Beat the Heat - Green Paper Company Solar & Caribbean

It's like an oven outside! As temperatures rise - lay low. Grab a pen, write a letter and cool off with one of our hot new paper hues: SOLAR and CARIBBEAN...

Buy them on line: Creative Parties/Green Paper Studio, Flax Art and Design, On Paper, Soolip
Or find a retailer near you

It's {Eco} Cocktail Time - Basil Collins from Mouton

Photo: Columbuscrave.com

I especially love "It's {Eco} Cocktail Time" when it's my time- and my cocktail! I had the distinct pleasure of enjoying the mixology at Columbus' MOUTON not once, but twice, this past week!

Photo: Mouton

Photo: Columbuscrave.com

How could a paper lover not luv this recipe wall!? The spartan interior collaged in with recycled finds makes Mouton a gem. Owner Yusef Riazi's meticulous attention to detail is perfection. The old time cocktails distinct. And the savories? Well, just plain yummy!

Photo: Mouton

Photo: Midwest Spirits

Creativity pours freely along with local OYO VODKA (pronounced O-WHY-O - as in native American for Ohio). Distilled locally - right here in Columbus by Midwest Spirits.

Photo: Mouton

While most of the sublime cocktails are probably not best suited for D.I.Y. mixing, Mouton's summer Basil Collins is one of the few you really can try at home. Head to the garden - pluck some Basil and enjoy this recipe our kind neighbors at Mouton have so graciously shared.

Cheers to a beautiful Summer weekend!

Basil Collins
Created by Sean Cathcart

RECIPE:

2oz. Hendricks Gin
1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
1/4 oz. Simple Syrup
3 fresh Basil leaves
1/2 inch slice of organic cucumber quartered

Muddle cucumber and basil in mixing glass. Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Stir and add ice. Serve in a Collins glass. Top with Fever Tree Club Soda. Garnish with organic cucumber.

A Little Bird Told Me

A recent summer's day lounging on the porch yielded a sweet, all too brief visit from a fine, furry flying friend - a bluebird. Made me dash to Etsy to re-tweet some of my favorite aviary finds...

Cotton Bird Designs
{a personal fave... used for my wedding cake topper} ;)

Vintage Green Limited

Abigail Brown

Love Mae




NomMom

Green Tips: 7 Steps To Stay On The Green This Summer

As July temperatures skyrocket in to the 90's - it's time for our annual green tips for summer...

1. Be a pest

Image via Golf Digest

Stay on course and urge your Country Club, County Pool, Condo Complex to educate, reconsider and revamp the pesticides they are using. Beyond Pesticides is a great resource.

At home, you'll have success with some of the tried and true:
+ A cup of beer attracts slugs.
+ Beetles are all washed up in cup of dish soap.
+ Basil and Citronella are natural mosquito repellents.
+ Peppermint Oil on cotton balls keep away pesky squirrels and critters.

2. The Big Event

Image created on esigns.com

Community events and fairs, church dinners and camps, fundraising events... all super popular during the summer... and all generate an incredible of amount of trash. Contact your local solid waste authority or recycling company who may provide recycling for your event, for free or as a sponsor. If they won't, then it's DIY: Set up cardboard boxes, mark them "RECYCLE" and appoint teams to haul to a recycling location at the end of the day. Make it fun and offer a prize to the team who collects the most.

For smaller events try portable recycling bins from Flings Bins.

3. Home Goods

Image via 123rf

Go back to basics:

+ Turn the Air Conditioning up when you are not at home. More A/C tips HERE.
+ Unplug small appliances and cable/DVR boxes when not in use.
+ Add a room or ceiling fan.
+ Draw blinds (we luv cellular blinds).
+ Update old in-window air conditioners to more efficient and less expensive models. Donate the old unit.

4. Wash & Dry

Image via Electrolux

Call your local electric company and find out seasonally what hours are considered OFF PEAK in your area (it varies). Do your laundry and run the dish washer during off peak hours. Saves a bundle of energy and a bundle of cash!

5. Take Out

Whether you are headed to work or heading out on a road trip- just say no to To Go containers and plastic cutlery. Be sure your car and office are stocked with:

+ A set of metal cutlery.
+ Ceramic or melamine plates.
+ Insulated cups. We can't say enough about Tervis Tumblers to keep drinks cold (we just wish we had a nickle for every time we sang their praises! ;)
+ POST-consumer recycled napkins and paper towels.

6. On the Go - Green Hotels

Image via mcallencvb.com

If you are planning a vacation find a green hotel. From LEED certified to simple green initiatives hotels have really stepped it up. A little research will yield a good night's sleep and keep you counting sheep in very green pastures!

7. Cocktails with a twist

Image via www.seductionmeals.com

Stay tuned for our bi-monthly Friday postings of "It's Cocktail Time" - cool summer recipes for eco-minded mixology. Cheers and Happy Summer!

Happy 4th!

Photo by TomVu on Flickr via The Gothamist

It's {Eco} Cocktail Time: Cool as a Cucumber Cocktails

Cheers to summer! It's time for the first in our summer series- "It's Cocktail Time"... Eco inspired cocktails from eco inspired mixologists...

Image via azspagirls.com

These two refreshing, cool as a cucumber cocktails feature Cucumber Vodka from Square One Organic Spirits ® - a super cool company serving up super smooth vodka all with a great mission (and great recipes)- Cheers!

"H"

This is a cocktail served at Quality Social in San Diego is named after Square One mixologist H. Joseph Ehrmann.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Square One Cucumber Vodka

3/4 oz. St. Germain Elderflower liqueur

3/4 oz. lime juice

1/4 oz. simple syrup

Soda water

Cucumber sliced lengthwise and sprinkle of pepper for garnish.

Recipe:

Lay a Collins glass on its side, slide cucumber slice along side of glass and then add ice to keep cucumber in place. Pour all ingredients, except soda, into a mixing glass and shake well. Strain into Collins glass filled with ice and cucumber slice. Top with soda water and sprinkle of black pepper.

French Tart

By Allison Evanow, Founder, Square One

Ingredients:

2 oz. Square One Cucumber Vodka

3 oz. ruby red grapefruit juice

1/2 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

1/4 oz. organic agave nectar or simple syrup

Recipe:

Combine in a mixing tin with ice. Shake and strain into Collins glass filled with ice and cucumber wheels. Garnish with a grapefruit triangle on glass rim. If grapefruit is very tart cucumber wheel slices & grape fruit triangle for garnish.

Above recipes via Square One

... ... ...

Another popular, easy to find brand is EFFEN from spirit giant Beam Global. While not a small distillery- we're glad to see them pushing for more pure ingredients. EFFEN Cucumber Vodka is made using natural ingredients and premium spirits distilled from wheat. It offers a crisp, clean cucumber flavor without the use of sugar or artificial flavors. The vodka is made using a "continuous distillation" process in which the liquid is continuously circulated in giant stainless steel columns.

The name EFFEN means smooth, even and balanced in Dutch. It is made from 100% premium wheat and is made by bartenders for bartenders. EFFEN Vodka's bottle design features a non-slip sleeve that is carefully affixed to each bottle by hand.

Inspired by the essence of freshly harvested, vine ripened cucumbers, this new vodka offers a refreshing twist for your classic Bloody Mary. So if Brunch is on the menu this weekend, give this eye opener a shot! ;)

EFFEN® Cucumber Bloody Mary

Ingredients:

2 parts EFFEN® Cucumber Vodka
2 Basil Leaves, torn
4 parts Tomato Juice
¾ part Bloody Mary Seasoning

Recipe:

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice and shake. Pour into a serving glass with ice and garnish with a lime wheel and fresh basil leaf.

Recipe via Effen®