How to Fix a Ceramic Kettle or Teapot with Nontoxic Glue

My husband gifted me the loveliest electric ceramic tea kettle for my birthday. Less than a month later, the spout-- along with my heart-- broke when I swung it into our countertop in a moment of absentmindedness.

The thought of tossing this fancy new kettle into a dumpster made me sad, while the thought of drinking tea made with hot water that passed through a spout covered in potentially toxic glue gave me the heebee geebees. Determined to repair it safely, I did some research to find a glue that:

• wouldn't poison me when it leached into water as it passed through the spout 
• would create a bond that could handle the heat of boiling water
• would create a waterproof seal

In short, I needed strong, durable, nontoxic and food-safe glue.

I found DAP 00688 Household Waterproof Adhesive Sealant. It's a 100% silicone glue that is food grade and costs less than $5.

I followed these simple instructions.

How to Start a Vegan Cookbook Club

Looking for a fun way to expand both your collection of recipes and your network of neighborhood friends? You should create or join a cookbook club!

A cookbook club is essentially a hybrid of a book club and a potluck. Periodically, the group chooses a cookbook and each member selects one recipe from the book to cook and share at the next meeting. During the meeting, members discuss their opinions and experiences using the cookbook over a potluck meal.

Last May, I was inspired by an article on thekitchn.com to start a vegan cookbook club here in Hastings on Hudson. In just a few months, the club has become quite popular. Over a dozen couples participated in our most recent meeting!

We are learning healthy, novel, and ethnically diverse ways of preparing food. We are making new friends with people who just moved to town, while also getting to know our long-time neighbors better. We are having long, interesting conversations and sharing resources about more than just food. We are talking about childcare, relationships, local politics, business openings, our new projects, local services, etc. All the kind of stuff you that makes it easier and more fun to live in a community.

I think every town could benefit from a cookbook club. If you can't find an existing club near you, here's how you can easily start one in your community.

My New Favorite Sustainable Clothing Shop - thredUP Review

thredUP is the largest online consignment shop where you can find like-new women's and kid's apparel (clothing, shoes, and handbags), choosing current styles from over 25,000 brands.

I recently made my first purchase. I spent less than $75 thanks to the discount thredUP offers new shoppers. The purchase included a mix of discount brands (like F21 and Old Navy) and slightly more upscale and unique pieces including a Hive & Honey dress made from recycled paper!

Then a day later I made another one! I spent about $120 but my haul was mostly designer stuff like J Brand jeans, 7 for All Mankind skinny jeans, and vegan Neuaura boots.

I seriously love thredUP online thrift store. Here's why:

It's super easy to find clothes that you love and actually fit.
No more having to dig through endless racks of clothes to find something you like, only to discover it's not your size. Their simple, user-friendly platform makes shopping a breeze! On thredUP you even can create a personal shop that contains your favorite brands, your size, and type of apparel.

DIY Easy No-Sew Floral Drawer Sachets

Easy No-Sew Floral Drawer Sachets make beautiful and inexpensive "just because" gifts, last minute hostess gifts, and holiday stocking stuffers. This project can be completed in 10 minutes or less, from set up to clean up. Bonus: Not only is crafting an awesome stress relieving activity in its own right, the smell of the herbs will lift your spirit and calm your nerves.

To make your own Easy No-Sew Floral Drawer Sachets, you'll need:

• scissors, bowl, and spoon
• square of cotton fabric or cheese cloth; 6" x 6" or larger is a good size
• one handful of your favorite dried herbs, flowers, and/or citrus peels
• 5 drops of essential oil(s) (optional)
• ribbon, twine, yarn, or other strong string; at least 6"
• tea tag with pleasant quote or affirmation and string attached (optional)

Do this:

DIY Bug Control [Infographic]

Are roaches, ants, fruit flies, and other insects bugging you out? Before you reach for toxic chemicals, try to prevent and remedy pest infestation using the simple tips in this infographic. Check it out to see how to use essential oils, herbs, vinegar, and other things you probably already have around the house to deter bugs.

(It's probably hard to read all the text on this image. View the larger, full-sized graphic here.)

Source: PartSelect.com

Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

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Awesome Plastic Free Water Filter: Kishu Charcoal Review

I just got Kishu charcoal, the only completely plastic free water filter. It is fantastic!

Kishu is a sustainably harvested oak tree branch that has been transformed into activated charcoal by Japanese artisans using a centuries old method. Activated charcoal is what is inside of plastic water filter cartridges and makes them work. Kishu stick is like a naked Brita!

Simply drop Kishu into a pitcher of water. Immediately toxins like chlorine begin to bond with the activated charcoal stick, leaving your drinking water better tasting and healthier. (If you have serious water contamination concerns, you should probably test your water after using Kishu to make sure it's a safe option.)

Where to Buy Essential Oils

Here's where you can find essential oils to use for aromatherapy, cleaning, DIY skin and hair care products, and craft projects.

Mountain Rose Herbs is where I shop for the best quality essential oils at the best price online. MRH sells certified organic and fair trade essential oils. All their oils are therapeutic grade, meaning they are safe to use on your skin and hair (when diluted). This is true of all essential oils. It's what makes them different from fragrance oils, which are made with synthetic ingredients.

Your local herb store may sell essential oils too. This is a great place to buy essential oils because you can support a local business. I've purchased essential oils at Flower Power in the East Village. That store is magical!

Espresso Roller Disco [VIDEO]

Richard and I have been downsizing our possessions lately. Dreams of being able to one day live in a tiny house dance in our head. The reality of how much more focused and lighter life is without the burden of sharing a home with things we don't value is also keeping us grounded in the project. I can't help but feel we're making space for magical possibilities too.

A few days ago I outed myself to Richard that I was storing roller skates that I hadn't worn in ten years in our attic. "You never know when you're going to be invited to a roller disco party," I argued with all seriousness. Then I heard myself.

Vegan Cuts Snack Box Review & Giveaway

Have you heard of Vegan Cuts and their Vegan Snack Box? A vegan snack box is a curated package of plant-based, mostly gluten-free surprise and varied goodies shipped to your door each month. Subscriptions to the box are $19.95 per month, inclusive of shipping in the US. Vegan Cuts offers international shipping as well.

Vegan Cuts sent me a complimentary box for review. Look at what was inside:

Overall, I feel the box fulfilled Vegan Cut's promise: "From chips to cookies and sodas to teas, each month we'll send 7-10 vegan goodies straight to your door." An assortment of treats arrived at my doorstep, neatly packed in a box with minimal fluff. Nothing was broken, crushed, or wet. There wasn't a ton of useless promotional crap- like you usually get with gift bags- just real goodies plus one coupon.

Charles Eisenstein - A New Story of the People- VIDEO

Watch this video featuring Charles Eisentein's TEDx talk, A New Story of the People.

Charles Eisenstein is a teacher, speaker, and writer focusing on themes of civilization, consciousness, money, and human cultural evolution. He is author of several books, including the recently published, The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible.

How Much Oil is in Your Food?- VIDEO

Watch (Fo)odometer to learn about the petroleum needed for conventional food processing, production, and packaging.



Some interesting things I learned from the video:

• 10% of the energy used in the U.S. (100 billion gallons of oil) is used to grow food.
• Add the energy used to process, market, and refrigerate this food and it shoots up to 17%.
• Conventional tomatoes are picked when hard & green so that they can survive the average 1569 mile trip to storage warehouse. They are gased with hormones (synthetic, petroleum-based ethylene) to "ripen." (More on that here.)
• Supermarket foods cost 50% more than those purchased via CSA.
• 21% of the money goes to farmers when we purchase conventional foods. 100% of money spent on a CSA farm box subscription goes to the farmer.

This video reminded me of why eating locally-grown, unprocessed foods is so important,  just as important as choosing organic foods.

10 Things to Do Besides Shop

I used to buy things I didn't need.

Sometimes I shopped because I felt great and wanted to celebrate. I found $100 tucked away somewhere. I lost weight. I aced an exam. I was dating a hot new guy. I found something brilliant or beautiful for supercheap.

Mostly I shopped because I didn't feel good. I was lonely, bored, or aimless. I wanted to skip a meal. I was anxious because I had spare time between appointments. I wanted to have some reason for working long hours at a job I hated.

Call me un-American but I'm just going to go ahead and say these are all terrible reasons to buy stuff. Shopping for any reason other than the need to use the item or service you're purchasing is like scratching your head because your foot itches. It's just plain silly and doesn't do any good. I'm grateful that I learned this before I acquired mountains of crippling credit card debt and crap I don't need.

If you use shopping as a way to manage your moods, like I used to, here are ten healing and empowering things you can do besides shop. They all work really well for me.

1. Get tea with a friend. Allow yourself to be healed by the lovefest that is hanging out with your best girlfriend or even someone amazing and new that you'd like to know better.
2. Write and snail mail a thank you or just because note to someone you really appreciate. Who has time for handwritten notes these days? You do! That is when you don't waste time shopping!

DIY Upcycled Christmas Tree Potpourri

At the start of the year, I made this easy natural potpourri using upcycled bits of my Christmas tree (collected before composting the rest of it) along with other seasonal kitchen scraps and spices. You can get a head start making Christmas tree potpourri by collecting scraps from a tree salesman or using the bits that will inevitably fall off your tree as you transport it into your home.

This recipe makes a small batch of potpourri (about a quart). Triple or quadruple the recipe and put into vintage-feeling mason jars to make fantastic holiday hostess gifts.

You'll need:

• two branches from a small Christmas tree
• dried clementine, orange, and/or tangerine peel (Hang peels to dry or just leave on the counter for a few days. I know from experience that both work equally well!)
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• a small palm full of whole cloves
• 2 cotton balls or pads
• lemon essential oil
• pine or cedar essential oil (I actually used Wondercide, a cedar oil natural insect repellant. It was great to get some off-season use for it!)
• medium brown paper bag 

How to Clean Stinky Uggs Boots

I was reading Leslie Reichert's book The Joy of Green Cleaning and discovered this treat for winter feet: Ugg Boot Deodorizer.

All you need is baking soda, corn starch, and your favorite essential oil to make this all natural boot freshener.

12 Germ Fighting Essential Oils & DIY Purifying Spray

Here's a list of a dozen germ fighting essential oils. They can be used in an aromatherapy diffuser or in a DIY air and surface purifying spray.

Non-toxic homekeeping heroine, Annie B. Bond explains how to make a germ-killing disinfecting mist by adding 4-8 drops of essential oils to 1 cup of water. You can spray hard or non-staining soft surfaces with it or mist the air. This makes a wonderful alternative to potentially harmful Lysol products, most of which have significant skin damage, development, and respiratory hazards.

A diffuser dispenses the essential oils into the air. Aromatherapist Joan Apter recommends beginning by diffusing oils for 15-30 minutes a day. As you become accustomed to the oils and recognize their effects, you can increase the diffusing time to 1-2 hours.

Before using this list, I recommend reading Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection, just to get clear on the differences between those things. 

Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum verum) is anti-infectious, anti-bacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral and antifungal.

Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) is antiseptic and antibacterial.

Clove (Syzgium aromaticum) is one of the most antimicrobial and antiseptic.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus lemon and eucalyptus radiata) is anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiviral, expectorant and anti-inflammatory.

Lavender is anti-bacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal.

Lemon Oil (citrus limon) is anti-bacterial.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flixuosus) is highly antifungal.

Myrtle (Myrtus communis) is antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal.

Pine is antibiotic and antiseptic.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is antiseptic and antimicrobial.

Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternafolia, ericfolia or quinquenervia) is anti-bacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal.

Thyme oil (Thymus vulgaris) is anti-bacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal.

Purchase essential oils and diffuser at Mountain Rose Herbs via my affiliate link to earn e-Hugs!

Reference: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

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DIY Lavender Sachet Hair Clip and Brooch

Lavender sachet brooch

A few days ago I got bored while waiting for my vegan lasagna leftovers to reheat. I very rarely get bored (there's always Instagram!) but I'm trying to get smarter about the time I spend on social media so that left the question: What fun thing can I do for 20 minutes? Pinterest!, my mind said. No!, I resisted. I decided I'd better make something with my ridiculously large stash of lavender.

A sachet seemed like the best idea given the time constraints. Basically, a sachet is a little pouch containing something with a fabulous scent or magical powers. I think lavender has a little bit of both, plus it's totally my accidental theme for this week!

Lavender sachet hair clip

Wanna make the same thing?

You'll need:

• one sheet of paper & a pencil or marker
• straight pins & a pair of scissors
• two fabric scraps of different colors and textures (I used crafting felt and a synthetic sports fabric, but cotton would be another good choice.)
• lavender flowers & lavender essential oil (Available at Mountain Rose Herbs)
• thread & needle or sewing machine
• random string of beads
• colorful embroidery or crafting thread

Do this:

1. Draw a shape that you like on the paper. Make it at least 1/4" bigger around than you'd like your sachet to be, unless you plan on having exposed edges like mine does). Cut it out to make a pattern/template.
2. Sandwich together the two pieces of fabric. Face to face if you wanna reverse it. Butt to butt if you want exposed edges.
3. Pin the pattern to the fabric sandwich. 
4. Cut.
5. Remove the pattern.
6. Repin and sew together leaving a little opening.
7. Use embroidery/craft thread and random beads to make a cute (optional) decoration on the sachet. It's probably easier to outline the template on the fabric with craft chalk and embroider/embellish on a larger piece of fabric before you cut or sew it. I just like to work in this order. You should do whatever works for you too.
8. Mix together some lavender flowers (enough to fill your sachet) and few drops of lavender essential oils. 
9. Make a funnel with paper to get the lavender into the opening.
10. Sew closed with the machine (if doing exposed edges) or tuck edges in and sew closed by hand, if you're not.

Now that you've got yourself a sachet, the question is what to do with it. Since I've been fighting the blues, I figured I would make the sachet into something I could wear all day. A hair clip seemed perfect!

I stuck a large bobby pin through the back piece of fabric. Automatic hair clip. A duck clip would work too. If your fabric doesn't have holes or open weave, stitch a clip to it with embroidery thread.

If you wanna wear it as a brooch, stitch a large safety pin or a brooch pin onto the back.

Now when friends and co-workers ask, "What's that wonderful smell," you can say, "It's me!" And when they ask why you're in such a good mood, you can say, "It's my handmade brooch!"

Tip: Store this inside a drawer or your purse when you're not wearing it so it can serve double duty.

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

Consider supporting this blog by shopping via my Amazon shop. Thanks. 

Kindle vs Books: A Green Perspective

Today the newest Kindle Fire was released. I can't help but wonder if and how this device, and other e-readers, fits into my eco-friendly lifestyle.

Disclosure: I'm an Amazon associate. The opinions in this article are my own, but I do earn commission on Amazon purchases made via this site. I you decide to buy a Kindle, please use my special link for karmic e-huggles! 

My gut instinct is that the shift to e-books is awesome for the environment. I think of all the paper that will be saved by not printing books for consumers, or even during publishing to preview lay out. I think of all the fuel that won't be used to run warehouses to store books or to ship books from printer to warehouse to bookstore to used bookstore. Maybe libraries can become smaller and save energy on light and air conditioning as they begin to focus on trafficking e-books.

It's not just my gut that says e-readers are green. A 2009 study by CleanTech Group analyzed the carbon footprint of the Kindle DX. It revealed if a person reads 22.5 ebooks instead of printed books, they would offset the carbon emissions associated with creating the device. (I have no idea how the Kindle Fire HDX measured up against this.) You can take your e-reader the green distance by using a solar charger, reselling it when you upgrade, and being sure to recycle your Kindle when it dies.

I imagine a lot of social and cultural awesomeness resulting from the growth of e-books. More previously disempowered people and mainstream literature outsiders are finding voice and community as self publishing becomes easier. It's exciting to know that every entrepreneur can sell and send her self published book to someone across the world for nothing and in just a few minutes.

(I'm actually writing an e-book that will be free to my e-newsletter subscribers by November. Get on my list to get it!)

Then there's the annoyance of the physical presence of books themselves. Anyone who has every moved residence knows that packing books you've never read, or read once in college, and moving them from apartment to apartment is just sad. Also there's dust. Ugh! We have three bookcases in our home and sometimes I just want to turn them over into a dumpster!

Of course, there is something cold and anti-social about e-readers. Book swaps, curbside free book boxes, and leave one-take one cafe libraries warm my soul. Sadly, these acts of charity and community are impossible with e-books.

Real books help us find friends. When I see someone reading a book with a cover that interests me I am able to recognize a kindred spirit and am likely to start a conversation. (My parents actually met at a bus stop because my dad asked my mom about the book she was reading.) When I see someone starting into an electronic device my instinct is to assume they'd rather be left alone.

How will future 20 somethings judge if a person is worth a third date if she can't see what he's read? (Hopefully, Maxim will somehow stay in print if only to be a red flag.)

What do you think? Do you prefer e-readers or real books? Do you think there is room for both in a sustainable future? 

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

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My Natural Hair Care Routine

I love my hair. I also love talking about my hair. So when a reader asked what products I use I practically jumped over myself to create a post on the topic.

Here are the natural hair care products I use, listed in the order I use them along with some Amazon affiliate links to where you can buy them, if you choose. None of these products contain synthetic fragrances or parabens. They're all made without animal products or animal testing. Most are fair trade and use organic ingredients. So I have an afrotastic hair day and nobody gets hurt. Yay!

Hair Typing: I'm not sure how much hair typing matters, but I do find it useful for managing expectations on how my hair should look after using a certain product or styling technique. I have 4A hair, which means it grows in lots of tiny, defined, and supertight coils. (You can discover your hair type here.)
Remembering that there are little distinctions even within hair types might help you determine if the products I use and how I use them will work for you. In other words, please don't get mad at me if your hair doesn't like the products I use.

My hair, today, showing it's natural curl pattern. (It hasn't been stretched or styled.)

Deep Condition: Everyday Coconut Super Hydrating Conditioner, Beautiful Curls Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Treatment, or coconut oil. I finger comb or use a wide toothed comb to distribute about 1/3 cup evenly through damp hair. I put on two shower caps or reuse plastic bags (produce bags are great for this) and a warm knit cap. I leave my hair alone for about 30 minutes. Now is the perfect time to work up a sweat cleaning up around the house. The steam created by body heat helps the conditioning process.

Shampoo or No Poo: Alaffia Kola, Ginger & Shea Daily Fortifying Shampoo. (I'm not sure if they still make it.) The bottle I used before this one was Alaffia Neem & Shea Scalp Recovery Shampoo. Both are sulfate-free, meaning they are low poo. low suds, non-drying, and non abrasive. This keeps curls happy. I only shampoo once and don't use a lot of shampoo. Squeaky clean is too clean. Hair needs some oils to stay awesome.
If you're dead set against shampoos, or just thrifty, an alternative to shampoo is the Baking Soda No Poo method.I tried it once. It does work.

Final Rinse: Once all the shampoo is rinsed from my hair, I do a final rinse with 2-4 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) + 8-10 oz homemade herb infused water or 2-4 TBS ACV + 8-10 oz water + 4 drops essential oil. (Lavender is my herb/essential oil of choice.) I do not rinse this out. It leaves my hair supershiny and the smell of vinegar eventually dissipates.

Dry: I gently squeeze hair dry then partially towel dry. I use Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel.

Leave in Conditioner: In a spray bottle, I mix together 1 part aloe vera gel (Aloe 80 Organics Skin Soothing Gel) with 3 parts filtered water and a few drops of essential oil. (Again, you can also use herb-infused water in place of filtered water and skip the essential oil, but for some reason I'm just thinking of this!)

Moisturizer/ Hot Oil Treatment: Coconut oil is a great way to seal in the moisture from leave-in conditioner. I usually want a hot oil treatment after washing, so I heat it by placing a small cup of oil (I use a sake glass) in a larger bowl of hot water. The heat makes the oil extra potent. 
When I rock a wash-and-go, I rub it through my damp hair with my palms so I don't disturb my natural curl pattern. If I am going to wear two-strand twists, I may use a comb or brush.
I've used many brands of coconut oil. Right now I'm using Dr. Bronner's White Kernel. Last month I used Dr. Bronner's Whole Kernel Coconut Oil. I haven't noticed a difference in results. I just buy what's on sale at Whole Foods. I like olive oil too. I would recommend always going for organic and food quality oil.

Touch-up/ In-between wash days: I do all the above every one to two weeks. Every other day or so, I mist my hair with my DIY leave-in conditioner and seal in moisture with a little coconut oil.

Random Tips: Healthy hair is part of a healthy body. A food based multivitamin supports hair growth and strength. (My hair stylist says a prenatal vitamin is even better.) Eating healthy fats like flax seeds and flax seed oil, coconut oil, walnuts, and avocados help keep your hair and skin well moisturized. 
Water is a friend of hair. I drink lots of water. I also let the steam from a hot shower treat my hair as well.
Massaging your scalp with your fingertips is also beneficial for scalp health and hair growth.

What hair products do you use? What's your routine?

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

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Enjoy Aromatherapy While You Vacuum!

If you like adding essential oils to your DIY cleaning products, here's another easy way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy while you clean. All you need is a vacuum, some cotton balls, and the essential oil of your choice.

I chose lemon essential oil because it is uplifting. (Who couldn't use a mood lift while cleaning?) Also, lemon gives the karate chop to negative feelings that medicinal smelling essential oils like tea tree oil and eucalyptus can bring up. Chances are you've used those while cleaning your bathroom, so enjoying some lemon oil afterwards while you vacuum can help bring you back into the happy zone.

Lemon essential oil also increases concentration and awareness. No dust bunny will be left behind once you've inhaled some of this!

Watch my video to see how simple vacuum aromatherapy is.



You may need more oil than what I suggested in the video depending on your vacuum. I think at least 3 drops on two cotton balls is minimum.

If you don't have a vacuum, just inhale some oil straight from the bottle. Whatever it takes!

Visit the Aura Cacia website to learn more about the aromatherapy benefits of many essential oils and pick your favorite! Let me know if you try this and which oil you choose. 

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Save the Planet with Recycled Gold!

Most of us know about "blood diamonds" but did you know the gold band that the diamond is set in might not be too politically correct either?

"The Best Way to Save the Planet from Gold Mining" on ethical jeweler Brilliant Earth's blog highlights the environmental price of being blinged out.

[G]old mining is extremely bad for the environment. Modern gold mining methods generate about 20 tons of toxic waste for every gold ring. Gold mining pollutes the air and water with toxic substances like cyanide and mercury. The leading cause of mercury pollution today, ahead of even coal-fired power plants, is gold mining. And it’s partly because of gold mining that the Amazon rainforest is being destroyed and that mercury levels in fish are so high.

Blogger Gregg Krauss suggests we simply stop mining for gold and start re-using the gold we already have.

In 2012, if the world had re-used or recycled less than 3 percent of existing gold supplies, it could have satisfied 100 percent of global demand. And by recycling about 5 percent of gold jewelry, all the world’s gold needs could have been met last year.

Recycling gold seems like a no-brainer to me. I mean, we are required by law to recycle plastic bottles, which, unlike gold, degrade in value with each recycling. Also, these days you can make some serious cash by recycling grandma's gaudy gold.

I wanna popularize the phrase "Cash-4-Gold: Not just for hood rats anymore!" How cool would that look on a reuseble grocery tote bag?!

Seriously, I'm totally inspired to get rid of the gold name ring I've been hoarding since 1993, a.k.a. my Wanna-Be-Gangsta-B**ch phase, when it would have been cool had my name actually been spelled correctly. (#TrueStory: My mom spells my nickname at least 3 different ways!) Maybe I'll have it melted down into my future wedding band. *Cough*

I'm a fan of vintage jewelry, but if I had to buy something new I totally love the idea of recycled gold. Would you wear recycled jewelry?

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