Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Heroines for the Planet: Anna Getty

One could peg Anna Getty any number of titles — holistic lifestyle expert, author, entrepreneur, yoga teacher, heiress, and environmental activist among them. But each come in a distant second to her most cherished roles, that of mother and wife.

What I found infinitely charming about Anna is that she doesn’t care how she’s labeled. Her main objective is to be of service to others and the planet, and so long as she’s doing just that, she’s at peace.

I asked Anna about her latest endeavors, how she helps others live more consciously, and whether being an heiress to an oil fortune has affected her environmental activism.

Lindsay: What compelled you to leave the glamour of Hollywood to pursue an interest in cooking?

Anna: To be honest with you the life I was living as a struggling actress was not very glamorous at all. I was working as a yoga teacher, a messenger and in a catering kitchen while pursuing my career. I did get the odd job but it was not consistent. I felt very insecure about myself and my future and ultimately when I thought about what I was doing studying for auditions, working my way through hours of traffic across Los Angeles to get to auditions only to be analyzed by a bunch of strangers in a room, I personally had not felt that I found my service or my calling in the world. Although I pursued an acting career for almost ten years, the shift came very easily once I made the decision. My goal was not to pursue my interest in cooking. I wanted to help people make more conscious choices about their lives, what they ate, how they took care of themselves, their families and children and the planet. I continued teaching yoga, took part of what I knew and loved ( cooking) and started forming my career. I feel like I cut and pasted or collaged together the work that I have come to do. The acting training did however bring me the confidence to do public speaking or work in front of a camera so it was not for nothing.

LB: What was the inspiration behind your cookbook “Anna Getty’s Easy Green Organic?” What about the process of creating the cookbook did you enjoy most?

AG: It’s already a few years ago but looking back, I was approached to write the book by my publisher. I had not intended writing a book, let alone a cook book. I had been a freelance writer writing for a couple different magazines and had been working with various non-profits in the green and organic movement so it pretty much fell together. Writing the book was very challenging because at the same time, I was offered a second book deal to write an eco-Christmas book that needed to be finished within a month of the cook book. So I had double the work. The best part was recipe testing and developing, experimenting with flavors, picking through the fresh locally grown, organic produce at the farmer’s markets and building a recipe around what I came across. I loved having my friends over for taste tests. We would open a bottle of organic wine and eat what I had made and I would get notes from them. It was a very fun and creative time in my kitchen.

LB: Are you a vegetarian now? What was your relationship with food like growing up?
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Haley Chats with Lauren Conrad: Sustainable Resolutions, What’s Blue Avocado, and More

I love Lauren Conrad, so I was thrilled to have the chance to interview her a second time! Most known for her chic fashion line, Paper Crown, as well as famed books Style, LA Candy and Sugar and Spice, Conrad recently collaborated with BlueAvocado on an eco accessories line that’s due out this summer. You can follow Conrad @LaurenConrad and keep up to date on laurenconrad.com. Below she dishes all about her new eco accessories line and how she lives a sustainable life.

Haley Sherif:  It’s such a treat to be interviewing you again! How were your holidays? Did you get some time for well-deserved rest and relaxation?

Lauren Conrad: Thank you! This holiday my family did something fun and went on a cruise. We try, every holiday season to spend time as a family. My mom, dad, brother, sister and I all get together and just spent quality time. It is the best.

Haley Sherif: Tell me about your “green” resolutions.

Lauren Conrad: For me it is about starting small and inspiring others to do the same. I think that people should find resolutions that are right for them. It isn’t about changing your entire life in one day, but taking steps daily to make better choices.

HS:  I love Blue Avocado. It looks adorable. When did this collaboration come about?

LC: I was first introduced to them last Spring when I went down to Texas to meet the founders. For me, the partnership represents a synergy of all the things I love to do—design great products and do something cause related.  I just loved BlueAvocado’s mission of inspiring a reusable lifestyle where looking good and doing good can co-exist. I was also really inspired by the company as a whole. It is founded by women and it has always been important to me to teach young girls that as females we can come together and live out our dreams.

HS: What’s your favorite thing about your new eco line?

LC: In general, I love the idea that the entire collection is made from reclaimed plastic bottles, so we are keeping them out of landfills and oceans. I am also excited about some of the beauty carrier products, which is an entirely new line I helped inspire. Each of the products will include an impact label so people can see the carbon footprint of the product, how many plastic bottles were upcycled, and the waste avoided with each use.  It is the ultimate in reuse and recycle. Plus the bags are super cute!

HS:  Why did you decide to do a green accessories line? What inspired you?

LC: Growing up in California, I grew up with an appreciation for the natural beauty of our beaches, which were my playground. It is heartbreaking to learn about how the build up of garbage in oceans is compromising marine animals and their habitats. I really wanted to make it easy for people to do something without sacrificing style or function and understanding the impact of conscious design. Taking just the smallest first step can create a ripple of awareness where greater change can take place. I think that lifestyle accessories are a great way to take that first step.

HS: How does this line differ from Paper Crown?

LC: This line is accessories and mainly bags. Paper Crown is clothing.

HS: How do you live a healthy green life? 

LC: I start by first and foremost being aware of the environment. Recycling is a first step that really is easy. I also use recyclable materials such as reusable bags rather than plastic.

HS: Do you have any favorite eco lines?

LC: I think it is still such a new space that I am learning about, but I am fascinated by all the innovative options available.

 HS: Any other green collaborations or projects on the horizon?

LC: We definitely have some great new collaborations in the works. I am learning so much from my collaboration with BlueAvocado regarding everything from sustainable fabrics, to micro-enterprise, to the importance of social impact businesses and entrepreneurs. I am just excited to launch our first collaborative line this summer!

Thanks Lauren! For more dishes check out the fashion dish!

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Beautiful BKR Glass Water Bottles: Well Designed and Just Right

Finding the right water bottle is a little bit like a Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Some bottles are too big, some are too small, some are made from the wrong materials, or the drink opening is the wrong shape for drinking from while working out, or too small to clean properly.

And then Bkr sent me one of their pretty bottles to try. And it was like I had found bottle nirvana. It was made of glass, which keeps water cool naturally, and won’t leach anything into liquids, hot or cold. Glass is also easy to clean, and Bkr bottles are covered with a translucent silicone sleeve, so even if you drop the bottle, it’s not likely to break (of course it still can, but so can plastic if dropped far enough).

And look how pretty they are!

Kristen Bell and The Nature Conservancy Parter with Neutrogena Naturals to Advocate for Water Protection

(credit – Nature Conservancy site)

1 pair of jeans is the equivalent of 2,000 gallons of water. 1 glass of beer is the equivalent of 20 gallons of water. 1 steak is the equivalent of 1,000 gallons of water. If those statistics don’t put things into perspective for us I don’t know what will.

It makes the dire situation of potential water loss scary when it’s laid out in such plain language. And it should. It should make us all a little bit nervous, a little bit more willing to educate ourselves, something that Neutrogena Naturals ambassador Kristen Bell advocates.

(credit – Neutrogena Naturals site)

When I attended the Neutrogena Naturals Event this past Monday I entered the room and three life size posters stared me in the face depicting the statistics above. I knew I wanted to learn more, and not just about our current situation, but about how we can all educate ourselves better and take preventative measures. Lucky for us the Nature Conservancy has done just that.

The Conservancy has partnered up with Neutrogena to create Neutrogena’s Natural line, a line of products minus the bad chemicals with all the stuff that keeps our skin clean. Actress Kristen Bell uses the products herself and even makes it a point to mention that just because the products don’t have the chemicals in them doesn’t mean they don’t work. In fact, she says they work better!

Watch this video to educate yourself! 

“Adventures in Om” in September Whole Living magazine

Check out the September, 2011 issue of Whole Living magazine (on newsstands now!), wherein I’ve put together a few great destinations that combine yoga and fun adventures like horseback riding, rock climbing and surfing. I researched a number of cool retreats and getaways that combine some of our fave adventure activities with yoga programs specifically designed to accompany them. And check out that fantastic picture of the woman on the horse!