By: Ashley Currie - iHOSPITALITY iNC.
Contributing Green Blogger

The holiday season is officially here and you still have time to shop. Check out our list of neat gifts that keep on giving as you buy local this Christmas season!
Be Sweet, a great company with a real passion for providing handmade products with environmentally friendly materials. The company enlists the awesome skills of Cape Town, Africa artisans to create their products allowing the women to support their families. Can we say love, love, love!
You can check out Ash Blue in Green Hills and pick up one of their mohair scarves. Ash Blue is a locally owned boutique specializing in multi cultural gifts and items from around the world.
2170 Bandywood Dr. Nashville, TN 37215 – www.ashblue.com

Ask Apparel a local company built with an eco-conscious. They offer great organic tee shirts naturally dyed and screen printed right here in Nashville, TN. What more can you ask for!
www.askapparel.com













English Retreads Recycled Tire Purses are the new it bag for the special lady in your life. The bag is made from….you guessed it recycled tires!
You can pick up one of these great purses at A Thousand Faces in Hillsboro Village, a cool boutique offering an array of great gifts for
this holiday season.

1720 21st Ave S. Nashville, TN 37212 - www.athousandfaces.com









As the GO Green section continues to grow, we will update you on super cool things, people, & places around the city that fit into our Buy Local:Stay Green Approach.

Labels: buy local, deals, eco-friendly, green, holiday, nashville, shopping

By: Ashley Currie - iHOSPITALITY iNC.
Contributing Green blogger

Recycle, Reuse, Reduce: have these keywords been engrained in your memory yet? These are the 3 R's that provide a simple guideline to help you become more conscious of your own carbon footprint. Now, let's take a look and see how these 3 things can be incorporated into your holiday shopping experience this year. It is important for consumers to realize steps in the green direction are not hard or expensive to accomplish. Below you will find several holiday shopping eco-tips that readers can follow for the season along with incorporating into their everyday shopping experiences.

* Reusable Bags: Remember to always keep a reusable bag in your car. This way wherever you are shopping you can always have one on hand and avoid having to take home the dreaded plastic bag.
* Holiday Decorations: Take a quick scan of your holiday decoration closet (we all have one) and see what you will be reusing and what you want. If you find items that you feel will not be used this season, check with your local non-profits that assist families to see if you can donate your items. You can always start a DIY(Do-it-Yourself) project like the cork wreath(pictured above).
* Say no to receipts: Many stores are now asking if you want a receipt printed or allowing you the option of not wasting paper. Why not, most of the time your receipts end up in the trash anyway.
* To Wrap or Not To Wrap: I know the kids, along with many adults love the excitement of unwrapping their gifts, but the paper wasted is equivalent to 50,000 trees each holiday season. Try reusing, old wrap and gift bags. Make it a theme and wrap up gifts together. For example, if you are giving socks, pajamas and a robE...just make the robe your gift wrap! Now, if you still need that snowman gift wrap make sure you recycle.
Check out:
www.earthsavers.org a local recycling company or www.nashville.gov/Recycle/Centers/drop_off.asp for area drop off locations.
* Buy Local: Did you know buying from a local establishment allows you to give back and support the community in which you leave. This is a noble reusable step if I may add. You wonder how is this reusable...by taking the steps to buy local you are in essence recycling your money and putting it back into the same community in which you live, work and play. Your money can then be used in the new improvements made to your town square or the small business that is thriving, providing additional jobs for your neighbors.

Women joining Fantasy Football leagues at higher rates
By Marshall A. Latimore
SOTG Lifestyles Editor

Adrienne Samuels Gibbs decided once and for all that this would be the season she'd join a fantasy football league for the upcoming NFL season.

"I'm very close to selecting my fantasy football team," tweeted Gibbs early on Aug. 13 from her Twitter account online, @AdrienneWrites. "I've been studying all summer (because) really, i'm a casual fan. But not this year!"

Gibbs, who is a senior editor of Ebony magazine living in Chicago, said she'd never "done the Fantasy Football" thing, but decided to take the plunge after years of watching her husband do it.

But don't be mistaken. Gibbs is not just attempting to humor her husband. And she is not alone.

More and more each year, thousands of women of color are joining fantasy football leagues, hitting the sports bars for Sunday & Monday night football and donning the paraphernalia of their favorite teams.

They're not just trying to hook a man or taking part to give their mates something to smile about. These women love the thrill of the gridiron. And they're finding leverage in this male-dominated arena--if not on, then certainly off the field.

According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, there are 5.5 million women players of fantasy sports. As much as 62 percent of those women play fantasy football.

"Our studies show that women play to win, but differently than men," says FSTA President Paul Charchian. "Women are more motivated to play for reason of camaraderie than competitiveness. They don't buy as many magazines, cheat sheets, etc."

Not all women are so ready to jump into fantasy football leagues, though.

Faith Nunley, a fundraiser in the non-profit sector in Los Angeles, says she would never join a fantasy league, "not football and not anything else for that matter."

"Fantasy Football just ain't my thing," Nunley said. "I like football and all but some folks take it to extremes."

Though readers probably won't see Gibbs's picks in the pages of Ebony, she said she'll still find time to tweet about them over the course of the season.

Labels: fantasy football NFL

By Marshall A. Latimore

SOTG Lifestyles Editor

Wanna whip a fancy meal without all the work? After all, Labor Day is supposed to be a day of rest for you and your family. These seven easy to create dishes will ensure your loved ones relish with delight, without stressing you out in the process. Bon Appetit!

Proscuitto-Wrapped Basil Shrimp

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 lemons, juiced

3 tablespoons brown mustard

1/2 cup minced fresh basil

3 cloves garlic, minced

salt to taste

white pepper

3 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

10 (about 4 ounces) very thin slices prosciutto

skewers

DIRECTIONS

In a shallow, non-porous dish or bowl, mix together olive oil and melted butter. Stir in lemon juice, mustard, basil, and garlic, and season with salt and white pepper. Add shrimp, and toss to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat grill to high heat. Remove shrimp from marinade. Lay the prosciutto slices on a large work surface, and cut prosciutto in half lengthwise so you have 20 pieces. Wrap the prosciutto around each shrimp, leaving the tail hanging out, and thread on an 8-inch skewer. and thread onto skewers. Discard marinade. Lightly oil grill grate and arrange skewers on preheated grill. Cook for 4 minutes, turning once, or until opaque.

BBQ Corn

INGREDIENTS

10 ears fresh corn with husks

1 quart beer

1 (7 pound) bag of ice cubes

DIRECTIONS

Place whole ears of corn in an ice chest. Pour beer over top. Dump ice out over the ears of corn. Place the lid on the cooler, and let sit 8 hours, or overnight. Preheat smoker to 250 degrees F ( 120 degrees C). Place corn in the smoker and close the lid. Cook for 1 to 2 hours, turning every 20 minutes or so. Kernels should give easily under pressure when done. To eat, just peel back the husks and use them for a handle.

Grilled Potatoes and Onion

INGREDIENTS

4 potatoes, sliced

1 red onion, sliced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS

Preheat grill for medium heat.

For each packet, measure out 2 or 3 squares of aluminum foil large enough to easily wrap the vegetables, and layer one on top of the other. Place some of the potatoes and onion in the center, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and dot with butter. Wrap into a flattened square, and seal the edges. Repeat with remaining potatoes and onion. Place aluminum wrapped package over indirect heat, and cover. Cook for approximately 30 minutes, turning once. Serve hot off the grill.

Pineapple Chicken Tenders

INGREDIENTS

1 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup light soy sauce

2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins or strips

skewers

DIRECTIONS

In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Remove from heat just before the mixture comes to a boil. Place chicken tenders in a medium bowl. Cover with the pineapple marinade, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread chicken lengthwise onto wooden skewers.

Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill chicken tenders 5 minutes per side, or until juices run clear. They cook quickly, so watch them closely

Savory Garlic Marinated Steaks

NGREDIENTS

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring

1 pinch cayenne pepper

2 (1/2 pound) rib-eye steaks

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, mix the vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, olive oil, ground black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, salt, liquid smoke, and cayenne pepper.

Place steaks in a shallow glass dish with the marinade, and turn to coat. For optimum flavor, rub the liquid into the meat. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.

Preheat grill for medium-high to high heat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill steaks 7 minutes per side, or to desired doneness. Discard leftover marinade.

Big Guy Strawberry Pie

INGREDIENTS

1 cup water

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon red food coloring

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup margarine

3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled

DIRECTIONS

In a saucepan, combine water, white sugar, salt, cornstarch and food coloring. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 5 minutes or until thickened. Set aside to cool. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) In a large bowl, combine flour, margarine, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Mix well and press into a 9 inch pie pan. Prick all over and bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. When crust is cool, place berries in the shell, and pour the thickened mixture over the top. Chill in refrigerator.

Easy Pasta Salad

INGREDIENTS

1 cucumber
1 cup ripe red tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, fresh
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup dry small shell pasta, cooked and drained

DIRECTIONS

Peel, seed and dice the cucumber. Place cucumber, tomato, red onion, lime juice, cilantro, sugar, salt and pepper in a bowl with pasta. Toss gently. Chill thoroughly prior to serving.•

By Ashley McDonald

By day, Byron De'Vinner is a State Farm Insurance agent. But his passion lies in mentoring children through The Byron De'Vinner Foundation.

"The mission of the Byron De’Vinner Foundation is to allow kids throughout the Southeast the opportunity to excel whether in sports or in the classroom," De’Vinner said. "Through positive examples, we want to create better opportunities for kids to succeed in life."

Growing Up

De'Vinner was raised by his great, great grandmother, Katie Gaiters, in Calera, Ala. Life for the two of them was not easy since Gaiters only earned $400 each month to provide for the two of them. His father was not a part of his life and his mother abused him physically, mentally, and sexually from age 5 to 14 years old. At the age of six, he suffered 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns to his face due to an accident that happened while he was mowing the yard.

"I can recall the doctors advising my great-great grandmother that I would be permanently blind, and would never regain my skin tone," De’Vinner said in The Struggle to Success, his life story told in his own words. "…Grace is the only explanation for me regaining my sight and for my skin being restored."

Growing up in poverty and dealing with the trauma that his everyday life presented him, De’Vinner took his frustration and aggression out on the football field where he excelled tremendously. During his junior year the college scouts frequented Calera to observe his talents.

While he was scouted by Ole Miss and other top football programs, he admits that he forgot to focus on his education while going through all of the obstacles he faced in his childhood.

"I thought my dreams of going to college were ruined because I hadn’t applied myself the way I knew I could," De’Vinner said.

He ended up graduating from high school and attending Alabama State University. After two years, he transferred to University of Alabama at Birmingham where he played football and ran track. His then teammate and Olympic Gold Medalist Vonnetta Jeffery Flowers helped him to realize his purpose of helping children to make their dreams a reality.

The Foundation At Work

Through all of the adversity that he faced, De'Vinner set out to make a difference in the lives of children; much like his great, great grandmother did for him. He wanted to be a positive example for children that may face difficult circumstances.

According to De'Vinner, the biggest challenge in starting the foundation was getting people to take him seriously. He spoke about how some people start organizations like his for a tax break or for other selfish reasons. But everything that he does is from the heart.

“It means a lot!” said De'Vinner, excited about his work. “It is my way, for one, to show my great, great grandmother that I appreciate what she instilled in me. Also, it allows me the opportunity to give back to our youth out here. I get a blessing when a kid remembers me in the community or at their school.”

While his love of football runs deep, the one message that De'Vinner continues to convey through his foundation is the importance of education. There are several athletes that work with the foundation, but rarely do they ever talk about sports. They emphasize the primary importance education and how it will take the further than the football field.

"You can be an average athlete and get a scholarship to a major Division 1 college if you have the grades,"De'Vinner said. "Or you can be a great athlete without a good education, you won’t get a scholarship and you won’t be able to go anywhere."

This year’s football camp will be held on June 5th and 6th at Riverdale High School. Guest speakers include 2007 SEC Player of the Year, Shane Foster of Vanderbilt University; Artist and Painter for the Tennessee Titans and the SEC, Douglas Hess; and Jim Thorpe Award winner and former Cleveland Browns player, Antonio Langham.

The 3^rd Annual Youth Summit will take place on Aug. 8 at the Patterson Park Community Center in Murfreesboro. The summit brings panelists together with students to discuss issues such as drugs, alcohol, teenage pregnancy, and gang violence. The panel consists of former athletes, doctors, judges, and lawyers.

His autobiography, The Byron De’Vinner Story, is set to be released sometime in September.

"It will allow people the opportunity to really know what's behind the vision of The De'Vinner Foundation and why I started it," he said.

"Two thousand nine will be a banner year for The De'Vinner Foundation as well as my life.”

You can see De’Vinner at work as the defensive line coach at Middle Tennessee Christian School in Murfreesboro this fall. He will also be featured on an episode of The Tyra Banks Show set to air on Sept. 9.

Labels: GO Getters