Good Music for a Good Cause: French Caribbean
I never enjoyed the trendy music of Guadeloupe; reggaeton will probably never be my style. But the authentic rhythms that mix traditional Creole and French sounds are one of a kind. French Caribbean is an excellent collection of just that, and Putumayo just re-released it in order to give 100% of proceeds to Haiti Relief efforts. Good music for a good cause.
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Article cross-posted from Planet Green.
When a crisis like the recent earthquake in Haiti hits, it’s hard to focus on the positive. Since January 12, 2010 most of us have been consumed with images of devastation. We’ve heard stories of families and communities ripped apart and we’ve discussed how a country that was in a situation of such poverty even before the earthquake struck will ever be able to rebuild itself. But an essential part of having that discussion entails focusing on the positive, moving away from the heart wrenching images of the effects of a natural catastrophe and instead highlighting the creativity and warmth of a people.
That’s what Putumayo World Music believes. In response to the earthquake in Haiti, the label is re-releasing two albums with sounds and rhythms straight from the affected region: French Caribbean and the children’s CD, Caribbean Playground. 100% of the proceeds from each album will be donated to the Red Cross for Haitian relief throughout 2010.
“In 1976, I had the extraordinary experience of visiting this unique country and became a fan of its music, art and people. As a resident of New Orleans, I’ve witnessed how a city can come back from virtual ruin. Haiti will rise again!” – Dan Storper, Founder/CEO
The Girl Effect
Super inspired by this. Watch, then learn more here.
“It’s no big deal. Just the future of humanity.”
Friday Photo: A Taste of Summer Fruit
With a mid-winter burst of warm weather and sunshine, I’ve gotten started thinking about spring and summer. Sure, it’s a little premature, but there’s nothing better than dreaming about walking barefoot and picking berries out in the country. So here’s a photo to celebrate all that I love about the warmer months… that will come eventually.
New Nau: Spring Line 2010 is Out
Portland-based eco clothier Nau finally has their new Spring 2010 line out. As usual, the line incorporates sustainable materials like recycled polyester, merino wool and organic cotton.
And sticking with the Nau aesthetic, the Spring 2010 has the classic urban chic look to it; the pictures speak for themselves. Check out the full men’s and women’s lines here.
Conscious Living: Notes from the New Media Age
This article is cross-posted from Elephant Journal.
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru
That quote was pulled from an excellent list of 50 inspirational travel quotes that is a constant point of reference whenever I need to be reminded of the important things in life. Last week I also came across another list of good “life reminders” entitled How to Be an Explorer of the World. Good stuff, eh?
So with all these wonderful, inspirational reminders, I should be living a healthy, balanced and creative lifestyle, right? But something still feels a little off, and I’m not alone. From my friends in the social media world (you know who you are) I often hear “it’s hard to keep up” or “the amount of information out there is overwhelming.”
There are many of us that spend plenty of time writing about the benefits of living slow, conscious lives, but when we take a step back and look at our daily realities, how slow and conscious are they? In fact, although they’re necessary tools to doing my daily job, a Crackberry, a constantly updated TweetDeck and a plethora of RSS feeds aren’t really vehicles to feeling more balanced.
A Journey Through Asia
If you’ve spent any time traveling in Southeast Asia, this video, by Ivan Vania, will pull at your heart strings… beautiful landscapes, beautiful people, beautiful moments, beautiful memories.
The clip was filmed over a 24 hour period, traveling through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
[Via: Fubiz]
Fat Tuesday a la Sweden: Semlor
You think bright color bead necklaces and crazy carnival outfits are what Fat Tuesday is all about? Think again.
In Sweden there’s a different tradition, and it carries on all the way from January to March: semlor. A semla (plural: semlor) are wheat-flour bun filled with almond paste and topped with whipped cream and powdered sugar; the perfect combination for fending off the cold of winter. Traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday, now you can find them in Swedish pastry shops and bakeries from the beginning of January onwards.
Or you can make your own. Here’s a great recipe to bring all the semla goodness right into your own home. I know what I’m doing tonight!
Want more semla stats and fun facts? Check out this great article on the Swedish baked good by my friend Lola Akinmade on Intelligent Traveler.
[Photo: Per Ola Wiberg]
Scandinavian Design: Marimekko Spring 2010
I’ve been meaning to have a weekly feature on Scandinavian design for quite some time now, but I’m still lacking a fresh and fun name for it. Any thoughts?
While we wait for creative genius to strike however, here are three of my favorite fabrics from the Spring 2010 Marimekko collection. Although the Finnish company certainly stands by their classic prints, like Unikko, I always love the new stuff that they come up with.
Greening Your Kitchen: Cocoon
Bringing fresh herbs into your kitchen not only means you’ll have a delectable choice of seasonings, but it also allows you to bring some greenery inside. In fact, I’ve got overflowing pots of thyme, basil and rosemary surrounding my cooking space. But they could probably use a sleek organization system like this one.
Swedish designer Måns Salomonsen has created this ingenious design, called Cocoon, that puts a focus on healthy eating, placing your fruits and herbs all in the same place. Check out more pictures of the design here.
Of course until this beautiful design becomes available, you can still make your own herb garden, and all it entails is a nice looking pot, a few herb plants and some planting soil. Here are some easy to follow directions on re-nest.
Friday Photo: Glittery Window
A salt encrusted ferry window glittering in the sunlight. Outside a seagull struggles against the unrelenting wind. Inside passengers sip on double non-fat lattes and read the paper. Sometimes it’s the simplest photos that hold the most sensory images.
blog.annabrones.com 