Tess seems up for the challenge of conceiving “green” content for this issue, as she has already made some really interesting book and website suggestions. I figure she must be a pretty eco-minded gal so I decided to ask her a few questions on the matter.

Welcome, Tess!

Q: What are your top 3 green habits?

A: “I compost at home–no throwing away any vegetable matter. In fact, when I’m away from my parent’s suburban home, I frequently cringe before tossing whatever food item it is in the trashcan. I’m quite conscious about water usage, too. In fact, I used to irritate my sister when I yelled at her to turn the faucet way, way down as she was waiting for the water to warm up to wash her face. (Though full disclosure: I need to improve my water usage in the shower) To many people’s disgust, I also follow that terrible phrase “if it’s yellow, let it mellow.” I’m pretty stingy with my heat usage, especially when I was living in my Pittsburgh apartment. This is in large part due to my frugal finance tendencies, but it’s certainly environmentally sound, too.”

Q: When you were living in Pittsburgh, what were some of the ways in which you were environmentally conscious?

A: “I biked which I miss, though the hills were no joking matter! I enjoyed the mobility a lot. In general, I rarely shopped at stores other than some variety of a thrift store. Again, this was part financially dictated, part my exercising consumer control.”

Q: What is the one bad-for-the-environment habit that bugs you most?

A: “Some of my closest loved ones would say I’m neurotic and a bit of a control freak when it comes to people’s use of paper products. My old roommates used to hate my blatant judgment of their paper towel usage. I also, much to my father’s disdain, won’t throw out a tissue until that tissue use is properly maximized.”

Stay tuned: Our interns will soon have their own blogs so check back again!

The three interns of Running in Heels: Ashley, Talita, & Samantha

Ah, yes another real-life saga of three young women pitted against each other to be considered the best in their respective position at work, which happens to be the internship position at Marie Claire magazine on the wild and ruthless island of Manhattan. This newest drama-filled look at what goes on behind-the-scenes at a national magazine, Running in Heels is currently airing on the Style network on Sundays (sometime, not sure when because I have now mastered my digital recording device and it just records it whenever it is on.)

The three interns Ashley, Talita, and Samantha not only share office space at the magazine, but also a trendy downtown loft. When did interns start getting room and board, anyway? But of course they would as it provides the perfect scenario for the scheming and conniving to occur 24-7. I am certain this is not at all a contrived storyline as there always seems to be two fabulous openings for interns at a photo shoot and three interns, or two tickets to Rock & Republic and three interns. Hmmm?

Alas, it is true that these young women are exposed to the best society and fashion has to offer: tickets to Fashion Week, soireés with big-name designers, and exposure to a closet full of to-die-for, fabulous fashions.

Of course, I am hoping OUR Style intern Becca doesn’t get wind of this show, for she will surely see the reality of her own situation. I hesitate as I say there may be a few differences between the MC internship and the LVS internship. For one thing, we don’t offer lodging at LVS, but a guy used to live here in a room we converted into a conference room. We called it the “Bat Cave.” So technically she could sleep in there if she wanted to. Does that count? Right now she is driving from Allentown to our offices in Palmer Township. So maybe she would take us up on that.

Perhaps she would delight in the comp tickets we get to the Philadelphia Flower Show in lieu of Fashion Week? Oh, and everyday Becca has the opportunity to meet a virtual whirlwind of delivery service people: the tall, dark (brown uniform) and stressed UPS guy, the “here-because-it-breaks-down-every-week” copier repair person, and an our official government rep, a.k.a., the mailman.

And our closet— it’s just jammed with famous-maker copy paper, frayed sweater fashions from administrative assistants gone-by, and a plethora of pleather camera bags- ah, the caché of dusty vinyl.

Yes, it’s all here behind the scenes of our monthly lifestyle magazine. Just don’t tell Becca.