Ashley Berg *Seattle's Green Real Estate Agent*

Ok, sometimes I might take it a bit overboard in my attempts to lure people to live more green. If you found offense in my post If it's Yellow, Let it Mellow. If it's Brown, Flush it Down, I hope this reading can convince you not to run away yet. Below you will find some manageable suggestions to lighten the environment's load of just a bit of our holiday-consuming-ways:

•· Buy a Recycled Costume-I mean really? Is it necessary to be the first one to wear it? Value Village has loads of used goods (although they are starting to sell more and more of those new costumes that come in the plastic bags...overlook those...there is a used section) or check out a Goodwill or your local thrift store.

•· Rent a Recycled Costume- Looking for something really unique and afraid you won't be able to find the necessary accessories at a thrift store? Check out for Champion Party Supply in Seattle for costumes that can be rented by the day.

•· Trade a Recycled Costume-I just pulled out my costume box from storage and low and behold, there are at least three different costumes there. Have a get together with a bunch of friends and trade costumes.

•· Dim the Lights: Isn't the point of Halloween to get spooked? Dim those lights and set the mood or just light candles.

•· Offer Healthy Candy Alternatives: How about offering snacks that actually do a body good? A box of organic raisins, an organic fruit bar, a granola bar, nuts, a trinket or a treasure, or an organic juice box.

•· Use a Pillow Sheet for a Candy Bag: No need to go out and buy one of those plastic pumpkins that will end up in a landfill. Pull off one of your pillow's sheets or use one of the reusable bags you use when you grocery shop (you do use those right?)

I am sure this list is just the tip of the ice-burg...

•¬ Please feel free to leave me comments with other ways we can GREEN HALLOWEEN. Everyone, please, BE SAFE and watch the streets for little ones.

Have a HAPPY HALLO-GREEN!

For more Green Living Tips or Green Real Estate in Seattle, check out LiveGreenNW.com

If you have eaten at Vios Cafe up on Capital Hill in Seattle, you know the food is good and you will be quite excited to know that there will be a second location for you to patron. Unfortunately, a well know café called the Honey Bear, once located in the Ravenna Third Place bookstore, will be giving up its spot to make room for the new eatery. For those of you who may have picked up a muffin addiction, you can still go up to the Honey Bear Bakery up North, which is located in Lake Forest Park's Third Place Books (there are two locations).

Vios Greek restaurant is sure to be a great dining replacement for the cozy, well-liked bookstore in Ravenna. The Greek sandwiches, grilled skewered lamb and chicken, hommus, tzatziki , babaganouze, rustic breads, wines, and an assortment of other food, will entice you back for more. Don't forget to finish your meal with a taste of Baklava, the true Greek dessert! Vios Cafe is a great place to bring the family with its communal type seating (at least that's how it is at their Capital Hill location) and a kid's area stocked with books and toys.

I am looking forward to experiencing the new soon-to-open Vios Café in Ravenna and I will report back when I do.

Are you interested in living in the Ravenna area? Or other Seattle Real Estate?

Contact Ashley Berg, Realty Executives BRIO,

206-854-0074, aberg@briorealty.com, your Seattle Realtor® and Ecobroker®.

Have you ever sat around in Seattle wondering what to do with yourself? You have been to the aquarium, you've been to the Space Needle, you've been to the Pike Place Market. You have done most of the touristy things. You want something new. Well, then I have the perfect day planned for you.

This is a great mission to do solo, with a friend, or with a group of friends (even children).

Go down to the Agua Verde Paddle Club in University District. Here you can rent kayaks by the hour. You have a couple of options on where to paddle to. You can paddle all the way over to Kirkland and enjoy lunch there. You can float around in the natural surroundings of the Arboretum, or you can go and check out the many houseboats we have here in Seattle. Whatever you choose, you are bound to have a great time. While it can be peaceful and relaxing being out on the water, remember, kayaking is exercise. You can and probably will burn some calories and some have been known to have sore arms the next day. However, once you arrive back to the dock to turn in your kayak, a wonderful restaurant awaits upstairs.

The Agua Verde Paddle Club Café offers a delicious array of Mexican fare, often using natural, organic ingredients. They have a mission to provide healthy food in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. What does this mean to them?

•· Meat is produced from animals raised on farms (as opposed to factories), given vegetarian feed without growth hormones or antibiotics

•· Seafood is caught or raised sustainably using eco-friendly techniques

•· Their produce is grown organically and obtained from local sources when possible

•· The coffee is shade-grown and produced by small co-ops and specially blended for Agua Verde

In addition to Agua Verde's interest in promoting good health, their food is wonderful and their Margaritas aren't too bad themselves.

What a wonderful way to end a perfect day of Seattle kayaking. SLUUUUUUUUUUUURRP!

At last, the new YMCA of Greater Seattle is open. Named after a former Senior Minister at University Congregational Church and a longtime Seattle Times columnist, the Dale Turner YMCA of Greater Seattle officially opened this past Saturday, October 4, 2008. The facility boasts 52,000 sq ft and is the first of three planned through the YMCA of Greater Seattle's $40 million campaign. The other two facilities will be in Newcastle and Seatac and have already broken ground.

The new facility features:

•¬ 25-yard, handicapped-accessible pool

•¬ State of the art wellness center

•¬ Full size gym

•¬ Indoor cycling studio

•¬ Variety of group exercise classes

•¬ Yoga & pilates

•¬ Active older adult exercise classes

•¬ Pinnacle climbing wall

•¬ Youth Development Center where kids and teens will build leadership skills

•¬ Family Center where kids and families can interact together

•¬ Family locker rooms

•¬ Total Health Room for wellness support and resources

•¬ Community Kitchen for healthy cooking demonstrations and celebrations

•¬ Adventure Zone and Kids Corner provides childcare while parents exercise

Joining and Membership Fees are as follows:

Location:

Dale Turner Family YMCA
19290 Aurora Avenue North
Shoreline, WA 98133
(206) 363-0446
Fax (206) 363-3142

While you're there checking out the new YMCA, stop by this Echo Lake, Shoreline home for sale that is just around the corner. Hey you never know, you just may fall in love with this neighborhood.

Looking for Real Estate in Shoreline or Homes for Sale in the Greater Seattle area? Like Green Homes?

Well, I made it to the zoo in the spring when the flowers first started blooming and I enjoyed myself so much, I made a vow to get back there before the weather turned too cold. A few weeks ago when we still had nice weather, I got the chance to go back. The Woodland Park Zoo is such an amazing way to get away from the buzz of the city and to help me remember how amazing nature is. My favorite animals are probably the giraffes, hippos, and the gorillas. My daughter had a wonderful experience with one of the gorillas. They were touching each other through the glass, admiring one another. Then, along came a group of men and the gorilla ran over to them and got up close to the glass and puffed his chest out as though he was protecting her. It was pretty cool. She got the chance to feed the giraffes this time around, which was also a great experience. Taking the time to relish in all of the sights, sounds, and smells of the zoo is an experience that I will never grow out of and one that I will be sure to allow my child to enjoy often. If you haven't made it to the zoo in awhile, GO! It is still open throughout the year and although the weather will be much cooler, just bundle up and go. In fact, I have never experienced the zoo in the middle of winter. I bet it offers a different opportunity than the birds-chirping, flowers blooming, baby animals running around experience I am used to, since I typically only go in the spring or summer.