I came across a neat company the other day called LobotoMe. Based in Colorado, the company creates organizational kits from 100% recycled materials. From MommyMe – a new mom kit  – to CheckMe – a grocery checklist – all of the products are designed to ‘help you stay sane.’ :) My favorite is the MantraMe poster below:

Call me funny but, I have a love/ hate relationship with shopping for food. First of all, I love to cook; but I hate running around the store looking for all the ingredients like I am on a scavenger hunt,  then usually standing in line for at least 30 minutes… even in the “express” lane or self-check out (where there is always a new convert to self-service who doesn’t know how it works)!  To make shopping even more hairy I use to get looks from the store check-out clerk when they would ask “Paper or Plastic” and no matter what choice I made I often would get a groan, especially since I shop at either Whole Foods or Henry’s both stores – both are big on being green. So finally last year in Orange County I started bringing my own shopping bags to the store.

Lots of stores try and push you to buy their logo shopping bag for $1.99 to $3.99 a bag, but if you like to be unique and you like stylish things I suggest getting your own bags that make a statement. My favorite shopping bag is one that I got from a friend that has really cute pink and green dragons on it. Since I believe we should all shop in style I am giving you a list of my favorite five stylish shopping bag websites:

1. Re-usable shopping bags have taken a turn for the stylish.  Make Love Not Trash carries a line of handbags, accessories, and re-usable shopping bags made out of natural or eco-friendly materials and decorated with non-toxic printing technique.
2. Ella Vickers Recycled Sailcloth Collection is the most refined & quality built on the market.
3. It’s hard to do a top 10 handbag story without including one of the trends that started it all…recycled candy wrappers.  Check out Ecoist.
4. Get in the groove with Shagbag… be a stylish hipster as you shop till you drop
5. Want to create your own stylish design? Go and order one at GoGreen-bags.com

Tired of the same old boring routine? Check out The Week Ahead in So Cal and bring a little spice back to your life.

Monday 6.28

Farr Ligvani Exhibit at Soka University. Ligvani was born in Iran, began painting at age four and designing furniture by 12! Don’t miss the opportunity to view his beautiful artistic creations focusing on eastern worldview and western psychology in Aliso Viejo through August.

Tuesday 6.29

The Submarines at the Detroit Bar. Having built their musical career almost entirely through TV Show and commercial spots, the Submarines are ready to make a name for themselves the old fashion way. The band will be stopping by Costa Mesa on their west coast mini tour to give fans a taste of what they’ve been working on for the past 2 years since their last album. $10

Wednesday 6.30

Social Media Day at the OC Register Headquarters in Santa Ana. Mashable.com has deemed 6/30 the official Social Media day. While there are many events going on throughout the country, the afternoon planned at the OC Register appears to be one of the best. Listen to expert panels on how social media can improve your business, plus enjoy food from several yummy food trucks.

Taste of Downtown, Long Beach. About a dozen restaurants are participating in the first annual event being held in the East Village from 6-9pm. Tickets are only $1 each or 12 for $10 and the PawnShop Kings will be playing live throughout the evening.

Thursday 7.1

Pick of the Week!

First Thursday’s Art Walk in Laguna Beach. Laguna Beach is world renowned for their exceptional variety of art and on the first Thursday of the month the entire city stays open late so you can enjoy an evening stroll through the galleries while listening to live music, munching on cheeses, and sipping wine. This month, while you’re down there, be sure to check out the Art Shack Collection at the Laguna Beach Museum of Art and the Summer Fashion Show at Arin Contemporary Art. Both events you won’t want to miss!

Friday 7.2

Free Friday’s at Long Beach Museum of Art. Visit the Long Beach Museum, and check out over 5 current exhibits, for absolutely nothing. Thank you LA County Arts Commission!

Saturday 7.3

Farm to Fork Class at The Ecology Center, San Juan Capistrano. Starting with the gardens at The Ecology Center, children will explore where their food comes from. After a short harvest walk, participants will prepare simple small plate meals catalyzing the connection from farm to fork. Sign up your kids for this great fun and educational class through Th Ecology Center website. $25

Sunday 7.4

Happy 4^th of July! Enjoy a day of fun in the sun!! And no work tomorrow if you’re lucky….

The annual conference for Dwell on Design is taking place this weekend, June 25-27, and will feature 200 exhibitors, innovative modern furniture, a Prefab home made out of recycled materials decorated by Ecofabulous, modern outdoor products, landscaping ideas, a sustainability and design innovation stage featuring guest speakers and much, much more. Check out the details and how to register at Dwell.com.

In addition to the conference, Dwell is also offering a self-driven (or carpool) home tour of beautiful modern architecture and design in the Los Angeles area.  If you’re a design buff like I am, or just need a little inspiration, I’d highly recommend this tour. Saturday is already sold out, but buy your tickets for Sundays Eastside Home Tour through areas, such as, Silverlake, Atwater Village and Beach Canyon—just to name a few.  Read more about the featured homes and how to register at Dwell.com.

To give an example of past tours Dwell has done, the Barr Residence in Brooklyn, New York (designed by Coggan + Crawford Architects) took a former electrical warehouse and transformed it into a modern day duplex.  Exposed brick, industrial design elements, loads of natural light and a mixture of modern and vintage furnishings create just the right balance.

If you’d like to bring Dwell into your home, they also have an online home store called Dwell Studio that offers great bedding, table linens, and kids furniture.

Long ago I discovered I was born without a green thumb. As sad as I was upon uncovering my pathetic gardening abilities, I was determined to believe this flaw to be false.  Little did I know that my quest to find a fool-proof plant would lead me into my favorite design solution for warming up just about any home or garden.  Not only are succulents an inexpensive way to spruce up a space, but they’re also available in a wide and diverse range of sizes, shapes, and colors. Whatever your personal design aesthetic, they’ll fit right in. Requiring only a minimal amount of water and a sunny place to reside; they’re simply a breeze to maintain. They can also be grown in a variety of conditions—whether a glass, tin, or wood container indoor or garden soil outdoors—they’re my personal design essential.

For those of you unfortunate enough to be in the same brown thumb boat as I am, here’s a low-down on succulent basics. http://www.gardeningtipsnideas.com/2009/05/a_garden_of_succulent_plants.html

Terrariums are a great way to add a sculptural quality to your home or office. Due to the recent comeback, there are a wide variety of glass orbs available either for your wall, coffee table, or hanging from the ceiling. They’re easy to find and a cost effective way to add a unique touch.  A step-by-step guide on making a terrarium is available at Clover and Bee. If you prefer to leave it up to the experts, Britton at Tend Living in San Diego, creates beautiful designs for events and personal clients.  Check out her work for a little inspiration, or better yet, keep her in mind for your next big event!

Living Arrangements came up with the clever idea of offering a service for customers to send in old containers that have been collecting dust or lost a purpose.  They can create a variety of arrangements and put your forgotten container to good use.  It’s also a great alternative to giving flowers since succulents can last for years if maintained properly.  Consider printing out a basic tips guide to go along with the gift.

If your outdoor patio is looking boring and tired, consider building your own vertical garden. If you want a way to spruce up your interior walls, Woolly Pockets are all the rage these days.