raken123's Profile

I agree with ellabee, I'm encouraged by people who are greener than me. If I can't or won't do something that's eco-friendly, then I can't or won't do it, but that doesn't mean I resent those who can and will.

I know some people who actually "hate" organic food and the people who eat it just because they can't afford it. I don't get those people. I can't afford certain things that are better for the planet, either, but that doesn't mean I hate them or the people who use or consume them.

Re-Nest should be as green as they wanna be and not worry about being off-putting. People can take what they will and leave the rest. When you start trying to please too many people, it's easy to stray from your beliefs.

I eat a low-carb veggie diet. For breakfast I have a soft-boiled egg and fruit, or kefir and fruit. I get kefir from Redhill Farms. They treat their goats really well. Plus, kefir is lighter than yogurt, easy to digest. I also like to put walnuts in the kefir with vanilla extract and cinnamon. You can sweeten it with honey or stevia. On the weekend I have eggs and one red potato. There's some starch there w/ the potato, but not much, def. not like eating a russet potato. Sometimes I'll saute spinach and garlic for breakfast with a boiled egg.

For lunch and dinner I'll have a big salad with seeds, nuts, avocado, olives, etc. The more veggies, the better. You can add cubes of tofu, garbanzo beans, toasted onions. Lots of different ways to vary a salad. Make sure you add something "fatty" like avocados and olives, it's much more satisfying.

Sometimes I'll have hummus with veggies like carrots, celery, cucumbers, etc. You don't need to eat a pita to enjoy hummus. I'll also have guacamole with a couple of soft corn tortillas (not fried corn chips).

For dinner you can stir fry all kinds of different veggies. Adding mushrooms are always satisfying. Eat the veggies with 1 cup of quinoa. It's very high in protein, and is a complete protein at that. I like to toss cauliflower with oil, salt, and garlic and roast it for 20 mins. in the oven. You can do that with all kinds of veggies. Saute greens and beans Italian style, or make spinach and red potatoes Indian style. There are all kinds of satisfying ways to eat veggies. You need to allow yourself SOME starch, tho, like potatoes, or you'll go mad. Also, allow yourself some pasta, maybe once a week or so. A slice of bread here and there won't hurt, either. But it's possible to be totally satisfied eating low carb while being vegetarian without fancy, complicated recipes. Oh, and some cheese here and there will help things! I try to stick to the non-aged cheeses these days like cottage cheese and goat cheese.

I wasn't condoning disposable chop sticks. I carry reusable bamboo utensils (including chop sticks) with me at all times and find myself using them at least four times a week when I'm out of the house. I think my point was lost somehow.

In general, people don't go around attacking artists for the materials they use. This, to me, is art. It's a one-off piece, most likely never to be made again. Stuff like this is hardly draining our forests of trees. It's the everyday stuff, like disposable chop sticks, that we should be worrying about. Did people have a fit when Christo used yards upon yards of fabric in his art pieces? He recycled some of it, but still, that was a lot of fabric! But it was essentially nothing compared to what we use in our daily lives for clothing, industrial uses, etc.

If there's any room at all for indulgence in the way we use raw materials, I suggest that we save it for stunning art work like this and then be more conservative in our daily lives. That's all I was saying.

A lot more wood is wasted on disposable chopsticks. It's not like they're going to mass produce this xylophone! I think it's fine. Imagine all the wood used over the centuries to make violins. It is a great idea and well done.

For people who need something besides good "sleep hygiene" to get a good night's sleep, try L-Tryptophan supplements (Source Naturals is a good brand). Also, magnesium taken right before bed can help tremendously (preferably powdered, it's easier to absorb - Natural Calm is a good brand). Most people are deficient in mag, anyway. It's a natural muscle relaxant. You can also get magnesium oil, just rub it into your skin before sleeping (google Ancient Minerals mag oil).

These tips are good to follow in general, but to break a really bad sleep cycle, sometimes people need a little "outside" help. I don't see, however, why anyone would criticize this guy for posting this list. It's a good reminder of simple, drug-free things we can do. I didn't find it smug or insulting at all. Of course everyone is different, I don't think he'd argue otherwise.

This house is joyous. All of the warm wood on the floor and the walls helps anchor the pop culture stuff. Love the diagonally-laid wood in the kitchen. The bedroom is unique and serene, quite a surprise after the kid's room!

Ooh la la. I could never be this grown up and classy in a million years, not even with the dough to back it up. I have to agree with wally3 and say that, "This house is amazeballs."

For readers who aren't familiar with Tokyo apartments, this one is a LOT nicer than typical ones. Azabu Juban is an upscale neighborhood. 550 sq. ft. is quite roomy compared to many apartments in Tokyo.

I love Japanese bathrooms, they're the most practical, functional bathrooms on the planet. Nice to see (from a distance) the small genkan area by the front door where people typically leave their shoes. It would have been great if these photos focused on the Japanese aspects of the apartment, like the genkan (brilliant idea for an entryway, the ultimate "landing strip"), the appliances in the kitchen, and some close-ups of the bathtub and toilet.

Japanese people usually leave the stickers on their appliances, including the tub. They'd want to the next tenants to know how to operate everything. I'm sure the landlords would be peeved if this couple peeled the sticker off of their tub. You have to accept those things as part of the modern Japanese aesthetic!

Nice idea. How do you clean it? Are there special paints for fabric that adhere better?

One of my favorites, can't believe it's only 580 sq. ft. I like the use of subtle color, mustards, browns, grays, and how the green house plants really shine that way. Love the simple green rug in the bathroom. Well-edited, indeed.