Now before you start leaving me funny comments about how Earth Day was LAST week let me begin by saying that Earth Day in our house is celebrated 365 days a year.  Since I was out of town on business last week I didn’t get a chance to write what was on my mind about Earth Day.  So today you are all going to celebrate Earth Day again…with me! 

When the very first Earth Day was celebrated I was still safely nestled inside an egg in my mothers body.  It wasn’t until a few years later that I would be welcomed onto the Earth and begin leaving my footprints on her.  I remember as a child having passion for projects – the homeless, the hungry children in Africa, the stray dogs in the neighborhood – you name it, I had to be involved.  As I got older this passion for projects turned into a career and I am now one of many who claim to be a protector of the planet.  

While I may not lead the perfect green lifestyle I do make a difference with my small changes.  I am fortunate to be able to make milke naturally for my babies and never had to feed them that fancy stuff from the cans – thus reducing their environmental footprints as well as my own.  With the birth of number two I leapt backwards into the world of cloth diapers.  What I like to look at as an archaic lifestyle has suddenly turned modern once again.  With this leap I have personally saved thousands of diapers from a lifetime sentence in the local landfill and have encouraged others to do the same.  I guess we can learn something from our parents; after all my mom used cloth on both my brother and I. 

But what more can we do today (and everyday)?  As I reflect on Earth Day 2010 and how I reached out to a few thousand employees to make small changes in the workplace; I wonder what else I can do in my own life.  So I began making a list of 40 things I can do to live a more sustainable life.  (*40 since it is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day) 

In no specific order here is my list: 

1. Reduce my paper towel dependance at home.

2. Eat more local grown foods.

3. Eat less meats and seafood.

4. Be more attentive to my families recycling.

5. Use less plastic in our lives (thanks Beth Terry for always making me cringe when I use or trash plastic!)

6. Make more homemade toys for my children.

7. Purchase less STUFF.

8. Get outside more.

9. Watch less TV (and computer, phones, etc).

10. Consider the amount of toxins that are in our families skincare products (thanks #ecowed crowd for making me cringe when I put on lotion!)

11. Attempt to garden more. (I’m a huge failure here!)

12. Compost more (again, another failure!)

13. Find a local environmental project to volunteer for. (Beach erosion or cleanup sound interesting!)

14. Reuse more of our waste products. 

15. Create a weekly trash to treasure project.

16. Blog every Thursday with a new trash to treasure project (one of my original goals of this blog).

17. Involve my family more in our green ideas around the house.

18. Take my water bottle with me more places. (Especially when I travel)

19. Use my To-Go-Ware more and carry it with me when we go out! (reusable silverware)

20. Throw away less food.  Have you ever looked at how much food we waste?

21. Recycle more paper at home. I’m bad about trashing junk mail which is probably one of our biggest wastes.

22. Spend one day a month removing myself from mailing lists; I hardly have time to read it all and never make any purchases from them.

23. Use only real and local soaps. Now more bottled bath wash.

24. Line dry more clothes.  I wonder if I could talk hubby into hanging an old fashion clothes line?

25. TRY the Diva Cup instead of tampons.

26.  Find a local farmers market and start shopping there.

27.  Pick up 40 pieces of trash each time I go to the local beach. (or anywhere really)

28.  Travel with our cloth diapers more.  I’m good on short trips but the longer trips become challenging!

29.   Watch Food, Inc (the movie) or read the book! (CHECK!)

30.  After watching Food, Inc…decide on how to change what my family eats!

31.  After watching Food, Inc…do not eat at McDonalds again!

32.  Green our bathroom renovations…if and when we get off our keesters and actually begin the projects!

33.  Buy and install a rain barrell.

34.  Replace the windows on our house to be more energy efficient.  This may be saved for next year due to the cost of the bathroom renovations.

35.  Take my son to see Disney Nature’s OCEANS! (CHECK – 5/16)

36.  Do something to help the Gulf oil spill.

37.  Get cloth diapers on The Ellen Show. #OperationFluffy!!!

38.  Convince at least one more person to use cloth diapers.

39.  Work to green my sons school and implement a recycling program on campus.

40.  Stop using dryer sheets – try wool dryer balls instead. (STARTED 5/16)

As you can see this is a work in progress.  I can’t even complete the list by thinking of 40 things.  What about you?  Could you think of 40 small things you could do to be more sustainable?  

EARTH DAY 365 PROJECT:  Create your list of 40 small changes and link to it using McLinky below.  Check back montly as I give you an update on my 40 things! 

HAPPY EARTH DAY! 

Don’t forget that tonight (Earth Day – 4/22) is the Get Real Diapers – The Inside Poop on Cloth Diapers twitter party!  If you haven’t registered yet you will want to do so before the party so you can be entered to win a Flip Ultra HD video camera from Diaper Shops and many, many, many more awesome diaper packages!

Be sure to use the hashtag (#GetRealDiapers) to follow along; all the details are available at Eco Mom Media!

Are you joining us?  Have you registered yet?  Did you invite a friend (or ten)?  Are you going to win one of the many prize packs? 

GOOD LUCK &
Tweet you then!

@TheEcoChic & @EcoMomMedia

If you have been a reader of mine since the early days you may remember my love of TerraCycle.  If not, feel free to read some of my past posts about this great company.  And despite the foul associations that are sometimes given to Wal-Mart it is our closest store for those quick items that we all need.  Now if you mix TerraCycle and Wal-Mart together and what do you get?

Great NEW TerraCycle products that can ONLY be found at EVERY Wal-Mart in the United States ONLY in April in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day!  Can you hear me screaming here people?  This is fabulous! 

As soon as they decide to fix the water main break that happened yesterday at our local Wal-Mart (which is undergoing some MAJOR renovations to bring us a Super Center!!) I am making a trip up there and will be taking pictures of the display to share with you all!  Look for it where their Easter Display use to be! 

I think my kids might just be getting some new TerraCycle gifts for Earth Day this year!  Earth Day is kinda like Easter in this house…my kids get eco-gifts on Earth Day from The Eco Chic. 

Join TerraCycleon Facebook and keep up with all the exciting things they are working on.  They even have giveaways on their Facebook page just for their fans.

Here is a great video I found on YouTube about TerraCycle!

Yes, you can win a Flip Ultra HD video camera! 

How? 

It’s simple really, just RSVP to the #GetRealDiapers party on Earth Day!  (Don’t register here…go to #GetRealDiapers on Eco Mom Media by clicking any of the links in this post!!)

Where is this party?  On Twitter…where else!  This way people all around the US and Canada (yes, even our Canadian friends can party and win) can learn about #GetRealDiapers at the same time and have all their burning questions answered LIVE by the experts in the cloth diaper industry! 

What is the party all about?  The goal of the party is to introduce cloth diapers to as many new parents as possible.  This is where most of my readers can help…we need to spread the word to parents who don’t already use cloth diapers.  Since we are the minority you should know at least one friend or family member with a baby in disposable diapers.  Or maybe you know someone who is currently expecting a baby.  We will share how today’s cloth diapers are easy, economical, and good for the enviornment.  There will be plenty of resources on hand to answer all the important questions like, “How do you wash cloth diapers?” and “How many cloth diapers do I need.”  

Prizes!  There are so many prizes for you to win.  Just for registering for the party and joining us on Twitter 4/22/10 you could win a Flip Ultra HD video camera (Retail price…$199.99).  And there’s more!  For those who are new to cloth diapers there are 3 great prize packages that will get you started with all the essentials (diapers, wipes, wet bags, and more).  You could win enough diapers to diaper you baby from birth to potty training…and you can use them on more than one baby too. 

More prizes!  Every time a friend (reader/follower/fan) of yours signs up and enters your name/username/blog name when registering you will be entered into a REFERRAL prize drawing.  Currently there are 2+ referral prize packages to win…and more to be announced!  Everyone can earn referral entries…whether you are using cloth diapers or not.  And you can earn as many referral entries as you have friends to enter! 

Want even more prizes?  Already using cloth diapers?  Help us spread the word and you can be entered into the CLOTH DIAPER ADVOCATEprize drawing!  Win one of two gift certificates for popular cloth diaper shops…and more prizes coming soon.  All you have to do is leave a comment on the main party page (not here) with a link to your blog, tweet, facebook status, etc.  Just tell us how you spread the word.  You can earn 2 advocate entries per day! 

There are 20 days until Earth Day so you could earn 40 extra entries just by tweeting about the party 2 times a day…every day!  Help us spread the word!  Be creative!  Just be sure to tell us what you did so you get credit for your effort!

GO!  Visit the party page at Eco Mom Media and start partying now!  REGISTER, TWEET, BLOG, SHARE, FORUMS, GROUPS, WORD OF MOUTH, TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW about Get Real – The Inside Poop on Cloth Diapers twitter party on Earth Day (4/22/10) at 9pm (EST).  

Have questions?  Leave a comment here, tweet me, or email me and I will by happy to clarify anything!  For a complete list of rules and prizes be sure to check out Eco Mom Media. 

New to Twitter?  Read my post on Eco Mom Media that tells you all you need to know about attending a Twitter Party!  It’s so easy that my baby could do it! (OK…maybe not my baby but my 7yr old could figure it out!)

Party hosts:  The Eco Chic and Eco Mom Media (both me!), Real Diaper Association, Bamboo Bums, and Diaper Daisy. 

Party sponsors:  Diaper Shops, Snooty Booty Diapers, Sugar Dipes, Rockin Green Soap, Cutey Baby, Soft Bums, Sweet Camo Baby, and many more to be announced!

Thanks for reading and I look forward to tweeting with you on Earth Day!   

Hello?  Hello?

Oh yes, I’m still here! March (well ok all of 2010) has been a little overwhelming.  The entire family has been sick on and off this month (yes the entire month), we’ve had birthdays, anniversaries, worried about family members, saddened by friends who lost family members, and completely crazy with all the new stuff going on with Eco Mom Media.  I have been reminded more than once this year that God won’t dish out more than I can handle…and I honestly think he’s testing me!  So today I will hug my family tight and enjoy my friends.  But I can’t stay away from this place (blogosphere) too long!

Did you know that March 27th is Earth Hour??  You have heard of Earth Hour haven’t you?  NO!  OK, so on March 27th people all around the world turn OFF their lights (and phones and computers and well…anything electric) for one hour at 8:30pm local time.  Why?  To draw attention to climate change and the fact that we all need to globally take charge and make changes in our lives.  This planet is our only one.  We only get one chance to make the right decisions.  This year should be rather fun for me…I’ll be at my parents house for the weekend…with a party going on!  They are going to LOVE me!!!  But it’s not just me, my son remembers our Earth Hour from last year where we stepped outside and played board games in the candle light as a family.  Go read more about Earth Hour and don’t worry…I’ll remind you to turn off your lights!

What else? Oh yeah April is right around the corner (scary I know!!) which means Earth Day is slowing sneaking up on us.  I have so many plans…I help organize a huge event at work each year for over 2,000 employees, I’m hosting the #GetRealDiapers Twitter Party, and I want to go see Disney Nature’s newest film Oceans!  Last year I had a date with my son to go see Earth and it was fabulous.  I can only imagine that Ocean will be even better (but I love, love, love the Ocean so I might be a little biased!).  Earth Day is always a busy time in my house! 

Here are a few pictures from my Disney escape this past weekend.  Hubby and I snuck away without the kids to celebrate our anniversary.  Wow…that was needed!  Anyways, Epcot is having their Flower and Garden Festival right now and here are some of my favorite pics.     

What are your plans for Earth Hour and Earth Day?  Anything exciting?  Leave your comments below…I’d love to hear them!

PS…No, I wasn’t compensated for anything I talked about in this post.  Just The Eco Chic talking about life!

…the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

Win It!!  Learn how to register to win your copy of This is the Day.  Details at end of post.  Congratulations to Megan, June, and PsuKlinke!  Watch your inbox for details on how to claim your book!  Thanks for reading!

While this may be one of my favorite Bible verses it is also a title of a new children’s book.  This is the Day is written by Seattle-based author, Nancy White Carlstrom and teaches children ages 4-7 to protect our Earth and its creatures.  This beautifully illustrated book takes you on a daily walk with God as you admire the ladybugs, eagles, and orca whales that He has created.  I had the pleasure of reading it with Big B last night and he really enjoyed the illustrations and couldn’t wait to see what each new day brought.  This is the Day encourages our children to recognize that creation-care is God’s calling for us to take care of the environment. 

I have often struggled with the controversy between evolution and creationism.  As a Biology student in college I was required to take a course in evolution.  There was a prominent line drawn down the middle of the classroom.  On one side there were those students who believed that creation is the only way and that by studying or believing in evolution they were betraying God.  On the other side there were those students who believed in the theory of evolution and the studies of Charles Darwin.  These students were typically not involved in church and didn’t believe in God…or chose not to follow Him.  There were also a few of us who thought the two ideas were separate and could both be correct.  I strongly believe that our God created everything that is in existence today but that doesn’t mean that our physical world cannot naturally evolve and change.  I still hold these thoughts and beliefs close to my heart today. 

The one thing I have learned from our current Pastor is that regardless of your thoughts, beliefs, values, and sins that we are all on this planet for one reason…to LOVE!  To love yourself, to love one another, and to love all the wonderful plants and animals that He has created. ” This is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.” 

Win it!  Register to win your own copy of This is the Day by leaving me a comment below.  Share with me how you are spending/spent your Earth Day. 

For extra chances to win; 1) subscribe to The Eco Chic by email, 2) link back to this post on your blog, and/or 3) follow The Eco Chic on Twitter.  Leave me a comment letting me know if you need to be registered for an extra chance so I can confirm your efforts! 

I have 3 copies of This is the Day to giveaway!  Contest is open to all residents in the United States.  Winners will be chosen using www.Random.org.  Contest ends next Wednesday at midnight (EST).  Good Luck!

And Happy Earth Day 2009!  Love to all!

With Earth Day only three days away my inbox is flooded with specials, sales, and events going on to celebrate the Earth. Today I will share just a few of my favorites.

If you live in the Tampa Bay area and don’t have plans for the day make your out to Honeymoon Island State Park for Island Earth Days. We went yesterday and had a blast. There were fun activities for the kids (all free) including face painting, paint a seashell, make a fossil, make a sock puppet, and more. There were also great festival food, good music, and eco-vendors. Some local agencies and environmental groups set up exhibits to help educate both the young and old on how to be a responsible citizen. I was a proud mamma when Big B asked a million questions about sea urchins to one of the Department of Environmental Protection employees. We are all looking forward to reading (and reviewing) our new books by Michael Sterns, Kokopelli & the Butterfly and Kokopelli & the Island of Change. What we expected to be an hour of our day turned into a 4 hour visit to the park and beach. I love Florida!

Painting Seashells

Ecostore USA has a FREE SHIPPING offer for all orders $25 and more. I need to order some more Baby Nappy Balmfor Little B. If you happen to be in the Cincinnati area on Earth Day join Disney as they promote Ecostore USA with Ecoman (Malcolm Rands) at his Meijer store tour. Listen to the Cincinnati Meijer Radio Disney to hear more. This promotion will coincide with the premier of the new Disney movie Earth. The first 25 moms or dads that ask Malcolm the Ecoman A question will receive an organic Ecostore T-Shirt. There will be entertainment for the kids while mom and dad ask Malcolm ( Ecoman) questions. (4/22 Cincinnati – Harrison Road from 4-6 PM)

Like I said, I have many more emails and specials I could share with you all but I’m going to go spend the rest of my day enjoying my family. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy your Earth Day 2009! I’d love to hear what you are doing to celebrate Earth Day. Just leave me a comment below!

Looking for something to do this weekend in the Tampa Bay area?  Then join me at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin, FL.  Little B hasn’t experienced the Island yet so it’s perfect timing!  They are holding their annual Island Earth Days celebration this Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm. 

 This year’s festivities include music, entertainment, kayak racing and more.  There will be environmental vendors and artists, lots of food & drinks, and an environmental education area for the whole family.  I may even get the stroller out and take a guided nature walk.

ONE WEEK UNTIL EARTH DAY 2009!  How will you be celebrating the day?

UPDATE:  Due to lack of interest this event will be postponed!  More info to come soon!  Thank you for your interest; however limited it was. 

This Earth Day you are invited to join The Eco Chic and other families across the United States as we celebrate this wonderful planet that we live on. The goal of this swap is to 1) meet other eco-minded families in a different state, 2) send an eco-friendly care package to one family, 3) find creative ways to REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE, and 4) share creative ways to educate our children about how to take care of the planet Earth.

Ideally the care packages would be made up of items that are found (from nature), handmade, reused, or recycled. Your care package might include a short lesson related to the environment. You can be as creative as you like. If you choose to purchase items (eco-books for example) we encourage you to purchase gently used items. Please keep your total investment under $10 plus shipping.

We will accept a total of 50 families for this swap. Families of all sizes are welcome to participate. We will make our best efforts to partner you with a family of similar size and age. This swap is best for families with children from ages 0-10.

Your commitment for this swap:
1. Post information about your family and how you will celebrate Earth Day 09 on the Kids Eco-Swap blog site.
2. Email your swap partner and introduce your family and share any special considerations (vegetarian, BPA free, no plastic toys, etc) that you would like your partner to know about you and your family.
3. Ship one small package to your swap partner by April 22 (Earth Day) 2009.
4. Acknowledge receipt of your package with either an email or Thank You card/letter.
If you choose to do more that is great but this is the minimum requirements for this swap.

To join in please send an email to theecochic@gmail.com. Please include your name, name and age of your children, their ages and genders, your location, and any special considerations that may be used to help partner you with the perfect family. Also please include how you heard about this swap. The deadline to sign up is Monday, April 13th, 2009 at midnight (EST) unless we receive our goal of 50 participants prior to that date. In order to keep our environmental footprint small I will try to partner you with a family in a nearby State if possible. At this time this swap is only open for residents in the United States for this same reason.

Please feel free to post this information on your blog to help spread the news of the swap. We look forward to celebrating Earth Day 2009 with you and your families. Email me with any questions.