Blog- Thoughts from the English Retreads pit crew on life, being green and eco-friendly and on our products

We here in Boulder witnessed quite an array of seasons this weekend. On Saturday, it hit 80 degrees and I went to the opening day of the farmers market before watching the world go by atop a mountain on a beautiful six-hour hike, munching on grapes in a tank top.

On Sunday, however, I dodged hail and sleet as I drove to Denver, then wiped snow off my car before driving back home.

It’s the Colorado way.

Luckily, our zero-waste farmers market kicked off its season on Saturday instead of Sunday. I’m in love with the farmers market; I love walking around tasting everything, popping cherry tomatoes in my mouth and lying in the grass while Boulder babies run gleefully around me. And of course, local, organic produce is the way to go. Why?

• No toxins or chemical fertilizers are used
• Less fossil fuels are required for transport
• Soil vitality is maintained
• If produce is picked ripe, it equals better taste and more nutrition
• Supports local farmers

The only cons? Somewhat higher price (but worth it!) and sometimes what we’re looking for isn’t readily available… but more and more of it will be as summer gets closer!

Here are some other awesome farmers markets, hopefully in your area:

Fort Collins/Loveland, Portland; Seattle; San Francisco; Washington, D.C./Maryland

(Posted by Amy Segreti)

“Creativity, like many things, gives back when you use it.” (Molly O’Keefe)

I was in Paris when I met Roberto. He spoke five languages, introduced me to neighborhood markets and bourgeois bars, and attempted to teach me tango (although I was too faint with awe at that point to remember any steps). He was writing a lengthy research paper about impoverished neighborhoods of Paris, and told me that in order to have time to write, he brought his laptop on his hour-long train commute.

“Even if I only get one perfect sentence out of it—it’s worth it,” he said.

Modern writers, artists and other creatives wonder where sacred creative space can fit within a fairly commute-oriented work life. Author Kelly L. Stone writes that when we have a space for creating, it becomes a safe and comfortable place for one’s muse to emerge. Much like a Pavlovian response, simply going into the space will energize the creative process.

But what can we do when our lives don’t allow us to sit home all day and create?

Believe it or not, we can assemble a portable version of a sacred space in the form of supplies: bags, drawing tools, notebooks, folders. It sounds simple, but your mind will help your muse along. It’s all about ritual and repetition.

Here are some ideas for coaxing out your traveling muse:

• designate a notebook only for your creative ideas. Don’t write to-do lists in it (that’s what your planner is for) or phone numbers. Make it sacred and it will give back to you.
• get a large purse or handbag (oh hey, we happen to have those!) and put all of your creative materials in that bag. Find a few things (quotes, photos, drawings) that are motivational to you and keep you on your path and throw ‘em in.
• for days when you’re feeling uninspired, include a token of your past success. For Heather, this is easy; she can take an actual bag (yay!). For me, I would take a writing contract or a clip of a published article I’m particularly proud of.

The important part is the power of association you’ll create almost effortlessly each time you use your traveling sacred space for its purpose. You can be anywhere; it can involve coffee or Chardonnay (like perhaps it is for me right now…). It can even be on a noisy, crowded train in Paris. If you’ve decided that this is your creation time and make it a ritual—that’s what it will be.

Note to Denver folks: check this out. It’s a free, Denver-wide, creative-space-finder (who knew?) for artists in the area.

And let us at English Retreads know—how do you create your sacred artistic space?

(Posted by Amy Segreti)

Yesterday, a frazzled friend came into my office and told me how full his brain was.

“My brain can’t fit anything else! 8×10 papers are scattered all over my office!” he cried.

I told him to buy a planner, and showed him mine. I don’t know what I’d do without it. I’ve been using a variety of year-long paper planners for the last 15 years, although I have a Macbook, iPad, iPhone and, practically, an iChip embedded in my brain (I was once nearly kicked out of a Nokia store when my iChip decided to make a theatrical, impromptu sales pitch to my new-phone-buying friend…). But when it comes to planning—can’t use ‘em. Need paper.

Last July, I even bought an 18-month planner, because a friend wanted me to be her bridesmaid in 18 months, which is a ridiculous time commitment to expect someone to remember. But she’s my oldest friend, so I did it for her. I’m unsure of what country I’ll be living in at that time, but I know I’ll be posing for pictures in a maroon dress in New Jersey on July 16. And she has my planner to thank.

I’ve always needed a paper planner. I need something tactile, something I can doodle in, a canvas for creativity amidst structure and lines. I love to smell the paper, feel the weight of ink on them, feel how tangibly heavier the past is than the future. With a paper planner, it’s all embodied, with an open and close and a whole life inside.

People go nuts over their planners. They write long blog posts about choosing a planner based on what could be labeled as complicated algorithms, complete with pro/con lists, numerical scoring and charts. Another lady writes romantically about the luscious feel and sound of paper and the interactive nature of flipping pages versus scrolling over a digital screen.

For myself and many others, paper planners = the way to go. But then I wonder… is it sustainable? How can I reconcile my love of paper and be eco-friendly?

I’ve done some research so you can rest easy (and subsequently mark and check off that you rested easy). These two are great to grab when you want to be conscious of both the environment and your next yoga/therapy/work meeting:

• EcoSystem planners each have their own unique ID number, which can be used to track the book’s origins, learn about its environmentally-friendly roots, and find out exactly how to recycle each planner. They utilize New Leaf Imagination, a production effort that creates materials made with 100% post-consumer waste. They’re also pretty and colorful; “green doesn’t have to be brown” is their motto.
• The Quo Vadis Equology planner is made with chlorine-free, FSC-recycled, alkaline/neutral paper (quite a mouthful). And apparently they “invented” the concept of Weekly Time Management. In 1954, the founder of the company, a French doctor named F.G. Beltrami, sketched a grid on a notebook, and voila, planning would never be the same.

So write down “be more eco-conscious” in your planner and mark it off (because who doesn’t love the look of checked off items?)

As for my friend? He decided to go with iCal (at least my iChip is still firing)… for now.

(Posted by Amy Segreti)

…to buy a new Retread. Now you can buy the perfect bag or sassy belt you’ve been dreaming about for up to 15% less.  This is better than a sale; this is a deal. No codes at check out are needed. Stop by our virtual shop and check it out.

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