We all know that driving SUVs and smoking cigarettes are harmful to the earth, but how many of us pass over that $20 party dress at H&M to save the environment? A cloud of black exhaust doesn’t hover over the hanger and a thin wisp of smoke doesn’t trail behind after you’ve slipped it on, but that cute little number leaves a not-so-pretty pollution footprint all the way to your closet.

For starters, let’s talk fiber. With the consumer demand for cheap, fashionable clothing on the rise, man-made fabric is once again being manufactured so the fashion industry can keep up with the latest trends at affordable prices. Polyester — the most widely used fake fiber — is made from petroleum and the process uses a lot of energy while requiring crude oil. Many textile manufacturing plants produce mass amounts of harmful emissions into the air. The by-products of production include acid gases and other virulent compounds which seep into the ground surrounding facilities and make their way into water. Workers at these plants are required to wear protective gear and sometimes end up suffering from respiratory complications.

Cotton is okay though, right? It’s natural and softer than polyester at least. Cotton may not require the manufacturing synthetic fabric does, but it certainly contributes to the deterioration of the environment. The growth of the cotton crop depends heavily on pesticides, which are sprayed into the air, contaminate the soil and not only kill insects attacking cotton plants but also non-threatening bugs beneficial to the earth. When the cotton is ready to harvest, herbicides are applied to make picking easier, exposing manual laborers to toxins that increase the risk of cancers as well as respiratory and neurological disorders. The wind carries all of these toxins to the trees and water affecting surrounding wildlife and the natural ecosystem. In the United States alone, non-organic cotton crops account for a quarter of all the pesticide used. In developing countries, where regulations on pesticides are even less strict, spraying cotton plants and other crops is often more toxic.

Fiber is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how clothing manufacturing affects the world. International outsourcing of labor to ensure lower prices in stores accounts for abusive working conditions across the globe. It also requires transcontinental shipments of goods, widening the environmental footprint of manufacturing.

Designer styles are practically disposable today — especially for women — but before you trade that Andrew Jackson for a one-time-wear outfit, consider the consequences of its creation. Swapping apparel, shopping consignment and mending clothes looks even more appealing now — thanks to the state of the economy and for the sake of the planet.

photo by taryn domingos

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Sure, you’ve seen that chart in your gynecologist’s office that lays out all the different options of birth control methods available to you. But the decision to use hormonal birth control and which method to choose is far more serious than our society recognizes. It is obvious, just in the number of methods available for women, that our society places the burden of preventing pregnancy on women, rather than men. Because of this, birth control feels almost like a requirement once you start having sex regularly, rather than something we must inform ourselves on.

Even my own attitude about birth control used to be simply: “I just want something that I won’t have to worry about.” This led me to take the Depo-Provera shot for over a year, without much investigation. It works by preventing your body from releasing an egg, as well as hardening the mucous lining of your uterus, making pregnancy basically impossible. It also results in no period for most women.

The main advantages of the shot are:
-Complete convenience. One shot lasts for three months and there is nothing to remember.
-No Period. As I heard my friends talk of their period cramps every few weeks, I felt secretly blessed that I didn’t have to deal that anymore.

Some of the disadvantages include:
-Not having your period. One woman was quite against the shot because of this, feeling “it would mess up [her] body, not having a period.”
-Irregular spotting. This was one thing that really began to irk me about this birth control. I spotted for a couple weeks in a row once, and sex would sometimes bring it on. But this varies. One woman I spoke with did not have this problem at all.
-Possible mood swings. One woman I spoke with said she had “crazy mood swings and cried a lot from being on the shot. [She] noticed a difference being off of it” but still decided to go back on it because of its advantages.
-Calcium Depletion- The shot causes calcium depletion in your bones. You may want to take a calcium supplement to counteract this side effect.

I just stopped taking the Depo-Provera shot about a month ago and am now just back to using condoms and weighing whether I will try something else. My body is adjusting to the lack of hormones in my bloodstream, but it feels good. Part of the reason why I stopped taking the shot is that I missed having my period. I missed the natural cycle of feeling my body cleanse itself. I was also dealing with random spotting quite frequently and it didn’t seem worth it anymore.  But this was only my decision.

Keep in mind as well that everyone’s body will react differently to the shot. Once you receive it, the hormones are in your body for three months; there is no antidote. If you are sensitive to hormones, this is also something to consider. Hopefully, you now have the tools to decide whether this method is for you. Stay tuned for investigation of other birth control methods!

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Old Friends. New Friends.

I met her in Tibet of all the places in the world. I was putting together a team to hike a 150 mile trek to Mt. Everest. I plastered posters around different hotels to see if there were any takers. Like the old posters luring sailors (“Low pay, long hours, life threatening. Interested?”), my note read similarly: Treacherous, freezing temperatures, life threatening and dangerous Everest hike. Anyone interested contact me at the Lahsa hotel room 203.

Two days later, I had four brave volunteers; Leah Seymore was one of them. She is a native Aussie with the most gorgeous eyes I’ve ever seen and a contagious laugh that would be gold on the audacious adventure awaiting us. In two weeks, we covered approximately 12-15 miles a day in some of Mother Nature’s harshest mood swings – from freezing sleet to tortuously scorching sun spouts. We also stripped down to our underwear to wade through arctic, glacier streams as we held our backpacks high above our heads, blindingly placing frozen foot in front of frozen foot, fighting against the clock of numbness.

Despite inducing a fractured right hip myself and Leah almost suffering a brain aneurysm from the perilous altitude, we survived and achieved what was, for both of us, one of our greatest life milestones.

It’s fascinating to witness the different kinds of glue that hold people together- whether it’s blood, friendships, lover’s intimacy, or complete strangers who share a unique experience, there are different editions of life’s Elmer’s that hold us tightly together. For Leah and I, it was hiking on top of the world together, literally.

Also, for those of you who have ever traveled abroad or have similar tails of glue stick adventures, you know that these relationships are timeless and effortless. I’ll never forget Leah telling me as we parted ways, “if you’re ever in Oz, you’d better look me up.” Well, four years later, I took her up on it. The wild part was that as she walked up with her ever so slight swagger, it was like no time had passed at all. We gave each other the four year cliff notes to catch up and spent the next two days reminiscing about our bouts with hypothermia, running out of food a day early, and a wicked storm blowing in as hidden natives from the mountains suddenly appeared like angels from the sky and hurried us into their medieval shelters. We laughed about how at one point, for all five of us, we had a full-blown breakdown and simply sat down and refused to keep going. However, by the grace of God we made it. To this day, I’m not exactly sure which of my Guardian Angels was responsible for literally carrying me the last hundred miles or so, but we all crossed that finish line together.

Now the beauty of old friends is that, at any moment, you can breath life into that relationship and the old so quickly transforms back into the new. I don’t know when I will see Leah again in person, in what part of the world our paths will find themselves twisting together again, but I have no doubt it will be sooner than I think. And regardless, I’m sure we’ll pick up exactly where we left off.

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Brian, a young man I work with, came into our session with the heartbreaking news that his cat of 12 years passed away. He reported that he was sad “but not as much as I should be” and felt guilty for not being more upset. I asked him what he should feel, and he responded with “I don’t know, whatever is normal.”

It is a common misconception that there is a “right way” to respond to grief and loss when it comes into our lives. For example, my uber-sensitive friend (she cries at Hallmark commercials) became emotionally stoic when her ex-boyfriend was killed in a car accident. She shocked her friends and family by planning his memorial service, contacting all their college friends, and making a video memorial. While she barely shed a tear in public, inside she was suffering more than others could see:

“People kept telling me, you’re handling this too well. Why aren’t you sad, what’s wrong with you? And after listening to them I felt awful for not expressing my sadness like everyone expected me to. I felt guilty.”

Psychologists often use the Kubler-Ross Stages of Grief to explain the cycle of emotions people generally experience. Some people may linger in one stage for what feels like an eternity, while others may cycle through them numerous times before they reach acceptance.

1. Denial: “This isn’t happening.”
2. Anger: “This isn’t fair!”
3. Bargaining: “Cure her cancer and I’ll go to church every Sunday.”
4. Depression: “What’s the point of going on without him?”
5. Acceptance: “I accept that I have no control and this loss is forever. I will move forward.”

People grieve many different types of losses. A few examples are:
•    Death
•    Loss of friendships
•    Break-ups
•    Moving
•    Transitioning to a new school/job

Each individual must find their own coping mechanisms; here are some healthy suggestions to try:
•    Take time everyday to grieve. Figure out if you are more comfortable grieving with family and friends, or alone.
•    Write a letter. Include all of the things you are too afraid to say out loud.
•    Say good-bye. Allow yourself to “let go” of things that remind you of the person or situation.
•    Stay away from vices and addictions. Loss often creates a void within us; fill it with something positive.
•    Don’t “force” the grief away. You will become a healthier person if you allow yourself to experience the stages of grief
•    Help others. Once you have accepted the loss, use your experience to help others cope. This will help you create something good from such a negative experience.
•    Know your limits. If you feel as though your grief is unmanageable, seek professional help. This can be in the form of individual therapy, a support group, or church ministries. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help.

photo by renu parkhi

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Being part Irish, St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. You can wear an excessive amount of green, pinch people who aren’t, and drink a green beer with lunch. This year, however, the luck of the Irish was not on my side, as I found myself on a date that, well, bombed—and not in the Irish Car Bomb kind of way.

I knew Evan wasn’t a Shamrock lovin’ lad when he asked me to dinner on St. Paddy’s, but with a busy week ahead, I agreed to meet for an early bite. That day he emailed me (yes, I understand that email is an easy form of communication while at work, but please, this is a date, not a business meeting) to say that he knew the perfect spot and sent me the address of a small Japanese chain. Approaching the restaurant that night, with its fluorescent red sign, dingy booths and screaming babies at nearly every table, it quickly became clear that this was the curry house of hell.

The moment we sat down, Evan launched into a spitfire interview that made Barbara Walters look tame. Each question had follow-ups (What do I do on the weekends? Where is the best beach spot in Los Angeles? Do I know where to find a great hiking trail?), and I was beginning to think that this recent New York-transplant was really an undercover tourist. In desperate need of a breather, I excused myself to use the restroom—at least tile couldn’t talk. When I returned, the waitress was taking Evan’s order and with my taste buds in a tizzy; I chose the one dish I could decipher.

Much to my dismay, having food in front of us did not deter Evan from his interrogation. As I gave answers, Evan cut, chewed, scooped, and all but licked, his plate; he actually asked the waitress for bread to soak up any spare sauce. Noticing that I was not a member of the Clean Plate Club, Evan told me to feel free to eat and talk at the same time. “When I get a plate of food, I just go for it!” he said. Was it time to just go home yet?

When the check arrived, I reached in my purse—Dubliner’s day or not, I always offer to go Dutch. Evan picked up the flimsy paper, scrutinized it, then said—no, asked, “Oh, wait, I should pay … ?” At the end of my rope and hardly able to answer yet another question, I said didn’t mind splitting the bill. “Okay, great!” he said, then told me not to worry, since his dish cost more, he’d cover the tip for both of us. See, nay-sayers, chivalry isn’t dead after all!

A quick departure and one doggie bag later, I happily joined my friends at a local pub and decided that it might be time to reevaluate my online profile. If there’s a match out there for me, I’m determined to find him.

photo by stephen poff

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More than anything, it was a day of celebration, a day when the tenacity of hope had a tangible victory over defeat, a day that resounded the adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” It’s been five years since WUSA (Women’s United Soccer Association) fell into a crumble of debt and despair. And for a long while, we thought professional women’s soccer in the United States was gone for good. But today it returned. And, who better than a prodigal daughter in the form of Mia Hamm to hand the game ball to the officials? Afterall, it is her form that graces the WPS official logo.

14,832 people filed into the Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Sol for the inaugural match of the WPS (Women’s Professional Soccer) where the Sol played the Washington Freedom. Before the match, the crowds arrived to enjoy a small area called “Sol City” where they could make signs for their favorite players or watch a dog play soccer.

It may have been Mia mania in WUSA but it’s Marta’s magic in WPS. The moment Marta Vieira da Silva, the Brazilian international three time FIFA Player of the Year Awards (at age 23), touched the ball, the stadium was entranced. They screamed (most were girls, after all), yelled, and clapped their hands in anticipation. She would not score but would have an assist and create plenty of excitement as she weaved in and out of opposing defenders – or just speed past them. And yet, it was an unexpected name who led the Los Angeles Sol to the first WPS victory. A name you, an iatg reader, may recognize: Allison Falk.

Falk (interviewed here last week) came up from central defender for a corner kick early in the match and headed the ball past Washington goalkeeper Briana Scurry in the 6th minute. Her hands shot up into the air in excitement and astonishment. She, Allison Falk, a sweet girl from Danville, CA had just written her name in the history books – and with her head no less. Falk would continue with a solid performance, holding Wambach in check with the help of fellow Sol defenders, and would go on to be named the official Woman of the Match.

Of the goal, Falk would say, “The goal was an amazing ball from Aya [Miyama]. I just went up for it, wasn’t sure I was going to get it but just went for it and I think it kind of hit the side of me and went in.”

When the game concluded, the final score read: Los Angeles Sol 2, Washington Freedom 0. Camille Abily scored the second goal with a brilliant chip of the ball in the 87th minute.  And an exquisite performance by Sol goalkeeper, Karina LeBlanc, kept the Freedom quiet. That’s how history will write it: Sol victory, 2-0. First match, over and done. But as a member of the crowd, you had to know there was much more to it.

It hadn’t worked with WUSA. But we’re trying again. We’re going for it. A successful women’s professional league in the country that dominates women’s international soccer. Surely it’s not a day of history; it’s only a beginning. And as Sol coach, Abner Rogers, said, “We came out with a good victory … it is only going to get better.”

Want to see more WPS pictures? Visit iatg on facebook.

photo by kenzie rochelle

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Hermione Granger from Harry Potter may be known for her book smarts, but Parisian-born actress Emma Watson also is a wizard when it comes to her studies. Watson is probably best known for playing the overachieving best friend of Harry and Ron from the hit movies based on J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

After her family transplanted back to England, Watson was actually discovered at a school assembly when she was just 9 years old. She was chosen to audition for the coveted role of Hermione as a casting team visited select English schools. She eventually won the role and is currently filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Watson also appeared in the BBC production of Ballet Shoes and was the voice of Princess Pea in the animated film, The Tale of Despereaux. The talents of this young actress however extend far beyond Hogwarts and the silver screen.

A very serious student, Watson aced her A-levels last year — England’s high school finishing exams — in English Literature, History of Art and Geography. She’s in the process of narrowing down which university to attend and there have been reports she has already been accepted to such impressive institutions as Yale and Cambridge. Once she decides if she wants to attend school in the U.S. or the U.K., the almost 19-year old (her birthday is April 15) will take a break from acting to pursue a college degree.

Watson’s life doesn’t just revolve around acting and academics. This avid athlete is an accomplished skier, field hockey player and scuba diver. She also sings, dances and has quite the keen fashion sense. The well-rounded young lady makes a point to give back to others and even asked her fans, in lieu of sending Christmas gifts last year to donate to UNICEF. She supports the Millennium Promise Alliance, working to end extreme poverty by 2025 and donated Harry Potter items to be auctioned off to benefit Wild Trout Trust, a British wildlife conservation charity.

With her laserlike focus on expanding her intellectual horizons over basking in the glitz of Hollywood, Watson truly personifies the i am that girl mantra, “Smart is the new sexy.”

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You’ve just put on your PJ’s, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, and dug into a bag of chips. That’s when you get the phone call. Your girlfriends are getting ready to go out, and want you to come along. Despite your eventful plans for the evening (an American Idol marathon counts as plans, right?), your friends won’t take “no” for an answer. So now you’ve got an hour to prepare — mentally and physically — for a night on the town. But how do you pull out of that couch-potato mood and get ready to party?

To banish your slump and transform into the party girl, try these tips:

•    Cold water can boost circulation and amp up energy. Hop in the shower and spend three minutes under warm water, then switch to cold for one minute. Repeat three times and feel instantly energized.

•    Relax by using a massage trick. Find the acupoint at the top of your head, in between your ears. Then using both hands, move two finger-widths to the left and right, gently applying pressure with the index and middle finger of each hand for one second and release. Continue this routine for one minute.

•    Breathing techniques can increase energy and prepare you to be on-the-go all night long. In Chinese Medicine, energy is referred to as qi (“chi”), and the best way to promote qi is with deep breathing. By breathing deep into your belly, you can increase your qi energy and improve stamina.

•    Feel sexy and confident even before you go out by giving yourself a quick foot soak. Mix 1 cup lemon juice, 3 tbs. olive oil and 1/4 cup milk then soak for five minutes. Your feet will end up soft and ready for stilettos!

•    For fabulous party hair, go for a wavy, careless look. If your hair is naturally wavy, scrunch it while wet, spray with some hairspray, and let it air dry. Put straight hair in hot rollers or curl it with a curling iron and pins the curls down. Spray with hairspray and let it set while you finish getting ready.

•    No one will know you were yawning an hour ago if you have glowing skin and naturally flushed cheeks. Define cheekbones and add a little color to your complexion with liquid shimmer mixed with crème blush. Apply lightly to your cheekbones, and then throw on some bronzer underneath for added definition.

•    If you’re wearing a dress or skirt, bring your legs front and center. After shaving, rub olive or almond oil on them for a seductive look.

•    Choose an outfit that makes you feel confident without showing off too much. You won’t have a good time if you’re constantly worried about one of your ladies popping out.

And remember, it’s essential to eat something before you go out. You also should drink plenty of water during and after your party session because nobody looks glam with dehydrated skin.

photos by juli k, eric hacke

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Spring has started to finally peek out in Chicago as I find myself standing below the large, yellow awning of “The Boring Store.” “Nothing of interest in here,” and “Not a secret spy supply store,” warn the signs in the window of the mysterious storefront. I push open the heavy door only to find an orange wall covered in surveillance cameras staring me down. I wind through a short corridor and land in a cozy and brightly colored store. Trench coats, fedora hats, magnifying glasses, secret pens and other such sundries for the private detective surround me.

I notice a small window beyond the cash register. On the other side I see large tables and rows of neatly lined, high-backed, wooden chairs. Computers and shelves of books line the walls as 4 or 5 men and women bustle around carrying stacks of papers and working on laptops. Part tutoring center, part secret spy supply store, 826Chicago is not your typical tutoring program.

826Chicago is a branch of a national organization, which has chapters in 7 cities across the U.S.: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Ann Arbor, New York and Boston. Each center is covertly and creatively disguised as a storefront for the unusual.  The San Francisco chapter lives in the back of pirate supply store; Seattle hosts a Space Travel Supply Company and L.A. provides supplies for all SoCal time travelers. Across the nation, 826 offers kids of all ages after school tutoring, creative writing workshops, in-school support for teachers and much more. Started 6 years ago by Dave Eggars, author of A Heartbreaking Work of A Staggering Genius, 826National is now a leading voice in creative education.

Mara O’Brien, Executive Director, and Kait Steele, Associate Director, at 826Chicago share the many ways they reach out to our community:

Steele: Sarah is an 8th grader [and] has been here for years. She started coming for tutoring and has now stayed through workshops… She will define herself right now as a writer, she says as much…I look at her and think, “You are in 8th grade and you are loud and proud about who you are.” That’s awesome.

O’Brien: For me, what’s so exciting is that what [these students] are excited about is academic. The fact is if you are a good writer then you are a good reader and all these things go together. They are excited about something they will use for the rest of their lives.

iatg: Even if they don’t really know it.

O’Brien: Right! And that’s the best thing.  I have parents who say, “Oh my kids don’t want to go to a tutoring program.”  And I say to them, “Well bring them here.  They won’t think they are at a tutoring program.  They’ll think they are in the spy store, you know, hanging out with cool kids and cool tutors.”

Find out more about your local chapter of 826 National

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You’re home alone on a Friday night. Your girlfriends are busy, your Prince Charming who constantly woos you and brings you flowers, well, doesn’t exist and your premenstrual hormones are raging like St. Elmo’s Fire. You yearn, you ache, and you BURN, for two men. Your favorite, dependable, non-judging, tasty men: Ben and Jerry.

What is it about ice cream that makes it so darn comforting? Most comforting devices are warm — fuzzy sweaters, cozy blankets, and hot chocolate… Ice cream is America’s top choice of comfort foods. Why? It’s delicious.

Due to their fierce popularity, “comfort foods” became a new word added to the Webster’s Dictionary in 1987. Soon after ice cream, cookies, chocolate cake, pie, chicken soup, Mac n’ Cheese, pizza and meat loaf followed. Most women lean towards the decision of sweets when they crave a type of food. Granted, we are often nurtured as youngsters by ice cream as a reward for good grades or to cheer us up after our tonsils come out. But there is more to comfort foods than nostalgia alone.

Scientists have found physiological reasons for our comfort food cravings as well. A study done at the University of California San Francisco linked the stress hormone, cortisol, and the hypothalamus gland, which controls our hunger. When stress levels rise, so might hunger.

Additionally, certain foods have a physically calming effect, assisting the body’s production of serotonin and other feel-good hormones. Complex carbohydrates have a positive effect on our moods, with effects that outlast the temporary rush from typical sweets. So when your sweet tooth cries out, a whole grain equivalent is best.

Tryptophan, the chemical credited for post-Thanksgiving-feast naps, is also calming. It only pacifies if coupled with a carbohydrate, so turkey on rye beats turkey on its own.

How we approach our comfort food tendencies determines how consoling they actually are. If your attitude about foods are positive, you will likely enjoy your comfort foods and crave them less. Plus, you won’t beat yourself up over eating them. Many interviewees shared disclaimers or self-punishing remarks with their answers. “Ugh, I eat cake. So bad!” one replied.

If you feel shameful for indulging, remind yourself that no one’s daily diet is perfect and the ideal diet contains variety and occasional indulgences. Negative reactions to eating comfort foods can cause greater problems than the food itself.

As for our favorite ice cream treats, occasional servings are fine. If you crave it often, choose lower fat or reduced sugar varieties and add fruit to make them healthier. In other words, you do not need to break up with Ben or Jerry; but you may not want to propose to either of them just yet.

For additional healthy recipes for comfort foods, visit www.healthynutritiontalk.com. (I’ll be posting Serotonin-Inducing Cookies especially for iatg readers!)

photo by heather weaver

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