux of my life’s manifesto is that absolutely no sacrifice in style needs to be made to have an environmentally, humanely and animal-friendly lifestyle.” Check out Deana’s favorite things after the jump!

Deana’s Favorite Things

	The “Colette” dress by Koch: An exciting, new line out of Dallas.  We just got it in for early Spring and I’m already wearing it! Blazer and high boots now … mile-high wedges and a smile once the weather’s warmer.  It’s oh-so-flattering, of organic cotton and a total head turner … win-win-win!
	Night Covers by The Watson Twins: I can’t stop listening to it!  The Twins’ dreamy, soulful voices covering a brilliant array of unexpected songs (everyone from Sade to The Black Keys) makes for the perfect mood music.
	Tokyo wedges by Olsen Haus: This one almost surprises me… I’m typically more of a classicist when it comes to shoe design. Give me a ballerina flat or a jute-covered heel any day, but I can’t take my eyes off of these babies! Not only are they vegan (imperative to me), but they’re bold whilst still being beautiful. I think that’s a rare combo to come by these days.
	The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel: This place has been one of my favorite spots for over a decade, but after two years of my pestering, they have several organic vodkas and gins. The vibe is upscale, but easy … the sun is shining again on their beautiful patio … and the valets treat my old, veggie oil Benz with as much respect as the brand new Bentleys that surround it.
	And I’m shamelessly including the handbag I designed for GWG: But only because I’m truly obsessed with it.  Each season the textile changes, but the design stays the same (if it ain’t broke, right?).  For this spring, I went with a vintage, dead stock cotton from the 70s.  I love the juxtaposition of the weird pattern with the fairly serious colors.  I don’t wear a lot of prints, so carrying a zesty Clutch is the perfect dose of pattern for me.

The weather is finally to a point, here in Los Angeles, where it’s pretty much perfect… not too hot, nice and bright – and I now spend as much time as possible outside.  And though LA is littered with great outdoor spots, I have to admit, my own backyard is one of my favorites.  Today seemed particularly beautiful… and I couldn’t resist taking some snaps!

Our hideaway house in lush LA

Grapefruits growing from one of our several fruit trees (they’re delicious… fresh squeezed – with a little organic vodka)!

Yep, that’s an IKEA Lack table… they make wonderful side tables for an outdoor living space.  I’ve used a few of these citrus-hued numbers around the lawn.

I wish I could take credit for the beautiful landscaping, but it was here before I was…

An old fountain (that we only run on special occasions) sits under our Clementine tree… total serenity.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I don’t know the type of either of these trees… any ideas?

One of my favorite planters… a gift from my mother.

And the best thing ever… this massive Oak that looms over our house and our lawn.

What’s the best element of your outdoor space???

If you’re in the Los Angeles or Orange County area and you’re planning to have brunch with friends this weekend… instead of going to the typical restaurant in your ‘hood, how about heading to the beach to try something a little more social and charitable?  Check out The Wild Brunch!

This Saturday, go for a midday soiree that includes a gourmet brunch and a silent auction that features eco-friendly items created by local artists. Hosted by The Dock and sponsored by Paws of the Planet, all proceeds from this event will benefit Local Native Wildlife, Newport Shelter Animals & Humane Education. Tickets are only $10 so reserve your spot now!

The Wild Brunch – Saturday, November 6, 11:00-2:00

The DOCK Restaurant

2813 Lafayette Ave, Cannery Village CA

Call (949) 673-2347 to reserve your space… or just stop by!

Josephine Jody Ho

With a love for adventure and all things philanthropic, Josephine Jody Ho spends her free time at various unique and local venues that support community events and charities. Why spend your weekends doing the ordinary when you can explore the unfamiliar and give back to the community at the same time! Check in every week for updates on fun and charitable events taking place Out & About if you share the same zest for exploration!

Despite the scorching heat in LA this past week and weekend, I braved the high temps and hit the Melrose Trading Post once again! This time I am in search of fun, unique fixtures for my apartment.  Lucky for me there are more than enough vendors for my viewing pleasure.

When you first enter the Trading post you may think this is not what you’re looking for if you’ve come to purchase furniture or art. However, push past the first 20 booths or so, and you’ll find what you want.

One of my favorite vendors for abstract art can be found in the most open area of the parking lot, 2nd row in. His name is Jim and he tries to make it to the Trading Post every Sunday. Jim’s use of colors is incredible and he can make you anything you can dream up. His paintings range from small to quite large wall.  Jim was also recently featured in 944 Los Angeles and is definitely an artist on the way up.

If you keep walking past the ‘A Englishman In LA’ booth you will reach the booths filled with furniture, wall art, and various home accessories.  The adorable couple Manuel and Josephine run a booth which focuses on everything and anything you could want for your home. They have dressers, tables, art, comics, and even this week they included an old wooden boat steering wheel you would expect Captain Jack to be using. Manuel is a top-notch bargainer and always willing to negotiate.

Last but not least, you’ll definitely want to check out the furniture booth ran by Zbigniew and his daughter Kasia. Zbigniew has been selling his furniture at the post for years now and has a plethora of items to choose from. One of my dear friends bought a vanity set from Zbigniew in 2008 and it has withstood 2 moves and received endless compliments over time.  Zbigniew refurbishes each piece and also adds his own personal touch so not one fixture is alike. He is incredibly friendly, knows all about furniture, and will help you load any item of furniture into your car for safe traveling.

Happy shopping!

I have a LOVE/HATE relationships with events… and it usually sways toward the “hate” side.  If it’s an event that revolves around a beloved band or a great new film – I’m better.  But shopping events typically pain me – which is ridiculous, because… not only do I LOVE shopping, but I, myself, host shopping events for Green With Glamour!  Go figure.

Anyway, this last Thursday was a full night… LACMA’s screening of Tom Ford’s A Single Man (stunning!) AND premier eco magazine (for which I’m a contributor in the current issue), Coco Eco holiday event at Fred Segal benefiting Toys For Tots.  And while there was a pitifully small amount of toys donated by the evening’s end (Seriously… shame on you, Party Goers), the event overall was relatively low-key and lovely!  Complete with celebrity guests like Rachel Leigh Cook and Rachelle Carson Begley… and Anna Getty with her book, I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas.

Rachel Leigh Cook (in Love Heals)                                           Rachelle Carson Begley

Coco Eco, in collaboration with incredibly environmentally thoughtful mother & son jewelry design team, Love Heals (10 trees planted per piece sold/320,000 trees planted thus far) hosted an evening of shopping, refreshments and hobnobbing that was simply divine!  I ran into and caught up with the lovely editor of Ecostiletto, Rachell Sarnoff and even found a Christmas gift for my oh-so-hard-to-shop-for Grandmother. I would say the evening was a resounding success (except for perhaps the Toys for Tots thing) and it was the perfect way to ramp up for a season’s worth of holiday events!  Stay tuned…

I have a LOVE/HATE relationships with events… and it usually sways toward the “hate” side.  If it’s an event that revolves around a beloved band or a great new film – I’m better.  But shopping events typically pain me – which is ridiculous, because… not only do I LOVE shopping, but I, myself, host shopping events for Green With Glamour!  Go figure.

Anyway, this last Thursday was a full night… LACMA’s screening of Tom Ford’s A Single Man (stunning!) AND premier eco magazine (for which I’m a contributor in the current issue), Coco Eco holiday event at Fred Segal benefiting Toys For Tots.  And while there was a pitifully small amount of toys donated by the evening’s end (Seriously… shame on you, Party Goers), the event overall was relatively low-key and lovely!  Complete with celebrity guests like Rachel Leigh Cook and Rachelle Carson Begley… and Anna Getty with her book, I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas.

Rachel Leigh Cook (in Love Heals)                                           Rachelle Carson Begley

Coco Eco, in collaboration with incredibly environmentally thoughtful mother & son jewelry design team, Love Heals (10 trees planted per piece sold/320,000 trees planted thus far) hosted an evening of shopping, refreshments and hobnobbing that was simply divine!  I ran into and caught up with the lovely editor of Ecostiletto, Rachell Sarnoff and even found a Christmas gift for my oh-so-hard-to-shop-for Grandmother. I would say the evening was a resounding success (except for perhaps the Toys for Tots thing) and it was the perfect way to ramp up for a season’s worth of holiday events!  Stay tuned…

I don’t know what you have planned for Saturday afternoon… but I know where I’ll be.  As a “guru” for The Green Girls, I’m always included on such great invite lists – and their events are always the perfect combination of fun, thoughtfulness and great information.

Join us on Saturday, December 12th for The Green Girls Holiday Spectacular Event at The Strawberry House in Encino Hills!
The Green Girls are celebrating the holidays with a spectacular event that gives back to our community. Join us for The Green Girls Holiday Spectacular Event & Food Drive for the local Los Angeles shelter. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the non profit organization, Green Wave

LIMITED TO 100 GUESTS

Lisa, the lovely & oh-so-stylish editor of powerhouse fashion blog, Racked LA, attended the POPOMOMO Trunk Show last night at the Green With Glamour Pop Up Shop (after attended a day’s worth of other sales around town).  She checked out the collections, we chatted about the highs & lows of being professional and passionate shoppers… and then she wrote her review.  And I quote:

“Now THAT’s how you do a Pop Up… What makes this popup exceptional is the uniqueness of it: It’s a thoughtfully-curated collection of merchandise that you can’t get at a store down the street (yeah, we’re talking to YOU, J. Crew at Ron Herman).”

Wow.  I’m speechless (well, not really)… to have a revered pro like Lisa write such praise is truly awesome!  For her entire review – and to check out the other great stories at Racked LA, click here.

Bess’ tunic by POPOMOMO… one of my personal faves.

Lisa, the lovely & oh-so-stylish editor of powerhouse fashion blog, Racked LA, attended the POPOMOMO Trunk Show last night at the Green With Glamour Pop Up Shop (after attended a day’s worth of other sales around town).  She checked out the collections, we chatted about the highs & lows of being professional and passionate shoppers… and then she wrote her review.  And I quote:

“Now THAT’s how you do a Pop Up… What makes this popup exceptional is the uniqueness of it: It’s a thoughtfully-curated collection of merchandise that you can’t get at a store down the street (yeah, we’re talking to YOU, J. Crew at Ron Herman).”

Wow.  I’m speechless (well, not really)… to have a revered pro like Lisa write such praise is truly awesome!  For her entire review – and to check out the other great stories at Racked LA, click here.

Bess’ tunic by POPOMOMO… one of my personal faves.

It’s official… we’ve got the brick & mortar bug!  We love having a storefront just as much as we love selling online.  AND we just marked down a CRAZY amount of women’s & men’s clothing and gifts 50% OFF… that won’t be on sale on the Green With Glamour site until Wednesday!

If you’re in LA, come by for some SERIOUS DEALS (and to visit)!

2912 Rowena Avenue  LA  CA  90039 (between Coffee Table & Lake Boutique)

Come join in the festivities*… Vegan treats, libations, raffle, discounts, donations, sweet sweet music, easy-on-the-eyes party-goers and maybe a little shopping!

And for non-Los Angelenos… we’ll celebrate in spirit with 20% OFF the GWG site!

*not a private event.  please feel free to forward to whomever might enjoy.

Incredible 7 yr old Ridgeback/Shepherd that is scheduled to be terminated in 5 DAYS! A very sweet dog responds greatly with men & women. Diego is 70 pounds, & he does not seem to be leash-trained or socialized with other dogs.  We don’t know if he’s aggressive with other animals or just excited, but it’s suggested that he be in a 1 animal family. PLEASE HELP!

Email me at deana@greenwithglamour.com if you can help!

So just this last Saturday I was privy to a party in Malibu thrown by none other than Chris “Ludacris” Bridges – and it was a fundraiser for his Ludacris Foundation, an organization dedicated to “Helping Youth Help Themselves.”

I have to admit, before this party, I knew nothing of Ludacris’ charitable work or the Ludacris Foundation, but since I’ve been nothing but impressed with the man and his efforts:

VISION – To inspire youth to live their dreams, uplift families and foster economic development in the community.

MISSION – To show young people they are the architects of their future and instill our “Principles of Success” – a roadmap for achieving dreams. To connect with our youth to build stronger families and communities.

HISTORY – Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, William Engram and Chaka Zulu were the inspiration for the development of The Ludacris Foundation (TLF). The foundation is based on the principles Ludacris learned at an early age: self-esteem, spirituality, communication, education, leadership, goal setting, physical activity and community service. Officially established in December of 2001, The Ludacris Foundation was created to make a difference in the lives of youth. These men have illustrated their deep-rooted tradition of community service, which has broadened with their celebrity status. The Ludacris Foundation is committed to helping youth help themselves.

As for the party…

The man is smooth… He was thoughtful to his audience.  He was loving toward his attending family and friends.  He was generous with his stage time.  And his sunglasses were simply divine (I’m thinking they’re Mosely Tribes, but I can’t find… let me know if you have any info on them, please)!

And I certainly enjoyed my time there… saw Gene Simmons (creepy) and Andrew Keegan (cute), but Apple Levy, the Founder of The Green Girls, definitely got the scoop – with interviews and the taped performance.  Click & enjoy!

This is a new category for Living GWG… inspired by art consulting firm, White Box Projects.  I know, for many, buying artwork can be a daunting endeavor – but with the help of a friendly and knowledgeable art consultant, like White Box Projects’, Beth Caldarello… find the perfect piece for your space can be the awesome experience that acquiring art should be!  WBP just launched and currently reps 7 truly talented – and quite varied artists, but photographer Mickey Smith is my absolute favorite…

 ”Money” & “Blood” by Mickey Smith

But I’m also digging on the Gouache works by Frida Larios…

 So, if you need a little hand-holding, introductions to the works of up-and-coming artists or even just straight advice on what art suits your space… check out White Box Projects.  Undaunting, exciting and well-selected art for all!

I’ve talked to a lot of people who know of Desert Rose on Hillhurst Avenue, but haven’t been inclined to visit because of it’s fairly impersonal (almost airport restaurant-like) ambiance and enormous red, glass rose at the entrance.  To this I say… get over it!  I first read about this joint on Quarry Girl’s blog – and she’s a trusted source of good eats & drinks for me.  So last week, I had an opportunity to check out it one night… and the next night, I made sure to have that “opportunity” again.  Their Happy Hour is a CAN’T MISS!  Incredibly delicious martinis & margaritas for $5 and a glorious vegan menu filled with discounted yummies (there’s also plenty of non-vegan happy hour treats as well).

The staff is friendly and attentive, the food is seriously delicious (garlic “cheese” fries, falafel sliders and warm Meditteranean olives to name a few dishes) and the drinks are refreshing and tasty.  Once you’re at the bar, enjoying what the place has to offer, the ambiance completely changes – and the big, glass rose… you won’t even notice it!

This week is a busy one – already.  I’m all over the place, both physically & mentally… prepping for Fall 09, for our upcoming “Eco-design Dream Team” GWG photoshoot, and for our inclusion in several tony holiday gift guides (not to mention all of my other Green With Glamour responsibilites).  I’m back & forth, up & down and all around (but aren’t we all?)!  So, here’s why Gold & Silver Stars is a top-notch blog… it’s written by a driven, stylish, in-the-know woman who’s also all over the place (in a good way).  Jen Sall seems to keep both professional & lifestyle paces that might send the rest of us running for the hills.  Many of her posts involve shopping, dining, events, artists and food trucks* here in LA, but an equal amount cover products, films, designers, etc. that are available globally.  From great take out on the way to a Hollywood Bowl show to eco-friendly shoes to reminding us to send in our public radio pledges… Gold & Silver Stars has it covered!

Now here’s why this story has serendipitous timing, we decided last week to feature Gold & Silver Stars as this week’s Blog Love… And one of Jen’s posts from August 5th, 2009 is about her beloved, and oh-so-adorable Scottish Deerhound who’s been entered in “The Cutest Dog Competition” (seriously… check out Ollie’s mug!)  Well, just last night Ollie had emergency surgery to address a life-threatening, twisted stomach condition called “bloat”.  He’s currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition (Thank God!).  But LSS, give Ollie a little “Vote Love“… not only does he deserve the title, but now he could really use that prize money as well!

Ollie Dog!

*BTW, Food Trucks are a current phenomenon here in LA (as well as other cities).  Even my hardcore gourmand friends get a little extra spring in their steps when they know they’re going to dine in a parking lot after ordering from the side of a panel truck!

This week is a busy one – already.  I’m all over the place, both physically & mentally… prepping for Fall 09, for our upcoming “Eco-design Dream Team” GWG photoshoot, and for our inclusion in several tony holiday gift guides (not to mention all of my other Green With Glamour responsibilites).  I’m back & forth, up & down and all around (but aren’t we all?)!  So, here’s why Gold & Silver Stars is a top-notch blog… it’s written by a driven, stylish, in-the-know woman who’s also all over the place (in a good way).  Jen Sall seems to keep both professional & lifestyle paces that might send the rest of us running for the hills.  Many of her posts involve shopping, dining, events, artists and food trucks* here in LA, but an equal amount cover products, films, designers, etc. that are available globally.  From great take out on the way to a Hollywood Bowl show to eco-friendly shoes to reminding us to send in our public radio pledges… Gold & Silver Stars has it covered!

Now here’s why this story has serendipitous timing, we decided last week to feature Gold & Silver Stars as this week’s Blog Love… And one of Jen’s posts from August 5th, 2009 is about her beloved, and oh-so-adorable Scottish Deerhound who’s been entered in “The Cutest Dog Competition” (seriously… check out Ollie’s mug!)  Well, just last night Ollie had emergency surgery to address a life-threatening, twisted stomach condition called “bloat”.  He’s currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition (Thank God!).  But LSS, give Ollie a little “Vote Love“… not only does he deserve the title, but now he could really use that prize money as well!

Ollie Dog!

*BTW, Food Trucks are a current phenomenon here in LA (as well as other cities).  Even my hardcore gourmand friends get a little extra spring in their steps when they know they’re going to dine in a parking lot after ordering from the side of a panel truck!