Wylde in Decatur

7 Oct

Wylde Center Logo

Tucked behind Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia is an adorable house called the Wylde Center. Their mission is to teach environmental awareness through hands-on gardening and outdoor education programs. I stumbled upon this treasure today while I was on the “2012 Urban Chicken Coop Tour.” Yes, not only do they have a community garden and bees but also my favorite… an adorable chicken coop. There are plenty of classes and on-site activities for young and old. See below a list of upcoming events this fall.   http://wyldecenter.org/

 

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Backyard Chickens

9 Aug

Who would have ever guessed I would have a zoo in my backyard.  Well, two poodles, one mutt of unknown origin and three hens later… 

It all began when I went to visit a dear friend of mine that had three chickens she had hatched and raised to full-grown adults. To see how these sweet animals had imprinted on her and the level of affection and attention they bestowed upon her and each other was amazing. I really never gave chickens enough credit. So, for months I stalked the local chicken websites and blogs hemming and hawing over the positives and negatives. Once I started researching breeds I knew I had found my match in the Buff Orpington named “the golden retriever of chickens.” These docile creatures are not only good egg layers but they are known for a kind and loving temperament.  I was sold.  I found three pullets (teenage chickens for lack of a better term) at an animal rescue about an hour away. The owner of the rescue had them in a dog crate ready for transport and I brought them home to their new coop. The first 24 hours I kept them in the coop so they would understand that was home, where to sleep and eat. The following morning I let them out at sunrise to start free ranging in the back yard and that has been their life ever since. They are naturally hard-wired to return to their coop at night where they are safe from nocturnal predators. I have bought them the Neiman Marcus of organic chicken feed and they could care less. They much prefer bugs and all things small and crawly so I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have natural exterminators and no need for chemicals around the house. I also compost their waste with grass clippings and leaves to use on my plants. The greatest treat though is in the evenings before they retire to their coop. It is at this time that they want to talk and visit with us and be loved and cuddled. Yes, these chickens love to be loved. Of course you are probably wondering about the eggs…  Well, that is for another post. They are not fully grown as of yet so no eggs at this point but we will see who comes first…

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Best Beach Books

20 May

Hallelujah!!!  This morning I woke up excited to think that this time next week I will be at the beach for the Memorial holiday. It is the only summer vacation that I schedule in advance as all other summer trips seem to fall in to place rather haphazardly and last minute.  Rather, this weeks vacation will be three full glorious days of fried shrimp, hour long walks on the beach searching for sharks teeth, and reading a really great beach book. As I started to search my kindle I realized that all of my favorite beach reads have very similar qualities. Most are Southern literature and all require humor. I have not yet found my next book but instead I will share with you a list of my past favorites.

Rich in Love – Josephine Humphries

The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd

Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris

Folly Beach: A Lowcountry Tale – Dorothea Benton Frank

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets – Eva Rice

Bound South – Susan Rebecca White

Girls in Trucks – Katie Crouch

Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood – Rebecca Wells

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

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The Best Sunscreen Ever… Seriously

29 Mar

Luca Sunscreen founded by Dr. Karl and Georgia Gruber of Charleston, SC in 2005 is possibly the best sunscreen I have ever used.  I am usually not a product endorser but in this case I am making a huge exception.  You know how every year Oprah has her “Favorite Things” show… Well, think of this as “Ally May’s Favorite Products of 2012!” www.lucasunscreen.com

Georgia & Karl, how did the idea of Luca conceptualize?
We never planned on going into the sunscreen business – in fact, until our son, Luca, came along we had never really given sunscreen much thought.  We decided that our two year old son was old enough to head into the sun and discover the beach, so we rented a home on Folly Beach, South Carolina in June 2005. Being the SuperMom that I was, I made sure to purchase sunscreen in all SPF types. Wow! Even an SPF 100! That makes me even a better Mom, right? Well after 2 days on the beach we discovered that Luca was allergic to numerous  types of sunscreens and experienced burning and irritation after each application. Can you only imagine how this affected our vacation?? Our 10 year old daughter spent hours in the sun and in the water while Luca sat on the porch or had to wear long sleeved shirts and hat out in the sun; absolutely NO sunscreen at the beach.  Needless to say, after 4 days, we packed it up and headed home.

After visiting the pediatrician and dermatologist multiple times between July and September and still on the hunt for answers, we decided to take matters in to our own hands by contacting an experienced sunscreen formulator Craig Bonda…. I mean he formulated Neutrogena….he was the best! And he really is! Now, I do have to state that my husband Karl is a physician, a pathologist. Secondly he has a background in chemistry and physics which helps when you’re making a call to a scientist and asking him all sorts of complicated questions but most importantly, “Why is my son unable to tolerate sunscreen?”  We were so lucky to discover that Craig’s passion for sunscreen and education made it easy for us to want to learn more about this extremely complex subject. Did I mention that I’m Italian and worshiped the sun but always wore sunscreen on my face because I certainly didn’t want wrinkles? So with my olive complexion, as well as Karl’s, we created a blonde haired, green eyed boy with SUPER sensitive FAIR skin. For months when he came home, I was certain he was switched at birth.  Now back to Craig, upon learning that most sunscreens provide the same UVB protection, which prevents you from BURNING (UVB is for Burn and UVA is for Aging)  UVA on the other hand was a different issue.  UVA ray penetration is an entirely different wavelength…one that can penetrate deep into the dermis, destroying DNA and breaking down healthy collagen and ultimately causing thinning of the skin, wrinkles, sun spots but the FEAR of all FEAR, melanoma.  So with Craig’s help we decided to create a formula that would not only be hypoallergenic but would also provide superior UVA  protection.  From there we continued to grow and market our brand focusing on Craig’s dream formula, a superior quality sunscreen that would protect one from harmful UVA rays….and so critical wavelength became our focus.  Our new goal, prevention of skin cancer and melanoma in a wearable daily moisturizing sunscreen with the highest critical wavel on the market. 

 

What sets Luca Sunscreen apart from its competition?
LUCA sunscreen VOLTUNTARILY provides information to its customers about the full level of UV protection they are receiving.  While other sunscreens provide an SPF value to measure UVB protection, LUCA goes above and beyond this to provide a Critical Wavelength™ (CW) value which measures into the UVA spectrum.  What most people don’t know is that typical sunscreens don’t even offer protection against half of the UVA range of the UV spectrum!  These rays, while not producing the immediate, visible effects of UVB rays (sunburn and redness) are the ones that lead to aging (wrinkles and thinning of the skin) and melanoma. So how do you know what your level of UVA protection is? It’s called critical wavelength (CW). Every sunscreen has a CW value. It’s part of the formulating process. During the testing and formulating process both an SPF value and a CW value are produced. The FDA ONLY requires a SPF value on the bottle. The key to know a products CW value tells a consumer how far out a sunscreen protective umbrella extends across the UVB/UVA spectrum. Want to know how much protection you’re getting from your sunscreen? Well, what’s the CW value? Not on the bottle? Well, why not? Doesn’t that product want you to know the level of UVA protection you’re getting? The American Academy of Dermatology recommends the use of products with a CW over 370nm, in order to be defined as BROAD SPECTRUM UV protection.  Well, finally after 6 years of pushing the FDA to provide quality protection on sunscreens, beginning June 2012, any product with a 370nm CW will ONLY be able to use the language, “BROAD SPECTRUM PROTECTION”.  Currently all sunscreen products can loosely use this term. It’s this type of behavior that unfortunately gives the public a false sense of security when you’re out in the sun. So, you go out in the sun, you DON’t burn, and so you feel that you’ve been protected, right? WRONG! The effects of UVA damage can’t be seen today, but rather in the future. That’s the difference between UVB and UVA.

How did you start to gravitate in to the sport sunscreen market?
LUCA Sunscreen SPF 15 and SPF 30 is primarily used as a daily moisturizer. This 2 in 1 moisturizer and sunscreen should be used in your daily morning routine. So what do you do when you want to jump in the pool or ocean , golf, play tennis or cycle? You need a non-greasy, ultra sweat proof, water resistant product that won’t sting your eyes…..and so we created LUCA Max Sport which is 68% water and contains NO alcohol with a CW of 372!!!  Pure pleasure to be in the sun with a sunscreen that won’t interfere in your game plan.

I know this is about LUCA Sunscreen but can you share with us a little about your other great product, LUCA Lash?
Karl was talking with another formulator during the fall of 2009  about the new hype, eyelash conditioners and lengtheners.  So he asked if he could create a paraben free and all natural product without hormones to try out. During this time our Director of Sales was undergoing chemotherapy in October 2009 for breast cancer.  Experiencing the loss of hair was traumatic enough, she quickly asked Karl if she could use the ONE sample he had acquired so that she wouldn’t lose her lashes and eyebrows, too.  After receiving clearance from her oncologist, she applied nightly and during her treatment she never lost her eyelashes and eyebrows.  And so there began another chapter  of  LUCA Lash, the introduction of LUCA Lash, a  paraben and hormone free eyelash enhancer and conditioner that helps lengthen and condition your lashes in 2-6 weeks!  It contains vitamins A, C and E as well as botanicals including: green and white tea, cucumber leaf extract, chamomile and aloe leaf juice for additional eyelash conditioning!  Unlike other popular eyelash enhancers on the market, LUCA Lash will not cause iris or eyelid darkening because it does not contain bimatoprost (found in Latisse) or prostaglandins.  I personally use it on my eyebrows. After 15 years of waxing my eyebrows, they don’t grow back and LUCA Lash has given me my eyebrows back! No more penciling in the ends of my brows.  Finally after years I have bangs so you can see my eyebrows and lashes!

Take home message

* Use a quality sunscreen daily, no more than SPF 30. Your sunscreen should have 1 of the following ingredients: ZINC, TITANIUM OR STABILIZED AVOBENZONE. If your Avobenzone is not stabilized, it can break down in the  sun after 15 minutes…that’s why CW is so important. Or ask what the CW or your sunscreen is.

* And always wear a hat and long sleeves.

* Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to the top of your hands when you’re driving and the ears are always left out, so don’t forget them.

* Skin cancer and melanoma don’t discriminate. Doesn’t matter what shade your skin is, protect it.

Dr. Karl Gruber with Ingrid and Luca

Luca & Georgia Gruber

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The Other Famous Bacon…

8 Mar

Many of you are familiar with Kevin Bacon, but do you know about his PhD second cousin?  Well, let me introduce you to a friend of mine who is helping to change our world…

I have to confess that part of this blog is so that I can interview my super interesting cadre of friends. This is not only because I think they are smart and talented but I want to share with the world what each of us does on a day to day basis. We get to visit with our friends after work, on weekends, and vacations but do you really know what they do on a molecular level? Probably not, so this week’s interview is with my uber fascinating friend, Sarah Bacon.

 

Sarah has a PhD in criminology from the University of Maryland. She works at the CDC in the Division of Violence Prevention. Sarah, can you share with us what your job and research entail? I do evaluation research to help identify violence prevention initiatives that work.  There are lots of programs and policies out there that are meant to prevent violence, but they are not always effective.  In fact, sometimes they do more harm than good!  We shouldn’t spend a single tax dollar on programs unless we have evidence that they are effective, so my research is designed to provide that evidence.

I think one of the most interesting factoids about you is that when we were all starting our careers in our early 20s you were a parole officer in Southwest Atlanta. It was awesome to see such an innocent looking fresh faced girl who could handle a Glock with the precision of Foxy Brown. How did that experience influence who you are now? My poor parents were horrified that my first job out of college involved carrying a gun!  But it was such an important experience for me.  Those three years changed everything about my perspective.  I spent a lot of time trying to find the line between personal responsibility and environmental influences on an individual’s behavior. It was my job to hold each parolee accountable for their behavior, but also provide some resources and assistance to help them change their behavior.  Some people wanted to change but didn’t know how, and I could help with that.  Some folks didn’t want to change, and I confess that I enjoyed returning those people to prison once they made it clear that they weren’t going to play by the rules.  That experience is also the reason that I am so committed to prevention today.  It is much easier and more cost-effective to change someone’s path before they start doing violence than it is to wait until it has already started.

A few months ago I attended the premiere of “The Interrupters” with you and your department at the CDC.  For those of you not yet familiar with this amazing documentary, it chronicles Project CeaseFire, a grassroots movement of violence prevention in Chicago’s inner city gangs. Do you see something like this ever taking root in Atlanta? Communities everywhere are desperate for an effective, immediate response to youth violence and particularly to gang violence.  When something like CeaseFire emerges, people naturally want to try it in their communities.  There are some similar efforts already underway here in Atlanta, and I do think some folks are interested in implementing CeaseFire.  If we move forward with something like that, it will be essential that we really understand the nature and structure of gangs in our communities.  They are very different from Chicago gangs, and so the approach that works there may not be the right fit here.

You have always been passionate about making a change in areas of crime and abuses. What is your greatest hope to see in your field for our society? Violence is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24. Simply put, my goal is to change that.  I have tons of ideas as to how we can accomplish this… I could tell you all about my hopes for a real investment in prevention rather than reaction, and about the importance of using science to generate evidence on the effects of our efforts to reduce violence.  Most important, though, is simply starting with the message that violence is not an “us versus them” issue.  It is bad for all of us, no matter where we live.  It is bad for the health of our communities and our schools. It is bad for our economy, and it is bad for our spirits.  We can never get rid of violence entirely, but I want people to know that much of it is preventable.

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Home with Brooke Merrill

3 Mar

“He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” – Goethe

This is the introduction for Brooke Merrill’s website and it definitely sets the stage for her style and approach to both commercial and residential design.  Brooke’s specialty is creative yet comfortable design in a relaxed design process.  I have never seen her short on energy or patience and that shines through in her work.

 

Brooke, you started your business several years ago with such zest and enthusiasm. Was this your plan all along to have Brooke Merrill Home or did it just evolve over time? 
It has definitely been an ongoing process, and I never dreamed that I would be a successful business owner had you asked me 10 years ago.  It sounds cliché, but you really tend to have more energy and enthusiasm when you are doing something you truly love. I worked in the finance industry for several years before my husband, David, encouraged me to go into design.  He loved watching me work on our first house (it was like being on an episode of Trading Spaces every day when he came home from work!), and if not for his prodding and support, I would never have taken that leap.  Thanks to him and a very supportive family and friend network in Atlanta, Brooke Merrill Home has slowly but surely gained success and notoriety in the Smyrna/Vinings area.

 

This past spring you were asked to be one of the designers for the Decorator’s Show House.  How did you juggle both your design business and this extraordinary yet time consuming event? 
It was extremely tough, but I sent a note to all of my clients letting them know what an honor it was to be chosen and begged for forgiveness and patience on the front end!  Luckily, I have an extremely organized staff (my mom and dad), so we stuck to a tight schedule and were able to pull everything off.  There were some shaky moments, like when my furniture vendor sold all of the furniture I was going to use in my design space the week before the show.  We had to scramble, literally at the last minute, to pull a new idea together.  I do believe that God works in mysterious ways, because my room ended up being even better than originally planned.

 

What are some of your favorite design trends right now?
I am loving painted, antique furniture in funky colors.  There is nothing cooler than an old chest in a high-lacquered tangerine.  I also like white furniture against a vibrant wall color.  My personal taste tends towards the traditional, so I like to have fun with my daring clients who like to take a risk.  That is when my best works shines through.

 

What projects are you working on at the moment?
I just finished a precious bathroom at the Cathedral Antiques Show Inspiration House.  This particular show house requires that you use antiques mixed with modern trends.  I collaborated with artist Bethany Travis to make one of her sketches into a wall-papered mural.  It spans the entire room, and she put some interesting modern twists into an otherwise traditional mural technique.  I asked her to add a snake into the design and then we created a matching fabric with and intertwining snake design.  The whole look is edgy but it would fit perfectly into a traditional design-scape.  We are also working on two model homes and an office building.  Those projects are profitable, but not as exciting as the show house project!

 

What range of services do you provide? Some readers want to know if you will do both small and large projects.
I used to take on everything, but the last year has brought a very high demand on my time.  I do have a fairly low minimum amount compared to other designers, but I don’t have the time anymore to do the odd window treatment or paint consult.  I wish I could clone myself sometimes so that I could fit it all in AND still have time to eat dinner with my husband.

 

Who is your style icon?
Depending on my mood, I’d have to say either Audrey Hepburn or Lauren Bacall.  For design, I still love my Larry Laslow.

 

 

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What’s your Carbon Footprint?

4 Jan

I like to think of myself as a goal oriented person. Currently I am working on some continuing education on-line for work and I get a great thrill out of taking the tests and am somewhat obsessive about getting a good grade and green check mark at the end of each chapter quiz. Keep in mind that these tests are not “rocket surgery” as my sister would say but they give me a sense of accomplishment. Can you imagine my dismay when taking a course on living green I actually failed the carbon footprint test! Ok, let me explain. I do yoga, I drink green smoothies every day, I recycle, and I use incandescent light bulbs.  As good as these intentions are and even though they make me feel like I am making a difference in the world it is not nearly enough… I drive too much, I use up too much energy heating and cooling my house and what I thought was a gypsy spirited love of travel is apparently wreaking havoc on the atmosphere with all of my flying…  So, what am I to do? I’m not going to sell my house (because I love it,) I can’t drive less since being in real estate that is pretty much my livelihood, and as for the travel… well, that is one of my only guilty pleasures in life.  The good news is that with all of this yoga and green smoothies I can handle the stress of failing this test.

Here is a link below if you would like to take your own carbon footprint test
http://green.yahoo.com/calculator 

photo courtesy of Taiga Company

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