Happy Weekend! Hope you're enjoying it as much as I am.
I thought I'd answer some questions---well, more like comments---
that have been popping up on this blog, other blogs and in the inbox at
dannyseo.com.
Question #1: "You talk about the environment too much."
Answer: DUH! I kid... but seriously, that's like saying Mario
Batali talks about Italian food too much.... It's my entire livelihood!
Question #2: "Just because it is green doesn't mean we should
consume it! If we have a bed that is not green - and we get rid of that
bed now or later it doesn't really matter. You shouldn't consume
another bed just because the new one is green..."
Answer: I think this comment is in response to some online news
that I've teamed up with Simmons bedding to create my own eco-friendly
healthy sleep system. It's true! It's called the Simmons Natural Care
by Danny Seo mattress. But more on that later.
In response, I will say that I never propose people toss everything
away and buy everything new just because something is green. But if
you're like me, there will come a time when you DO need to replace your
mattress. And when that time comes, isn't it better knowing there's an
eco-friendly alternative that's readily and easily available?
Question from "dede" in response to my post on recycling old shot glasses into tealights.
And dede's comment was: "Love recycling the glass, but do not love the
paraffin! Come on, Danny. You are an original soy candle man. What
happened?"
Answer: I am FOREVER a soy candle fan, so not to worry. I just had
some paraffin pillar candles I salvaged from a photo shoot I was
working on and decided to recycle them into new candles. Better to
recycle/reuse then to throw them away, I figure. But thank you Dede
for being passionate about soy! I am, too!!
Question: In response to the MANY comments and emails I'm getting about about owning two homes:
Answer: Okay, this is a trickier one. The reality is I have been
on the hunt for a new home for a while because I have simply outgrown
the current home that I live in that I also use for photo shoots and TV
shoots. AND, I totally understand that owning two homes isn't
exactly the lightest carbon footprint. So, let me explain.
The thing many people don't understand is that use my home as both a
live and work space. I craft new projects, tips and ideas right in my
home. I use it as backdrop for many photo shoots, TV programming, and
come up with all my Country Home magazine columns here. I test tips
and ideas found in my books and products like the Do Just One Thing
calendar. And now I'm using my home as inspiration for a new line of
environmentally-friendly products ranging from bedding to mattresses to
cleaning products.
So, having a designated work "space" (translation: the old house)
where my talented crew can go in and set-up lovely photo shoots and
test products is no different than housing everyone in a traditional
office building. But what's creative and lovely about an office
building? Nothing. Here, they can be as creative as possible.
(PS-It's worth mentioning my electric bill for the old house is around
$34 a month. And that's including central air in the summer and
electric heat in the winter!).
And with the new home under-going much needed restoration and
renovation, I'm helping to preserve an architecturally interesting home
that may been destined for demolition to build a McMansion in its
place. Plus, I'll be able to share all the step-by-step renovations
AND restorations to help you do the same in your home, too.
I just want to clarify that I'm not completely oblivious to the idea
of owning two homes.... but there is a much deeper and greener reason
for doing so. Hope that clarifies it all!
Question: Why don't you moderate the comments on your blog?
Answer: The only thing I do is delete obvious spam comments, for
things like gambling websites and discounts on pharmaceutical drugs. I
am sure nobody here is going to object to the deletion of those.
But for the past two years, the thousands of comments have been
pretty smart, insightful and interesting, whether they are pro's or
con's to whatever I'm posting. So, as long as it stays that way, I
see no point in moderating the comments.
Question: I can't find your Do Just One Thing Calendar anywhere! Help!
Answer: The tricky thing about the calendar business is that come
January 1st, your product is pretty much out-of-date. So, we try to
manufacture calendars based on educated guesses on what demand will be
to minimize waste. Unsold calendars, you see, become landfilled
calendars in most cases.
So we were conservative with the print run for the calendar. We totally underestimated.
My Do Just One Thing calendar has been one of the bestselling 2008
calendars of the year. In some cases, it sold out in stores in October
2007, many months before the actual calendar selling season begins.
In fact, I only have two copies in my possession! But on the
positive side, it showed there was a real demand from people who would
love a practical, informative and do-able daily tip to go green in
2008. On the negative side, a lot of people couldn't get their hands
on one.
So, to help the many people who have been emailing me, I am proud to
say we are working on a digital version that will be available free of
charge later this year. It'll be a daily e-mail reminder complete
with photos, links and helpful text to help you go green. So far,
we're calling it Daily Danny and I hope to have it up and running by
Spring 2008. Stay tuned!
