First things first: I’m sorry for taking a short hiatus, a few unpredictable things took control of my life for a couple of weeks but nothing to worry about.

Now back to business. Well, you see, although I wasn’t blogging these two weeks, I still kept an eye open to eco-friendlly products and happenings, and will be blogging about them within the next couple of days.

Today I want to focus on composting for two main reasons:

1-Gus and I recently got a composter.

2-Melissa Contreras from the Urban Oasis Project is giving a composting workshop this Saturday.

I had been asking you for recommendations for a short space/ balcony composter for some time (those worms I got last year at the Edible Garden Fest didn’t get too far) and we finally decided for one composter, which is happily recycling food scraps in our terrace.

We opted for the Garden Views E-Composter because it had good reviews and was in the low price range ($49.99). We actually first saw it in Target.com, but they don’t offer free shipping, so we ended up ordering it from Home Depot.

It ended up being a little bigger than we expected, but it was easy to assemble, and we don’t have to worry about it filling up too quickly.

For the last few weeks, we’ve been throwing in there all our food leftovers, as well as weeds and other unwanted plant matter, and there are all kinds of insects in there now. However, it’s been raining a lot lately, and the contents are starting to become sticky, almost like a paste. I’m not sure if this is how it’s supposed to be, so this brings us to the second reason why I’m writing about composting today.

If you’re interested in learning more about composting like I am, don’t miss this amazing workshop this Saturday at the Little River Market Garden. Learn all the basics for $15, plus get an exclusive tour of the Market Garden, an urban farm now offering organic CSAs. You can also stay for the Urban Oasis Project monthly vegetarian potluck following the workshop.

If you go:
What: Composting Workshop
Where: Little River Market Garden (rsvp for direcctions)
When: 5 p.m., Saturday, July 17.
How much: $15
More info: Visit the group’s facebook page or website for more information on how to sign up.

The first organic Italian restaurant outside Italy, Escopazzo in South Beach has been the place to go for upscale and delicate Italian food since it opened in 1993. But its new weekly organic wine tastings “We do it Thursdays” are making the experience more accessible for those of us in a low budget.

Every Thursday from 7-9 p.m., you can try four wines -and these are full glasses, not small samples – and get a plate of fine cheeses, olives and other appetizers for $20, plus a knowledgeable sommelier will explain a little history of each wine, its geography, grapes, origins and more. (I couldn’t take pictures of my cheese plate because it emptied before I could even take out the camera).

While not everything at the restaurant is certified organic, everything comes from local as well as Italian family-owned farms and wineries that have been using environmentally-friendly practices for generations. Remember that getting certified can sometimes take years and be costly, so many small farmers choose to instead continue doing what they believe is the right thing without stressing about certifications.

The restaurant has a full menu of Italian plates -pastas, risottos, antipasti and more- as well as raw and vegetarian selections that include a vegetable lasagnetta with pinenut ricotta and pesto; and a flaxseed wrap filled with marinated vegetables, lemon cashew sauce and grape chutney.

If you go:
What: “We do it Thursdays” organic wine tasting
When: Every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Escopazzo, 1311 Washington Ave
More info: www.escopazzo.com

By Lourdes from Vice Beauty

I’ve been a fan of the ShiKai shower gels for quite some time now. ShiKai’s organic Moisturizing Shower Gels are great for sensitive and even baby skin. With no animal testing or animal ingredients, animal lovers will enjoy the product’s moisturizing lather and amazing scent selection. Created by chemist Dr. Dennis Sepp over 40 years ago, ShiKai provides over 50 natural products to get you fresh and clean.

Considering we’re in South Florida, you can enjoy the line’s tropical and natural fragrances. If you’re into florals, check out their amazing gardenia scent. Coconut is my favorite, providing the sweet and signature tropical scent you’ll find on the beach. Pomegranate and yuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit, are great for those of you that favor fruit scents. With eight natural fragrances and a formula full of skin-friendly aloe vera and colloidal oatmeal, your skin will feel cleansed and soft.

You can find ShiKai at any Whole Foods or health foods store here in South Florida at $8.99 for a generous 12 oz bottle. A little bit goes a long way, and if you have finicky skin or are on a tight budget you’ll enjoy the luxurious but affordable ShiKai Moisturizing Shower Gel.

Green & Glamorous’ eco-beauty reviews are written by guest blogger Lourdes from the local beauty blog Vice Beauty. Follow her on Twitter at @vicebeautyblog to receive alerts on local beauty events, reviews and more.

Enjoy your weekly calendar of eco-fun!

THURSDAY, JUNE 3

>Green Drinks West Palm BeachCome network with all your friends at a great location near the new waterfront off of Clematis Street. 6-8 p.m. at Pistache Bistro, 101 North Clematis Street, West Palm Beach.

>Organic Thursdays at Escopazzo: Weekly food and wine tastings at the SoBe organic Italian restaurant. Stop by between 7-9 p.m. for “We Do It Thursdays” and try 4 wines and appetizers for $20. 1311 Washington Ave.

>Tees for Trees at CAFEINA: Help the Bakehouse Art Complex get the landscape it deserves. $10 donation gets you a free cocktail. All proceeds go to BAC, a non-profit providing affordable studios, exhibition galleries, and professional development opportunities to local artists. A silent auction will feature tees created by resident BAC artists. 8 p.m. at Cafeina, 297 NE 32 St., Wynwood.

SATURDAY, JUNE 5

>Green House Tour:Lovers of good design and architecture shouldn’t miss this tour one of the first completely green houses in Dade County. Albert Harum-Alvarez -who’s running for Commissioner in District 8- and his family, will offer a tour of their energy efficient, solar-powered and environmentally-friendly home. The tour starts at 4 p.m. for design aficionados and at 5 p.m. for the curious yet less technical. Visit their site for more info and to RSVP.

>Volunteer at a local farm, then learn about permaculture: The urban farm Earth-N-Us will offer a free permaculture introduction class this Saturday in exchange of a few hours of volunteer services (note that this workshop is sometimes offered at the farm for a few hundred dollars, so the deal isn’t bad at all). Earth-N-Us is located at 7630 NE 1st Ave. Get there by 1 p.m. to complete enough volunteer hours. Email healthymarcus@gmail.com for details.

>Replenishing the kitchen: Get your weekly raw, vegan or healthy food supplies, plus buy fresh produce at the Coconut Grove Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 3300 Grand Ave.

Image via mysza

Green living is about making better choices, including about what we wear – but if the tree hugging lifestyle is not particularly your call, maybe it’s time for a little eco-chic indulgence, like the 2nd Annual Go Green Fashionista Fashion Show & Shoe Drive June 18.

This eco-fashion show, benefiting the non-profit Barefoot 4 Haiti, will feature styles ranging from vintage clothing to original eco-friendly accessories and wardrobe vamping.

Some of the interesting designers will include Blooming by Inta, who specializes in creating Avant Garde pieces with newspaper, magazines and other recycled materials; and Jewelry by Catalina Mora, who uses orange peels, tagua, and coffee beans to create her accessories while having an amazing aroma to it.

You’ll be able to also sample the new Sheba Cloth Collection made from natural jute fiber grown in Bangladesh known to be rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, and 100% biodegradable.

If you go:
What: 2nd Annual Go Green Fashionista: Fashion Show & Shoe Drive for Barefoot 4 Haiti
When: 7 p.m. June 18
Where: MIA at Biscayne Ultra Lounge & Restaurant, 20 Biscayne Blvd. Miami.
More info: $10 admission. Bring gently worn or new shoes to provide footwear to the people of Haiti. Half off special drinks from 7-8 p.m. Fashion show starts at 8 p.m. More info at Soul of Miami.

Image courtesy of Fabienne Claude from Go Green Fashionista 2009