Peanut's Last Lone Kitten – 3 Weeks Old

The tiny-ness has returned! “Little Dude” turned 3-weeks-old on Friday, September 25th. In my ever-growing compulsion to capture his growth, I’ve taken some new pictures of him/her (we still don’t know yet).

Little Dude is continuously getting better at walking, even on our wood floors. He/she’s also become quite playful & I hope to be able to catch it on-camera (maybe a video is in order?). We introduced him/her to Monster (our 5-year-old fixed male cat) & all went well. Monster was actually taken aback by Little Dude, but he was soon sniffing & licking him/her – more painful cuteness!

According to our Cat Owner’s Manual (hilarious but very useful book), within the next week, Little Dude will begin to eat solid food & use the litter box. By the time my mum returns from her business trip to Kuala Lumper (I know you’re reading mum; we miss you!), Little Dude will be 5 weeks old & almost ready to join my hubby & I permanently.

Enough talk – on to the pictures!

One word: aaaaaawwwwwwww. Look at that foot, gimmie that foot.

He/she looks so majestic, so prim & proper. In reality, I took 300 pictures & only these 3 weren’t blurry – hold still, ya lil’ shit!

Don’t look at me like that … *melt*

[Images taken by Victoria Klein]

Carnival of the Green #198!

Ahoy & welcome to issue #198 of the Carnival of the Green, a weekly round-up of eco-news on the web, originally conceived by Treehugger.com.

Unexpectedly, COTG was without a host AGAIN! (remember #192?) Having hosted it 5 times already, I was delighted to step up & bring you the latest in sustainable headlines from the past week – you deserve it.

Before we begin, let’s hear a round of applause for last week’s COTG host, More Minimal – y’all rock! Make sure you check back next week and say “HI” to Bliss Tree, host for the week of October 5th, 2009.

Top Tips to Save Gas from How to Save Gas: Burning too much fuel not only hurts your bank balance, but our environment. Here are some great tips to conserve fuel. It will help your financial picture and our environment at the same time. Who could ask for more than that?

End of the Season Garden Wrap-Up from True Adventures in Money Hacking

Grow, Baby, Grow from Green Thinking Blog: A rundown of interesting and useful resources on how “green thumbs” can grow things in their (urban) communities.

Nothing But Pecker Poles: Soft Toilet Paper Flushes Old Forests from Sally Kneidel: Plush toilet paper requires wood from the world’s last old-growth forests. Seems the long fibers of old trees make softer paper.  Consumers need to get a grip – half the world (or more) doesn’t even have toilet paper. At most supermarkets in the States, you can find at least one brand that uses 100% recycled paper.

How to Strengthen Your Family’s Immune Systems from Greening Families: The start of school has folks worried once again about the spread of the H1N1 flu. Here are several tips designed to help you strengthen the immune systems of your family members so they can stay healthy.

Small Chicken Coops from Chicken House Plans: Using chicken house designs is a great way to build your own chicken house for an affordable price while having the benefits of eating heather organize eggs.

Penny Rug Patterns from Craft Stew: Make your penny rugs entirely from recycled materials. Old wool skirts, coats and blankets are perfect for these adorable little projects.

Wilderness and Urban Survival Skills from GO! Girls Outdoors: Developing a connection to the environment with a couple of amazing women from Colorado – enjoy!

Keeping Up with My Frugally Green Commitments from Frugally Green: The first step to achieving your goals is to actually set them. The next step is to periodically evaluate them. I’ve made a number of sustainable commitments over the last 5 months. Come see how I’ve measured up on the most important ones.

Reusable Bags Don’t Reuse Themselves from Not the Jet Set: We’re not here to convince you to make the switch to reusable bags – that case has already been made. No, this is a post about what happens after you’ve bought the bags.

25 Instant Health Benefits of Going Green from Masters In Nursing Online

Moving Away from Oil-Powered Energy from Boots on the Roof

12 Cheap & Simple Ways to Experience Autumn from More Minimal: There’s a close relationship between simple living and the turn of the season. More Minimal lists a dozen ways to more fully experience autumn.

Random Thoughts: It's Not About the Where, but the Who

I used to be a traveler. San Antonio, Chicago, North Carolina, Italy, Austria, Germany – you name it. Just tell me the dates & I’d have my bags packed.

Abruptly, that all changed. Maybe it was events on 9/11. Maybe it was my social anxiety. Maybe it was my burgeoning fear of trust. No matter the cause, getting on a plane or train soon became an intense test of my sanity and patience. Oddly enough, my passion for relocating has never ceased … until recently.

Even before moving back to Connecticut in January 2009, my husband (fiance at the time) & I were looking into the possibility of buying our first house. As an apartment renter for almost a decade, the idea of owning a space that was truly my own – to decorate & remodel at my whim – was exhilarating. Two main problems prohibited us from moving forward:

1) Not enough money (that’s a big enough issue, no?)

2) I didn’t want to buy a house in Connecticut

We moved back to Connecticut so I could be close to my mum, who is one of my few family members that still lives. Being so close to her for nearly 9 months has been pure joy – we cook, garden, visit farmers’ markets, go on walks … all the fun stuff. It’s been like having your best friend just a few minutes away. But I don’t want to settle here.

The only reason I am in Connecticut is because my mother is here. It’s a great state – don’t get me wrong -  but it still doesn’t feel right for me. I’ve spent over 1/4th of my life moving from city to city, state to state, but I’ve never found a place that feels like home … though a few have come close: Chicago, North Carolina, and Vienna, Austria. I’ve never been one to want a lot of “stuff”, so the idea of having a house in a state that required you to have a car (more stuff!) didn’t jive with me.

Then, as the only thing expected in life, another change happened. I read “Grounded Traveler” – a small, half-page piece by writer Amelia Glynn in the August 2009 issue of Yoga Journal Magazine. The last paragraph is what struck me the most:

Change had changed me. For the first time, I realized real estate wasn’t the answer. Without a physical place or the stuff to fill it, each day I returned to me. I was the constant. I was the comfort. I was home.

Do I like houses? Yes. Do I need a house? No. Do I like interior design? Yes. Do I need to spend money designing my own space? No. Will I ever find a place where I feel I belong? Maybe. Do I need to? No.

What does this all mean? It means another big change is coming up for me. My husband is joining the Marines next year and, after months of hemming and hawing, crying and arguing, I’ve decided to go with him. I will soon be a military wife, living on-base. This is something that he wants to do & while I don’t support all of the military’s actions, he’s given it a lot of thought and decided it is what is best for him and us. I wouldn’t be able to give our relationship the full commitment it deserves if I’m not there with him while he takes on this immense experience.

My husband will be joining the Marines before I can follow him, as I am in the middle of completing a 2-year college degree. Once I’m finished in 2011 (and he’s completed all his training), I and our 2 cats will be joining him on-base. I’m scared but also intrigued. Fear is not going to rule my life. I will still continue my professional writing and photography, and this blog will eventually feature some of the unique adventures I’ll be blessed to have.

This is big. This is huge. This is mega-uber-bunka-bustin’-humongous. It will be a perfect chance for me to expand my knowledge and indulge my curiosities, all while still enjoying the comforts of “home.” I will miss my mum immensely, though I know she will jump at every chance she has to visit. Though the thought brings tears to my eyes, I know she will one day be gone (just like dad, R.I.P.) & I can’t wait until then to start forging my own path.

The moral of this story: People matter more than places or possessions (cars & houses to cell phones & TVs), but there’s always a happy medium.

Peanut’s Last Lone Kitten – 2 Weeks Old

Our little dude is two weeks old! These pictures were taken on its 2-week birthday (Friday, September 18th). Later today, the hubby & I will be picking up Peanut and her little dude to live with us for 3 weeks while my mum is on a business trip in Kuala Lumpur.

Miss my past pictures? Check out the little dude at 1-day-old and 1-week-old.

Peanut, being adorable & enchanting at the same time.

Little dude has its eyes open!

The dictionary-worthy example of “painfully cute.”

The ever-vigilant mum.

Primed to be a posh model like its mum.

Even kittens like to play with their own feet. Babies are strange.

Coming up next: a blog post with less pictures and more words!

[Images taken by Victoria Klein]

Autumn is Near, the Weather is Clear

The title of this post is a bit cheesy, but it just came to me.

Though uneventful in its majority, my weekend did have 2 nice elements: 1) taking pictures of Peanut’s 2-week-old kitten (you’ll see those tomorrow) and 2) a delightful walk I took on Sunday night to Elizabeth Park.

With the sun shining and the sky cloudless, I made sure to bring my camera with me on my walk. It was well worth it.

The lone flower in a sea of green. Don’t be afraid to stand out.

Shine some light on your inner beauty.

It’s easy to see why ancient cultures worshiped the sun.

Berries fit for a demon.

[Images taken by Victoria Klein]

Peanut's Last Lone Kitten – 1 Week Old

This past weekend was quite uneventful, except for the new kitten. You might remember my earlier pictures of the little one (not sure if it is male or female yet). Well the little dude (1 week old as of Friday the 11th) is growing like a weed and already starting to open its eyes!

My mum will be taking a business trip to Kuala Lumpur from September 24th to October 10th. You know what that means? The new kitten and proud mama, Peanut, will be staying at my place. Not sure if she and her former beau, Monster, will still get along, but we have a spare bedroom to set up mama & baby in so they’ll have their own space. Once the little dude is 8 weeks, on Friday, October 30th, he’ll be making his home with us permanently.

Peanut: cat mum extraordinaire.

The only time this little dude is still is when he sleeps.

I took nearly 300 pictures & these 6 are the best; over 80% were blurry.

Advantage of being an only child: you get all of mum’s attention. Disadvantage to being an only child: you get all of mum’s attention.

Little dude is already an immaculate pro at eating. (We’ll pick a name once we know the kitten’s gender.)

Sleep: the cycle continues.

[Images taken by Victoria Klein]

Boho Magazine's Fall 2009 issue X2

The latest issue of Boho Magazine has hit newsstands! Yours truly has not one, but TWO articles in this installment. Both pieces feature interviews with some big-name eco-folks: photographer Nigel Barker and Segway inventor Dean Kamen. Talking with both of them was pure delight – major highlights of my writing career.

Mosey over to your favorite magazine merchant and pick up a copy! Flip to pages 44 and 82 for my pieces. If you like them, don’t hesitate to let the editors know.

The Evolved Blogger Awards 2009

The new little-blog-that-could has won an award! I am deeply touched to be one of the 50 blogs chosen for Fashion, Evolved’s Evolved Blogger Awards 2009.

Fashion, Evolved is an award-winning blog about sustainable, ethical fashion, beauty and personal style. As a professional freelance writer and internet gadfly, I’ve spent countless hours reading and appreciating other bloggers’ efforts. Over time, certain blogs have begun to stand out for their individual voice, regular updates, and excellent writing.

Yours is one of those blogs.

This year, I decided that recognizing my fellow bloggers is an important part of the mission I have for my own blog–a way to show my appreciation for other writers who inspire me by consistently putting out the best content on the internet.

We have every reason to be proud of our work. The blogging community has taken the lead in chronicling the grassroots rEvolution that is going on around the world today—empowering and educating the majority as we take back our economy, journalism, and our definition of ‘the good life.’

Two words: kick ass! It’s always nice to know that people actually read my somewhat-strange ramblings from time to time.

Amanda, founder & writer of Fashion, Evolved, also had some uber-sweet things to say about my new online outlet:

Who They Are:  Victoria (used to be Everman) Klein is a former fashion model currently working as a eco-consultant, freelance writer and photographer.  She’s the original Green “It” Girl and an amazingly generous personality.  Her blog covers all things green—from fashion and home décor to health and wellness topics.

Why I Read:  I *heart* Victoria Klein!

I *heart* you too, Fashion, Evolved!

Vintage Decor Find: Bread Box & Canister Set

For all my American readers, I hope your Labor Day weekend was great. I spent most of the time with my husband & mum, driving around the forests of northern Connecticut, cooking delicious food with ingredients from the farmers’ market, and reading for some of my college classes. Since my hubby had to work on Saturday, mum & I visited the Farmington Antiques Weekend together.

We browsed nearly all of the tents under the cloudless sky, but we did find two particular booths that had us lingering. The first was the Heritage Antique Maps tent, whose selection was dumbfounding. Decorating with old maps is so easy & always looks nifty. I hope to find a colorful map of Sweden to frame and hang in my living room.

Secondly, towards the end of our touring, we spotted a booth hosted by an elderly couple who were most friendly – the woman reminded me a lot of my grandma (my mum’s mum). My mum quickly became enamored an adorable hand-painted bread box with matching canister set. After browsing their entire tent in-depth for almost 20 minutes, my mum was determined to get the $30 bread box/canister set for my kitchen … she’s strange like that.

I’m still trying to decide what put in the metalware set (and where), but it is pretty swank. I noticed a company logo on the bottom of the canisters. Finally, I sat down today to see if I could track them down … and I did! Ironically, the Ransburg Collection was originally based in Indianapolis – just an hour away from my hometown.

A little more digging on their website turned up the pattern of my new set, called “Tropicana”. The bread box alone can be worth anywhere from $3.28-$127.50 ($0.99-$152.50 for the canister set, which seems to be missing one). Since some of the paint is faded and a bit banged up, I don’t expect it to be worth a lot. Collectible or not, anything that gives me another reason to buy bread is welcome in my kitchen.

[Image taken by Victoria Klein]

Tweet About Canadian House & Home Gets Printed

I’ve been reading magazines since I was 8 & now, as a writer, constantly strive to work with a wide variety of publications. Surprise: this is the first time I’ve been published and didn’t even send a query!

Canadian House & Home picked up one of my tweets and published it in their September 2009 issue. I already had plans to track down their 09/2009 issue because it was about decorating small spaces, one of my all-time favorite subjects. Then, the H&H editors mentioned 3 of us tweeters were on page 20 of the issue.

Thanks again to the CH&H editors for all the time they spend chatting with folks on Twitter. It is great to be able to truly feel connected to folks that make some of your favorite magazines.

Up next: writing a real article for Canadian House & Home – stay tuned!