Happy Earth Day! Today is the day we need to celebrate the Earth and all of the wonderful gifts it provides for us.

We do not think about how we impact the Earth but for one day it would be great if we could all do one small thing to show how much we care about the place we live. You can even start and end with it happening in the kitchen. You will be amazed at how even cooking can make an impact in the environment.

Instead of buying food today try using the leftovers you have in the fridge or the food that you have already previously purchased. However, if you do buy food today make sure you are more aware of where it is coming from, try to buy locally and make sure you know what farm it is coming from.

If you have leftovers from your meal try coming up with a good way to get rid of it instead of just throwing it out, whether it is taking it to a food shelter or keeping it to make compost out of, there is always a way to make use of extra food.

There are many clever recipes to use for your leftover food. Whether you have pasta or ham or mashed potatoes you can always make something new, from ham soup to pasta bake to mashed potato pancakes.

If you need help getting started or have no idea how to use the leftovers you have should check out this site to get fabulous ideas on how to reuse your food http://greatist.com/health/leftovers-meals-healthy-recipes

Do something good today, be kind to our Earth, make something delicious out of the food you already have and be thankful that we live in such a beautiful place.

Here is a recipe I love to use when I have extra pasta and sauce in my fridge! The best thing about this recipe is you can add anything you have from vegetables such as tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini to different proteins such as shrimp, sausage or pepperoni. As long as you already have it you can use it!

Pasta Bake

Ingredients

• Pasta (whatever you have)
• All of your leftover sauce (if none you can use butter or olive oil or check out the recipe below)
• Any cheese you have in your fridge
• Sausage or meat (if you have it)
• Basil (dried or fresh, only if you have it)
• Garlic salt
• Pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Mix the pasta, sauce, most of the cheese and seasonings into a glass baking dish
3. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top
4. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling

There you go, a simple, easy and delicious meal that you can make with leftovers!

If you don’t happen to have sauce lying around here is a easy recipe to make your own!

Pasta Sauce

Ingredients

• Tomatoes
• Tomato sauce
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• White wine (optional)

Directions

1. Cut up the tomatoes
2. Add olive oil and garlic to a sauté pan
3. Add tomatoes, sauce and white wine to pan
4. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer until sauce has thickened.

Happy Earth Day!

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Here are three ways your family can create positive environmental change starting today.

Recycle

Research shows that less than 2 percent of waste in the United States is recycled, yet almost half of all trash can be recycled. School lunches are one source of waste that most families don’t consider. These are packed each morning and tossed away each afternoon once lunchtime is finished.

To increase awareness of recycling options during lunch, Entenmann’s Little Bites Snacks has partnered with the recycling and upcycling experts at TerraCycle for the “Turn Trash to Cash” program, giving students the chance to recycle their Little Bites snack pouches and earn money for their school. TerraCycle can recycle the pouches to create products like tote bags, pencil cases and even picnic benches.

You can learn more about the campaign by visiting TerraCycle on Facebook.

Protect water resources

Water is one of the most important resources people have, yet every year billions of gallons are needlessly wasted. You can conserve water in your home by teaching your children to take shorter showers or baths, turning off dripping faucets and avoiding letting the water run while they are brushing their teeth.

You can also reduce water waste in your home by investing in water-saving appliances and by reducing or eliminating the practice of watering your lawn, relying on rain to do so instead.

Help plant a tree

Few things are as beautiful as a tall, healthy tree. But trees are more than just a beautiful backdrop, as they are also essential to the environment. Here are four reasons why from the Arbor Day Foundation:

1. Trees help clean the air. They improve the quality of the air you breathe by capturing dust and pollution particles that can affect your health.

2. Trees help fight climate change. As trees grow, they remove greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from the air, store carbon, and release pure oxygen into the atmosphere.

3. Trees planted along waterways can help filter out chemicals that might otherwise wash to water sources. They also can create stable soil and help prevent soil erosion, flooding and even landslides.

4. Trees properly planted around a home can help lower air conditioning and heating costs by up to 25 percent.

This year Entenmann’s is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation for the Little Bites’ Earth Day Sweepstakes. For every entry, fan or not, received through the Little Bites Facebook page, Entenmann’s will donate $1 to the Arbor Day Foundation to plant a tree – up to 25,000 trees in total. The sweepstakes starts March 1. You can learn more at the Little Bites Facebook page.

Environmentally friendly habits are easy to pick up and they can be a great way to bond with your children on a shared project while developing lifelong habits. So don’t wait another minute! Start your family down the eco-friendly path today.

*BPT

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Sure, it’d be great if we could all convert our cars to biodiesel and go off-the-grid, but let’s be real—those kinds of eco-friendly overtures are too much work for the average person. Happily, making a positive impact on the Earth begins with small steps! In honor of Earth Day, we gathered a list of five easy eco-friendly ideas for greening your life that, even if your pockets aren’t flush with Franklins or your time is tied up, you’ll find easy to embrace.

Cup O’ No

Image via Amazon

If you use just one disposable coffee cup a day, you’ll generate 23 pounds of waste each year. And, that doesn’t even include the 500 plastic cups used and tossed by the average American office worker each year. These stats become all the more staggering when you think about how simply this waste can be avoided. Start bringing your own mug to the office and your local coffee shop in lieu of using the paper and styrofoam cups. Some coffee shops offer you a discount for bringing your own drinkware, and that minute you spend washing out your cup each day makes for a great, super socially acceptable excuse to take a break from that nagging spreadsheet.

Bright Idea

Image via Graphics Keeper

You’ve probably heard compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs have a lighter impact on the Earth than their incandescent counterparts, but did you know that they can be good for your budget, too? Unlike incandescents, CFLs efficiently convert the bulk of the energy they use into light (instead of heat). This means they use 75% less electricity, last up to 10 times longer, and save you a surprisingly high average of $83 over the course of each bulb’s life!

To really up your ante, switch to LED light bulbs. True, they’re a more expensive option, but if LEDs were to duke it out with CFLs over efficiency, they’d win best in class.

Say ‘Nah’ to Napkins

Image via Georgia Pacific

When was the last time you ate out and grabbed a handful of napkins to neaten yourself with? Could you have made do with fewer? Maybe these facts will help you definitively say yes: Over the course of a year, the average American uses a staggering 2,200 napkins. That’s about six per day. If each of us used one less napkin per day, we’d prevent a BILLION pounds of napkins from going to the trash.

Pull the Plug

Image via Freeport Press

Did you know that gadgets use energy when they’re plugged in even if they’re not being used or are turned off? This ‘phantom energy’ amounts to about 10% of the average person’s electricity use (and bill!). Unplug items—toasters, computers, lamps, etc.—you don’t expect to use every day, or invest in a few good powerstrips whose switch you can flick off whenever its resident electronic aren’t in use.

Green Kid Care Tips

Image via German American International School

Talk to neighborhood parents and organize a school carpool. Not only will you get a break several times a week from dropping the kids off, but you’ll save on gas costs and cut down on emissions. Carpools also work great for your ride to work. You’ll get to chat with coworkers and zip into the office using the super-speedy HOV lanes that exist on your route.

If you have an infant, cut out those plastic-y, chemically produced nappies and switch to cloth diapers. Why? Well, throughout a kid’s diaper wearing days, parents send about 8,000 diapers to the dump if using conventional diapers. That equates to 3.5 million tons of waste each year in the U.S. alone! Sure, it may seem a bit icky at first, but you’ll adjust quickly — and save tons of cash in the process.

There are tons more ideas for small eco-friendly habit changes that can make a big difference online, so poke around once you’ve mastered these 5 habits! And, if you have any Earth-saving habits of your own that you think folks would fall for, share them below!

Sources: Carry Your Cup, Better Homes and Gardens, How Stuff Works, and Environmental Protection Agency

The post 5 Easy Eco-Friendly Ideas for Greener Living appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Children Inspire Design (www.childreninspiredesign.com) is a line of modern, eco-friendly and culturally diverse artwork designed to teach compassion for our earth and all who inhabit it. Each piece incorporates repurposed paper materials, soy inks, and biodegradable packaging.

Global Compassion (28×18) – $40

Protect Our Water (8×10) – $22

Peacock (11×14) – $30

Bear (8×10) – $22

Lakeshore (www.lakeshorelearning.com) is known for its exceptional educational products found in schools and homes across the country! Lakeshore has been around for over 60 years and has 59 stores nationwide and they understand the importance of early education for little ones.

Bamboo Building Blocks ($39.99) Environmentally friendly building blocks—crafted from real bamboo! Designed to help preserve Earth’s resources, each block is made of rapidly renewable bamboo that’s both durable & lightweight—making them perfect for block play. And the pieces come in a variety of imagination-inspiring shapes, including natural-looking columns, roofs, bridges and more. Longest piece is 8″. Set of 42 pieces. (preschool – 2nd grade / 3 yrs. – 7 yrs.)

Learn To Recycle! Activity Kit ($24.95) As children place cute picture tiles into our miniature recycling bins, they learn to reduce, reuse and recycle—and practice sorting! 6 different recycling bins each come with 8 sturdy chipboard tiles showing items that can be recycled. Children just drop each tile into the slot on the corresponding bin…then check their answers on back! Sturdy chipboard bins measure 3″; with a total of 48 tiles. (pre-k – 3rd grade / 4 yrs. – 8 yrs.)

Color Match Learning Garden ($29.99) Color-matching skills bloom in our soft-sewn garden! Our 12″ garden has five bright colors right on front. Tots just find the flower and insect pieces that match each color—and stick them on! Includes 10 machine-washable pieces that easily attach with hook & loop fastener. (infant – preschool / 9 mos. – 3 yrs.)

Earth & Environment Theme Box ($49.99) Children learn all about the Earth and its environment…with comprehensive, hands-on lessons that span the curriculum! From wood samples and rock specimens to recycling bins and sorting cards, our theme box is packed with materials that help children explore the natural world—and learn how to protect it. Plus, you get a guide with tons of involving activities that cover 10 curriculum areas—from math to dramatic play. Materials come in a plastic tub. (preschool – kindergarten / 3 yrs. – 5 yrs.)

Earth Science Exploration Center ($49.99) Bring earth science to life—right in your classroom! Our center includes all the hands-on materials children need to explore Earth’s most fascinating phenomena—as they make snow, create thunder, cause a volcanic eruption and make a tornado. Plus, we’ve included 4 photographic cards that explain the science behind each event—and include a variety of hands-on activities to extend the learning! The thunder tube measures 8 1⁄2″ long. Develops skills in conducting simple investigations, making predictions and exploring attributes. (pre-k – 3rd grade / 4 yrs. – 8 yrs.)

Seasons & Weather Folder Game Library ($19.99) Boost skills across the curriculum—with independent folder games children love to play! Our library features 6 fun, seasons & weather-themed games that boost skills in language, math, social studies and science. Children simply grab a color-coded folder and corresponding pouch of tiles…follow the simple, 3-step instructions to complete the activity…then check their answers for instant reinforcement! 6 self-checking games cover the alphabet, patterning, counting to 20, what goes together, hot & cold and dressing for the weather. Folders measure 9 1/4″ x 11 5/8″. (preschool – kindergarten / 3 yrs. – 5 yrs.)

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From an early age, children can roll up their sleeves and get involved in helping reduce the amount of trash they produce by participating in recycling programs. Across the country, children will celebrate Earth Day April 22 with science fairs and environmental educational seminars about the importance of recycling. When children start recycling early in life, they’re more likely to continue that behavior as they get older – and pass the practice on to their own kids.

Recycling is a growing program in households, cities and schools across the country. In fact, Americans recycled 82 million tons of materials in 2009 – the most recent year for reported data, and that number keeps increasing, according to Keep America Beautiful.

School programs are a great way to not only promote recycling in younger generations, but also to create a fundraiser for the schools. This year, as Earth Day approaches April 22, schools can organize aluminum can drives and participate in cash-for-schools programs based on recycling lunch packaging. One such program is The Recycle…Reuse…Replenish Earth Day Campaign which encourages school children to recycle their Entenmann’s Little Bites Pouches with TerraCycle, resulting in cash back to the school.

In addition, here are some more recycling, reusing and replenishing tips, perfect for school children to promote every lunch day at the school.

Recycle:

• Know your numbers – Teach your children to look for numbers and recycling symbols on plastic containers to know which containers can be reused through a recycling program.

• Sign up for cash back programs – Sign up your school for the TerraCycle program – if it’s not already registered – and have your children recycle their Little Bites pouches each lunch hour. Visit www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades.html to find a listing of other lunch items TerraCycle collects.

Reuse:

• Keep the container – Send your children to school with their daily sandwich packaged in a reusable container they can bring home and use again the next day. Let them decorate the container to make it a personal item to show off at lunch.

• Craft material supplies – Before throwing anything away, teach your children to think about how the material might be reused in a crafting project. TerraCycle provides several do-it-yourself project ideas at www.terracycle.com/en-US/do-it-yourself-projects.html.

Replenish:

• Have leftovers? – Set up a compost pile at home, and give your children a lesson in biodegradable foods. Ask them to bring leftovers that are biodegradable home in their sandwich container to add to the compost pile.

• Grow new lunch materials – Give your children a small garden to plant and tend that contains their favorite vegetables. Show them how beneficial their lunch compost is for growing those plants they can eat at future lunches.

Entenmann’s will be giving away weekly prizes, including Little Bites coupons home improvement gift cards for starting an Earth Day garden, and a $5,000 cash grand prize through a sweepstakes link at www.facebook.com/Entenmanns. Register your school now for a chance to win the prize and build a beautiful Earth Day garden.

Help teach your children the importance of the three R’s: recycle, reuse and replenish. The earlier they start, the more likely they’ll be to participate the rest of their lives.

*BPT

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Whether stopping in for a daily to-go cup of coffee or running your weekly grocery store trip, you likely have many purchases throughout the day.

With Earth Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to reflect on your own personal impact on the environment and the world around you. Because so many consumer habits can have a negative effect on the planet, it’s important to take steps to reduce this trend.

“There are many ways to support the green movement,” said Hillary Femal, vice president of marketing for IFCO, the world’s leading producer of eco-friendly Reusable Produce Containers. “But the easiest way is to become an educated consumer.”

BE A GREEN CONSUMER

As a sustainable shopper, you can do your part to cut down on the amount of waste filling landfills and other environmental dangers. Here are a few steps you can implement in your own daily routine or whenever you’re out shopping:

• Know Your Grocer: Many companies and grocers are taking steps to provide greener solutions for the display of their products, such as produce. Recycling cardboard boxes used to display produce is good, but according to the EPA, reuse is better. That’s why many grocers use Reusable Produce Containers (RPCs). Grocers can use and reuse these containers to ship, store and display fresh produce – all in an environmentally friendly way that reduces waste.

• Understand Your Brands: Educate yourself on whether your favorite brands and fresh produce growers support green initiatives. Village Farms is a greenhouse grower of fresh tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers that focuses on green agricultural practices from the farmer to your plate. Village Farms and many other growers choose to use RPCs to pack fresh fruits and vegetables safely from their fields. From there they ship the RPCs to major retailers across the country and the containers keep the produce safe and fresh throughout the journey.

• Choose to Reuse: Keep in mind that recycling is a start, but reuse is smart. You can choose to reuse by choosing products with eco-friendly or reusable packaging and shopping at retailers displaying their fresh produce in RPCs. This packaging is not only good for the fruits and veggies you love, but it’s also great for you and the planet.

• Support Grocers that Reduce Waste: Some specialty food stores may be well known for their green standards, but many major food retailers are also making green choices. Many choose to provide produce brands, such as Village Farms, who recognize the importance of reducing waste when shipping their products and choose RPCs to reduce waste, energy and greenhouse gas emissions. These stores are also able to display the produce directly in their containers, getting even more use out of them and showing their commitment to environmental conservation.

• Bag it Up: According to the EPA, thousands of plastic and paper shopping bags are thrown away every year. Help cut down on this extra waste by using reusable cloth bags for your purchases. Keep them with you in your car, so they’re always handy for shopping trips to the grocery store, drug store or anywhere else you frequently shop.

So, the next time you’re spending the green in your wallet, think about how to make green choices with the products you buy. Visit www.choosereuse.org to learn about Reusable Produce Containers and support and share the cause with your friends by following Choose to Reuse on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

*Family Features 

*Photo courtesy of Getty Images

The post Make Every Day Earth Day appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

(BPT) – Home is the place a person can always escape for some rest and relaxation. This year, celebrate Earth Day by upgrading your home to be a place that also helps you conserve water and be a better environmental steward.

Technology has come a long way in improving performance and efficiency in household fixtures, especially when it comes to water usage. There are many ways you can update your home’s water-using fixtures – without sacrificing quality, comfort or design:

* Choose brands you trust. If you are planning to replace a number of fixtures in your home, look to a manufacturer that is committed to water conservation and innovation. For nearly 100 years, TOTO has innovated to make people’s lives better and protect the environment, as embodied in its PeoplePlanetWater philosophy. TOTO‘s beautiful, innovative designs perform flawlessly while respecting the plant and honoring our water supply.

* Replace your toilet with an ultra-high-efficiency model. Older toilet models can consume up to 27 percent of a household’s daily water usage, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. When replacing a toilet, look to install products made from high-quality materials that have a low impact on the environment. TOTO’s dual flush NEOREST 550H consumes only one gallon of water for the full flush, and a modest 0.8 gallons for the light flush. In addition, the NEOREST 550H uses electrolyzed water, which has a slightly acidic pH value – to kill bacteria and clean the bowl – helping homeowners reduce their use of harsh cleaning products, which benefits the environment and saves money.

* Make easy enhancements. Replacing a showerhead is a relatively effortless upgrade, but can certainly help reduce the amount of water used each week in your household. Showers are traditionally the third largest water-consuming appliance in the household. Look for a replacement showerhead that boasts the WaterSense label, as these products are at least 20 percent more water-efficient. Encourage your family to shower in under 10 minutes to further reduce the amount of water you use.

* See improvements with a low flow faucet. Installing a low flow faucet into your bathroom can not only help you decrease your water usage, but also add style as well. The Wyeth Single Handle High-Efficiency Faucet is WaterSense certified and has a flow rate of a mere 1.5 gallons per minute. A transitional design, this faucet appears to float above the sink and features a sleek, easy-to-use handle. Take water conservation a step further in your home by always shutting the water off when not in use – for example, while brushing teeth.

* Minimize splashing. When using the bathroom sink, a lot of splashing around can occur. Water that ends up on the floor or the rest of the lavatory sink is wasted water, and then will require cleaning – a thankless task. TOTO has designed the Curva Self-Rimming Lavatory to help contain splashing thanks to its contemporary style and overhanging lip that delivers water effectively where it belongs – in the sink. This lavatory is also made using sustainable manufacturing processes.

Conserving water and protecting the planet using TOTO and other water-saving products not only can help you create a relaxing ambiance in your home, but also gives you a mental pat on the back knowing you are reducing your environmental footprint.

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Give back and give to yourself this Earth Day with Naya Shoes’ stylish spring sandals! For every pair of the Naya Zephyr or Zenobia styles purchased this season, one tree will be planted in Colorado. The brand has teamed up with non-profit organization Plant-It 2020 to support Colorado’s reforestation efforts after last year’s devastating wildfire damage through the “Buy It. Plant It.” campaign. What better way to help the environment than by adding a cute new pair of shoes to your spring wardrobe?

 You can find both the Zephyr and the Zenobia at Shoes.com. 

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS AWAY?       

Little Lee and little Lou sat by a lake sharing a bottle of juice.

It was a warm sunny day and the birds were at play and we

smiled as we watched mama goose.

As we finished the drink Lou pulled back his arm and said”

I’m gonna throw it AWAY.”

I said “Stop Lou, think!  Before we make a mistake!

Where in the world is AWAY?”

“If we throw it in the lake

it’s gone for today, but is that really AWAY?”

Not for the frogs who hip hop on the logs

or the fish who jump up in the air.

Or the little teeny things

that live off the greens that grow on the bottom down there.

All of our spills just fill up their gills

and it’s really hard to breathe with no air.

They play hide and go seek, and think school is cool

so we shouldn’t make a mess down there…

The self-published book will be available in hardcover with digital copies to follow.  It comes with a humorous read along CD featuring Franti, his son Ade, friend Addison Savage, singer Jolene Rust, and Spearhead band mate J Bowman. Retail price for the hardcover physical copy is $19.99. www.whereintheworldisaway.com

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Big City Vegan – Vegan Pride iPhone 4 Slider Case

Take a massive bite out of your carbon footprint by eating plants instead of animals. Being vegan is a way to show animals and Mother Earth some love. Talk, text and tweet while spreading an eco-friendly vegan message with this fun pro-vegan iPhone 4 Slider Case.

Price: $25

www.cafepress.com/bigcityvegan

 Taryn Reed – Leafy Love Necklace

This earth-inspired necklace by Taryn Reed is created using sterling silver chain with black Tourmaline stones meant to compliment the handmade “For the love of…” pendants available in Birds, Leafy Love or Roses & Daisies.

Price: $150

www.tarynreed.com/Store/

Sprout Watches

Earth Day around the corner (April 22^nd) and what better way to count down to the big day than by wearing a sustainable and chic timepiece from Sprout Watches — Sourcing sustainable materials to make each timepiece, the watches are constructed from: biodegradable corn resin, organic cotton, fish leather straps, mineral crystal lenses, mercury-free batteries, conflict-free diamonds, bamboo, mother-of-pearl, Tyvek and cork.  This year Sprout pledged to plant a tree for every watch purchased from their site, in honor of Earth Day. This is part of their collaboration with Trees for the Future, a wonderful non-profit dedicated to helping communities plant trees around the world.

Price: $65

http://www.sproutwatches.com/product

Cindy Miller Designs – Organic Silver Ring with Lapis Accent

 Created using Precious Metal Clay which is 99% pure silver. The organic quality of the design is the result of dragging and shaping the clay while wet then firing to a metal state.

Price: $175

Contact artist for purchase: cmiller@cindymiller.com

Susan Nichole – Roxy in Silver

 Think you can’t be stylish and green all at once? Well, think again… Meet Roxy from Susan Nichole! Roxy brings the bling with over 1,000 rhinestones and rivets while still being vegan, animal and earth friendly. On the outside there’s supple vegan leather. On the inside there’s a cool zebra print lining made from recycled water and soda bottles. Put it all together and Roxy is one hot mama!

Price: $175

www.susannichole.com/store

Matt & Nat – Elise wallet in Birch

Graphic and modern with a vintage undertone, MATT & NAT’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection is a unique blend of fashion, ethics and utility. Known for their stylish, practical shapes and their bold color use, the accessory line puts a strong emphasis on environmental awareness; Linings inside MATT & NAT products are always made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles.

MATT & NAT is carried in boutiques across Canada, the United States, U.K., and Japan.

Price: $54

http://www.mattandnat.ca/product/elise-birch-3305/

 Allison Eastman Britt  – AEB Design

Reclaimed silver is turned into fine silver (99.9% pure) stacking rings.  Scrap silver is melted down and refined, then used to create new pieces.  Each ring is handcrafted by Allison Eastman Britt.  Wear them on their own or in multiples.

Price: $17 each or $15 each when a purchase of two or more.

www.allisoneastmanbritt.com/

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