DAILY DANNY

Glowy Rocks

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!

I hope you're enjoying the day off and celebrating with friends and family.    I've got a whole gang of family members at my house celebrating, so I'll leave you with this quick eco tip for the 4th.

If you're celebrating outside, keep a glowy path of rocks leading guests to and from the dining area to the house.   All you have to do is gather rocks and pebbles and cover them with a simple coat of glow-in-the-dark paint (from the craft store). 

The paint works by "charging" up in the sun all day and the reflect the stored light at night.   It's actually a great thing to do for Halloween, but I find it works great in summer to add light to the backyard without installing any actual outdoor lighting.

Have fun...enjoy...and celebrate the 4th! 

Green CFL Bulb

One of the fun things about New York City, is that you can walk down any block and get a whole variety of window shopping ideas and inspiration.  I used to live on Bleecker street right across from the famed Magnolia Bakery; it smelled like frosting 24/7.  If you're a sugar-fan, it was a dream come true.   But as more of salt fan, it was overwhelming.   So when I moved, I didn't miss it for one second!    But I digress....

Walking down Bleecker, I was attracted to this window display of a green CFL bulb.   It was for a trendy florist that has an all-black displays so the green flowers can "pop."    Today, they had these cfl bulbs hanging...

I've been thinking of installing a mini-greenhouse at the new house and think these green CFL bulbs would be perfect for it.   It would play up the "green" house aspect, all while being energy efficient.   But this greenhouse dream is, oh, many many years away.  For now, this bulb might have to do. 

Mattress Testing

Okay, so I've been infatuated with mattresses lately.  With the launch of my Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo mattress, I've been absorbed in the world of better sleep.   In a recent day trip to Atlanta, GA to meet with Simmons, my manufacturing partners, I got a quick tour of their testing facility.

Above, my mattress is lined up to be tested with giant rollers to roll back and forth across the mattress. 

Here they are about to get rolled on.  One of these rollers will go and forth for several weeks on the mattress, replicating many years worth of sleeping.   We do these tests to see how the mattresses will wear over time.  My mattress comes with a 20-year warranty, so you can imagine they've been tested on many, many times.  

Here's another test on a different Simmons mattress being pounded on over and over again.   It was this test that showed how certain materials don't work in mattresses and needed to be reformulated and rethought until it hits the marketplace.

And one more look at the pouncing machine.   Then it was time to go back to my meeting... but what fun it was to see all this behind the scenes research!

Showroom Visit

The other day I hopped to Brooklyn to make a visit to a showroom where buyers for retail stores go to to place orders.    It's not open to the public, but as a consultant for JCPenney and an editor with Better Homes & Gardens, I got to walk thru and see what's new and coming out for Fall.  I took a few digital photos of items that I loved and wanted for my own house.

Above is a beautiful bowl made entirely out of driftwood.  It would go so well with the driftwood mirror I have at home.  I've been mulling about creating a driftwood collection at home...

Can you believe these wallets are made entirely out of duct tape?   I have this policy that I don't replace my wallet until I absolutely, positively need to.   I mean, the last stitch of string could be holding two pieces of fabric together until I replace it.   But when that day does come, I may have to switch to one of these cool striped duct tape wallets.

This seedling kit is darling.   It's made from recycled concrete bags molded into seedling pots.  The wicker basket is a great carrying case.   This makes me want to start an herb garden.

And these wood grained utensils?   I love the nature-inspired look of these pieces.  It's nice to see that every utensil doesn't have to be silver-plated and boring.

Fourth of July Tips

I love the week of 4th of July.  It just feels like, well, summer to me.

I'm off to California to speak at the "greenest fair on Earth" at the Marin County Fair right outside of San Francisco.  It's one of those fun old fashioned county fairs with farm booths, pie-eating contests, ferris wheels and cotton candy.  I'll take lots of photos.   If you're in Marin County, come see me on Wednesday, July 2nd at 6PM.   I'm giving away a free Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo mattress!

Anyway, here are some fun eco-entertaining tips from my book "Simply Green Parties" that you can use for your own summer parties this week.   First up: lemon scented hand towels.  

Just grab some small towels and soak them in ice water with a squeezed lemon.  Ring them up, roll them up and serve with a lemon slice on top.   They'll refresh and disinfect at the same time.

For corn on the cob, just grab some twigs from the yard and sharpen them up in a pencil sharpener.  Jab, grill, enjoy!

It's easy to make your own healthy popsicles.   You find these molds in the kitchen supply aisle.  Just fill it up with a fruity sports drink, insert popsicle sticks and freeze.   Full of vitamins and much healthier than regular sugar pops.

My Regular Texas Trips

As many of you know, I work with JCPenney as their Green Living Partner and help them as a spokesperson and consultant on their eco-product designation campaign called "Simply Green."   The logo helps our customers (and associates) identify products we create that are recycled, renewable or organic.   I'm down in Texas quite a bit for meetings and one-on-one time with design directors, executives and buyers.   So, this time I thought I'd share a little insider view of their Energy Star award-winning corporate headquarters.

Above is what is known as "the statue."   This is a giant statue of the founder, Mr. James Cash Penney.

Here's a photo of the very first JCPenney store.

One of the first JCPenney promotional gifts given away:  how green!   It's a toothpaste squeezer so you can get every little last bit of toothpaste out of the tube.   I want one of these!   

Some old matches that were given away back in the day.   

Vintage stationary with the old JCPenney logo.   Seeing this photo makes me miss my old typewriter.   I might go search flea markets or a Goodwill store to find an old typewriter to have on hand.  I love the look of the fonts when freshly "struck" to paper.

I also stopped by the JCPenney Stonebriar store nearby to check on my Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo mattress.    I also go into stores and refluff the pillows and clean-up the displays.   Sometimes I personally explain the mattress to customers who may be there when I'm there.   I always end up giving away free signed copies of my books to people!

Anyway, here's a sign on the bed promoting their 40% off special sale right now.    Good time to buy and save!

And here's how it looks on the sales floor.    So pretty.  

(PS-I've gotten lots of emails asking why it's not available for sale in some JCPenney stores.   This mattress is on display in all 165 stores that have mattress departments; stores that do not have a mattress department will not have this on display.    To find the closest store to you that has a mattress dept., all you have to do is go to www.naturalcarebed.com and type in your zip code in the store locator.   It will be available for sale in a few weeks on jcp.com as well!)

Barn Sale

About a week ago, I was sitting at a stop sign in my car and saw a handmade sign next to me reading "BARN SALE!  NEXT SATURDAY!"

I had no idea what a barn sale was, but I soon found out it exactly is what it sounds like: it's a barn full of used stuff for sale.    And it was bargain central, I discovered.

Above is a collection of wonderful country style chairs for around $5-$15 a piece.    Someone should've bought the whole mismatched (but similar) set and used it for a kitchen set!

I found a collection of vintage garden books for $1 a piece.  I snatched up a bunch, including field guides to trees and shrubs.  I love the green book on the left; the pattern is really pretty and could be a nice pattern for a bedding set.   Hmmm...

And bargain central!   $1 for a vintage crock...$75 cents for an old bronze box...and just $1 for a set of vintage strawberry wooden baskets.   I have a use for all of these in my house.

And here's the crock with the crown emblem on front.   It's all chipped and faded...but that's why I love it even more.   $1!!

And speaking of low prices, when it comes to ridiculously low prices at these barn sales, I don't bargain down.   The only time I really negotiate is when it's something priced above $10.    But how silly would it be to say "I'll give you eighty cents instead of one dollar?"  

Question: can you recycle empty paint cans?

For a long time, I've been told that once a can of paint is completely empty and used up, you can safely toss the can into the curbside recycling bin for recycling.

Well, I just had my house painted with who-knows-how-much-paint from Benjamin Moore's Aura Exterior line.   Above is a photograph of all the empty cans with the dried up black paint dripping inside and outside.

As I looked at the cans, I just couldn't imagine it would be OK to recycle them.   There's still a coating of dark paint inside and outside of the steel can.    If I rinse out food containers for recycling, shouldn't I do the same for paint?

So, I asked Benjamin Moore, and here's what they said:

Always check your local recycling regulations, but in general, once they are dried out, they are safe to recycle in your regular recycling.

So, there you have it.  I'm going to put them out for recycling and see what happens.  Maybe I'll print out the email from Benjamin Moore and tape it to the cans....

Tote Bag Winner

Congrats to "KIEREN" for winning the handmade tote bag.   Many thanks to all of you for entering.   I have learned that we all love chocolate, wine and tofu on this blog! 

I chose a number at random to pick this contest's winner; if they left a way to contact them, they won! 

Congrats to Kieren for leaving "Fruit. Berries. Wine" as her additions to the grocery list.

Plenty more contests to come!

Auction Results

Last weekend, I attended the Rago Arts Discovery Auction in New Jersey.   It was a day-long auction that, quite honestly, exhausted me by the end of the day.   All I heard all day long was "10, 20, 30, 40, do I have 50...50?   50?  50?"    I swear, I thought I would wake up raising my hand that night.

Above is what I faced all day: the auctioneer (who also appears on Antiques Roadshow!  Who knew?) and his bidder assistants.

First, the bargain:   The $1 light.  I didn't buy this, but it was the only item to go for exactly $1.  "Style of Fontana Arte" chrome and glass ceiling light.    Not my style, but definitely worth more than $1!

I was the successful bidder of this set of Austrian China called "Victoria Blue Birds."   It was a lot of 27 mixed pieces and I paid about $200 for the whole set.   I did some research and found each plate to be valued around $75 each.   So I think I did pretty well!

I did not win this outdoor metal furniture set that I desperately wanted.   Once the bidding went over $500, I stopped because I knew the people who really wanted it, would stop at nothing.   But it did sell for a pretty good price: $1100 for the set.   Pricey, but still a good deal.

I did win this keyhole rocker. "Wegner/Gaetama keyhole rocker with canvas sling seat and back on oak frame."   I put it next to the giant stone fireplace in my house.  How cozy will this be this winter?

A set of gorgeously framed (not pictured for some reason) oil paintings by South African artist Liz Hugo.   $100 for two paintings...framed.    That's a great deal for original art.

And how crazy is this?  The former owner of my house was a painter.   His name came up and my head popped up like "why do I know this name?"    Here are two oil paintings he most likely painted right in my own studio.     They sold for a few hundred dollars each.

And I bid $40 on a set of pottery sight unseen.   How bad could it be?  I love the organic shape of these pots and put them as a grouping on my dining room table.    The little grass clippings look nice in them.