Chasing Clean Air

San Luis Obispo! The Happiest Place in America

Wash your troubles away, and get happy! Is the spiritual magic promised by Oprah and Money Magazine when one rolls into San Luis Obispo on California's sunny Central Coast.

As the east coast readies for snowflakes, I'll leave congested Los Angeles to glide into small town America prepared for happyflakes to lift me.

Yes, it's my turn to experience San Luis Obispo, which also boasts some of California's cleanest air.

I'll report on things to do, places to stay, and just how happy this Central California town made me feel.

Naturally, you'll learn about San Luis Obispo's air quality: How its air went down and circulated throughout my body, and the air quality strides and challenges unique to the area.

San Luis Obispo is half-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles, convenient to millions who may need a getaway. And speaking of getaways, birds are migrating to the Central Coast, too. Binoculars, please.

Now if you'll excuse me, it's time to look for my white gloves.

See you on the other side of congested.

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Earth Creations: Sustainable Organic Cotton and Hemp Clothing

Earth Creations makes great-looking, free-flowing organic cotton and hemp clothing; many items colored using ancient clay-dyeing techniques from centuries past, making this unique clothing line cleaner, healthier, and I'll add, pretty.

Free-flowing and sexy, this Birds on Freesia dress fit true to size. Okay, you can't tell on the mannequin but small was small. And being free-flowing, can be belted for a more stream-lined look, too.

It's 100% organic cotton, which, according to me is the only type of cotton any of us should wear.

Softer, cleaner, and better for the planet.

The owners of Earth Creations began after Joy Maples fell into red clay while biking after a storm. Her clothes stained beautifully and her husband-to-be, Martin Ledvina, saw an opportunity.

In their own words:

Stoked for Snow in Canada. Win a Free Ski Trip!

This has got to be one of the best opportunities I've written for you ski bunnies and ski bums.

If you love to ski and have time on your side this weekend, listen up!

The Stoked for Snow Bus will pick up heat-soaked Southern Californians and offer ski bums and bunnies information on everything you ever wanted to know about skiing and snowboarding in brrrrr cold Alberta, Canada-home to gorgeous clean air Banff and Jasper National Parks. Learn first hand what it's like to ski Canada divine at SkiBig3.

The Stoked for Snow Bus will offer you opportunities to win great prizes including 15 Canadian Rockies ski trips for two. One of my favorite places on earth!

The Stoked for Snow Bus makes its first stop in Newport Beach January 29, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at 2102 West Ocean Front. Check out more locations and times the bus will stop throughout the day, including Huntington Beach, Santa Monica, The Grove, and Hollywood and Highland by going to Alberta's Twitter hashtag #stokedforsnow, visiting their Facebook page and or clicking here.

And, you know, I may just see you in Newport Beach and try for a prize to cross-country ski Canada, too. :-)

And remember, it feels better to breathe clean air, which is why you're reading here but deserve the real deal.

Photo Courtesy of Ski Banff-Lake Louise-Sunshine.

To follow my clean air search and explore air pollution solutions together, subscribe to the Chasing Clean Air RSS feed!

 

Organic Roses for Valentine's Day!

This Valentine’s Day, don’t just give flowers, give flowers that give back.

 Organic Bouquet is the largest online provider of eco-friendly and organic gifts, and each purchase helps to improve the life of a flower farm worker, their family and the local floral community.

A mission-based company focusing on environmental, social and economic sustainability, Organic Bouquet provides workers in underdeveloped countries everything from zero-interest loans, childcare, healthcare, education, environmental protection, supplies and more.

Wear Your Music

If you like rock-n-roll and recycling, and have an eco-conscious girlfriend, consider an innovative Valentine's gift like this eco-friendly bracelet from Wear Your Music that comes in a DVD case. It's made from guitar strings from famous artists and proceeds go to charities like Carlos Santana's Milagro Foundation and the Grateful Dead-affiliated Rex Foundation.

Over 150 artists participate including Peter Frampton, The Allman Brothers, and Bonnie Raitt. For more information check out this web site.

To follow my clean air search and explore air pollution solutions together, subscribe to the Chasing Clean Air RSS feed!

Non-Toxic Cleaning

What does it take to be heard? Not politely asking my once-a-month housekeeper to please use the organic cleaning products I buy.

I caught her again sneaking Comet cleanser while cleaning the bathtub, which, according to experts, is a toxic cleaner not good for one's health or our water supply.

When I asked the housekeeper again,

"Why do you sneak your own cleaning supplies when I ask you to use the nontoxic alternatives?" She simply said, they make tiles more white.

I don't care if they may be whiter. (We didn't do a test)

I care that cleaning products are safe, non-toxic, and non-polluting. So I brought her my new Eco Clean Bathroom Cleaner and took this photo after she'd snuck Comet already sprinkled in the tub.