The Green, The Bad and The Ugly

I'll Have A Grande, Cafe Attitude with Extra Waste

2012-02-08T11:59:00.000-05:00

The old saying is fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. What is it if you fool me 400 times?

That's my relationship with Starbucks. Actually, my relationship with the coffee giant is more like the definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

In past blogs, I've talked about their use of the small, plastic plugs in their cup covers to prevent spillage, the cardboard sleeves slipped over the reusable mug and the making of my drink in a cup which is then poured into my reusable mug.

But the other day was the visit that broke the camel's back.

I was craving a Peppermint Mocha. I handed my reusable mug over to the barista with my instructions: non-fat milk and no whip.

She took the mug, placed it down on the counter, then grabbed a paper cup and wrote my order on it.

"Excuse me...but did you just use another cup to write down my order?"

She looked at me blankly. "Yes."

I felt my blood pressure rising. I tried to take some deep breaths.

"I'm sorry but I gave you a reusable mug. The whole point of the reusable mug is to not use paper and save the trees!"

But she didn't care. She called the next customer over and told me to wait "over there" for my drink.

"I want to cancel my order and speak to your manager."

The manager came over and I told him the story. His reply was a simple "She's not supposed to do that," followed by "The cup won't go to waste. Those are the cups we use."

Can you say "contradiction"?

I knew at that moment that this was a regular practice. And it still didn't solve the tree problem, which I pointed out. By this time, the barista was not a happy camper and she began to yell at me. "I don't give a damn about the planet!" To which I replied "You will when there's no planet left for you or your kids!"

At this point I knew that it was time to exit the store. I took my cup back - sans the Peppermint Mocha. I was not about to give my $5 to a place that didn't give a crap about our planet.

From that moment on I decided to boycott the coffee chain. I figured out how to make my own peppermint mocha using organic, fair-trade coffee and cocoa.

The next time you go into an establishment with your own cup, take a look behind the counter. Are they really using your mug?

Or are they fooling you too?

Have Yourself A Sustainable Little Christmas

2011-12-09T14:42:00.000-05:00

The other morning I boarded the bus to work and found my favorite seat. The bus quickly became very crowded, as it usually does, and two women parked themselves right up against me.

Trying to avoid being hit by their designer handbags, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation.

One woman began to tell her friend about a colleague who had started a company that sold great sustainable gifts.

I immediately perked up and wasn't as offended by their bag nearly missing my head.

Her friend quickly interrupted her and said, "Now what exactly does 'sustainable' mean?"

I was horrified that this seemingly intelligent, well-dressed woman had no idea what 'sustainable' meant. It’s not a hard word to understand. But maybe it’s hard to know how to apply. And then I thought, how many others don't know?

Webster’s defines sustainability as “a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.”

My definition is along the lines of “ Has this gift's production made sure a tree is gone forever?” or “How long will this stay in our landfill?”

Materials like bamboo, cork, hemp and organic cottons are great choices for sustainable items such as clothing, flooring, and accessories.

Talking about sustainability around the holiday season is super important. Each year we spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on token, mass-produced gifts for family and friends. But do we stop to think about the resources it took to make those things?

This year, I found myself doing more of my shopping on sites like Etsy and eBay, or visiting the local, artisan holiday market. Buying used or hand-crafted items is a much better, unique solution and way more sustainable.

As you shop this holiday season, consider these two questions for each gift you're looking at:

1) Do I (they) really need it?
2) What did it have to go through to get to me/them?

Sustainability can also include gifts that aren't physical objects, like saving a tiger or adopting a manatee. There's nothing more sustainable than making a donation to an organization in your loved one's name.

And when you sit down to wrap those great, sustainable gifts, try and use recycled or re-used gift wrap. Or wrap it in something else like an organic cotton dish towel or pillow case. (I've gone from someone who used to be offended if gift wrapping wasn't nice to someone who's bothered if it's there at all!)

Our precious Mother Earth is sustainable, but only if we sustain it. Let's make the holiday season The Most Sustainable Time of the Year. Happy Sustainability!

The Seven Year Pen

2011-10-27T15:12:00.001-04:00

When I was in 6th grade, there was a kid named Matt who always tipped back on his chair and chewed pens. And as sure as the sun will rise, that pen always exploded in his mouth. He would always be leaving class to head to the boys room to clean up the blue mess left behind on his face.

I can only imagine how happy Bic or Papermate was by this act of constantly having to replace his exploded pen.

And I can only imagine the disappointment of Mother Earth that another pen was headed to the landfill.

Now that I'm married, I face a similar problem. A husband who is a writer who keeps a pen/pen cap in his mouth and leaves mangled pieces of plastic all over the apartment.

But honestly, how often do we even think of these things? It's a pen. It's meant to have a short life. And it's so small, how could it possibly matter if it ends up in the landfill?

But it does matter.

On average, Americans throw away 1,600,000,000 pens every year!

Did you just pull that pen out of your mouth? I did.

But now there is a solution. The Seven Year pen!

My friend recently introduced me to this gem of a pen and I'm in love with the idea. I won't need to buy another pen till I'm...well...let's not go there.

I dare Matt to try and chew this pen...that would be a lot of ink to clean off his face!

And no pen caps...even better! I won't be picking up mangled pieces of dead pen carcus. And think of the money you'll save.

You can get your Seven Year Pen on the Seltzer website. I was very excited to see that Seltzer was carrying these pens as they have a lot of other cool, eco-friendly stationary stuff. I love this site and I hope you will too!

Happy writing!

An Apple A Day

2011-10-06T11:08:00.000-04:00

Last night when I heard the news that Steve Jobs passed away, I became overwhelmed with sadness. With all that is going on with Occupy Wall Street, it's rather strange that I would feel this way over a CEO of a large corporation.

But to me, Apple is more like family than big business.

My sophomore year of college I purchased my very first MacIntosh. It was 1988 and I was one of only a few girls in my sorority house to have a computer.

If it's possible to love a machine, I was in love with my Mac. Everyone loved her and she affectionately became known as "Polly."

Her unique font, user-friendly system and ultra-cool design made you want to run over and turn her on.

She came home with me on college breaks and eventually moved with me to Washington.

And then she became older. She slowed down and eventually became obsolete.

There wasn't a love connection with my next computer. A regular PC that didn't respond to me in the way Polly did.

But eventually, another Mac came back into my life. The iMac. A beautiful, white, spaceship style that fit into our family like an old friend.

By this time, Apple products were also producing a small carbon footprint, improving their product's environmental performance by "designing them to use less material, ship with smaller packaging, be free of toxic substances used by others, and be as energy efficient and recyclable as possible." It was a dream come true.

With that in mind, our Mac family began to grow with the addition of QTMcGee, my laptop, and Larue, my iPhone.

This blog was born on a Mac and continues to reproduce on one. Apple products made a huge impact on my life and John's. Movies, scripts, blogs and books have all been written and produced on our Macs.

We are forever indebted to Steve Jobs and his vision that helped our visions become realities.

My deepst sympathies to his family. Our thoughts...and Macs...are with you.

RAPpers Delight

2011-09-29T14:45:00.000-04:00

Right now, the biggest thing to hit the beach since Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon is rap.

No...I'm not talking about The Sugar Hill Gang grabbing surfboards or Grandmaster Flash taking the white lines highway to Santa Monica Pier. I'm talking about RAP - the Rise Above Plastics movement.

Plastics threaten not only our planet but our oceans and marine life. Thousands of marine life die each year from either ingesting plastics or getting tangled in them. So The Surfrider Foundation went on a mission to "reduce the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the recycling of all plastics."

Are you re-thinking taking a drink from that plastic water bottle in your hand right now?

It's time to put down that bottle and grab your ceramic beer stein.

Yes...I said beer stein! Because...

October is RAPTOBERFEST!!

Raptoberfest will be giving you tips all month long on how you can lessen your plastic footprint.

But first, let's kick off Raptoberfest right! Remember that beer stein I told you to get. Do you have it? Good. But WAIT! Don't fill it with beer (yet). I'm starting to tease you, aren't I?

Take the stein to your favorite beach or park this Saturday for the One Foot At A Time plastic clean-up. The goal is to pick up one square foot of plastic and then get creative. Click here to choose your template, print it out and create something wonderful from the plastics you've collected! There will be prizes for the best piece of plastic art.

Check back because I'll be posting my masterpiece. And then I'll properly dispose of it in the recycling bin.

OK...Now you can fill up your stein. And perform rap songs. Rise Above Plastic songs, that is.

See I am Wonder Mere
And I'd like to say hello

To the bag, to the cap, the toy and the straw
To the bottle and jello
But first
I gotta ban ban
The plastics from the beach
Say up jump the ocean
To the banned banned plastics

Take stock
You don't stop
Rock the clean-up that will make your planet rock

"Recycler's Delight"

Back to Green School Shopping 101

2011-08-25T13:38:00.001-04:00

I love back-to-school shopping! Notebooks, folders, backpacks…it makes me want to be back in a small wooden desk smelling worksheets fresh off the ditto machine. Of course, the ditto ink smell was probably the toxic equivalent of an elementary school BP oil spill.

Growing up, back-to-school shopping was a ritual. We piled in the car and headed off to Bradlees and Caldor to get our supplies. I can still remember my first Snoopy loose-leaf binder and my blue Trapper Keeper. Come to think of it, I sniffed those too.

While my school supplies were more than likely filled with BPA and toxic substances, today’s school supplies are much eco-friendlier. Kids have choices now. And since our kids are going to be making decisions and running the world sooner than we think, this is the perfect time to step in and teach them which supplies are the right ones to sniff!

School supply shopping does not have to be a complicated word problem. Instead, it can be a simpler multiple choice.

Here’s a little mnemonic device to shop SMART this back to school season:

Solar calculators and chargers are best. Harness the sunshine!

Make your child’s lunch using healthy, local and organic foods and pack it all up in a reusable lunch bag!

A reusable water bottle is key to keeping your child hydrated and away from sugary soft drinks.

Recycled products are best! Look for backpacks, notebooks, pens and other supplies made out of recycled materials.

Thrift store shopping for new clothes. Today’s thrift stores carry items that still have tags on them! Don’t be afraid to venture in and take a look.

Your choices and actions will be picked up on by your kids. Make sure you score an A+ for your kids…and the earth!

(The Ultimate Green Store is a great place to complete your one-stop shopping for "green" school supplies!)

Tales From The Shark Side

2011-08-17T14:08:00.000-04:00

After years of being inundated with shark movies, Shark Week and being told how to save someone from a shark attack, now we are learning how to save sharks from humans.

Sharks have been swimming the world’s oceans for 400 million years. They have survived mass extinction events but are now endangered because of us. Sharks may be popular villains, but they are a vital part of the world’s ocean ecosystems.

Last weekend, I was volunteering for Oceana, which had a booth at Nautica’s New York City Triathlon in Central Park.

Oceana is a non-profit ocean conservation and advocacy organization created ten years ago by several foundations. It merged with Ted Danson’s American Oceans Campaign to become the largest such group working hard to prevent collapse of fish populations, stop ocean pollution, protect sea turtles from extinction and other important causes.

At the Triathlon their focus was their Shark Campaign. Oceana is pushing for shark finning bans, reduced shark bycatch (sharks caught in nets) and other forms of protection through policy, science and legal work.

Our goal was to accumulate 500 signatures to send to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration to help save sharks in the Gulf of Mexico.

We moved through the park like . . . sharks. While we didn't attack anyone, we did keep moving, hungry for signatures, offering bracelets of support to those that signed our petition.

Soon it looked like I was gonna need a bigger clipboard. I was being harpooned with one strange rejection after another.

One woman asked when the sharks had arrived in Mexico. Um, I guess we weren’t clear we were talking about the Gulf of Mexico .

Others gave the simple “No…I’m good.”

“Yeah, but the sharks aren’t!” I wanted to say.

“I’m with the Ocean Conservancy, but no.”

Huh?

“Sharks! Not while I’m swimming,” one girl exclaimed. “Dolphins, yes. Whales, yes. Sharks, no way!”

They say the same about you, I thought.

One man started off sensible and then said that we should round up all the people who catch sharks and shoot them instead. No thanks, Chief Brody.

My favorite response was “Call Spielberg.” I just might, considering how much Jaws – which is one of my favorite movies – has hurt the image of sharks.

As Hooper said to Mayor Vaughn in Jaws: “I think you're going to ignore this particular problem, until it swims up and bites you on the ass!”

Despite everything, we made our goal of 500 signatures. We didn’t bite anyone, but we did swim up to them. To truly protect these important creatures, we are going to need an even bigger clipboard.

Big Brother After Shark

2011-08-08T11:29:00.001-04:00

Like many Americans, I was obsessed with Shark Week last week. My TV had not left the Discovery Channel, except for side trips to Showtime for Big Brother After Dark.

Last week, the Big Brother house was also affected by Shark Week, as the “Have Nots” were subjected to sardines and seaweed.

While the contestants in the BB house are called “House Guests,” every time you set foot in the ocean, you’re a “house guest” of the sharks. Thankfully, most of the time we’re welcome. But should a hungry, confused Great White become “Head of Household, ” there could be a slight chance of being “evicted.”

In 2010 there were approximately 60 shark attacks, most of which did not end in death. If you consider the hundreds of people at your local beach on the hottest summer day and multiply that by the thousands of beaches worldwide, that number is pretty miniscule...especically since humans kill more than 70 million sharks worldwide every year.

While sharks may be one of the most-feared animals, they are an important part of our eco-system. In their role at the top of the food chain, they keep other fish populations healthy. They are powerful yet provide balance (like BB’s Jeff and Jordan).

These beautiful, majestic creatures are actually the ones in danger of being evicted.

Shark finning, trawler nets, high mercury levels and extinction are just some of the challenges facing sharks.

But you can help. You have the "Power of Veto" and can take these sharks off the chopping block!

Oceana and Shark Savers are doing amazing work to help save sharks. Visit their websites to find out how you can make a difference. Sign a petition, know where your seafood comes from and stay away from shark fin soup (Big Brother’s Slop would be a better choice).

Taking these small steps can make a huge difference for these amazing creatures of the deep. Sharks need us to build an alliance with them, so they can make it to the end.

Nothing comes between me and my sharks!

Journey to the Center of the Green Earth

2011-07-19T09:41:00.001-04:00

I have been busy cleaning out my apartment. It was definitely time to purge, so for a while there, there was literally nowhere to sit while I had bags, clothes, and a myriad of other crap lying over every flat surface.

Ironically, I threw very little in the trash and recycling bin. Most things had another home to go to.

Once I had sorted the good, the bad and the ugly, I loaded up my granny cart (or, as John and I lovingly refer to it, "the cart that paid for itself" since it's saved us on many an occasion) with all sorts of stuff and began my way down the six flights of stairs and around the neighborhood unloading my stuff.

Here is my journey of how I kept things out of the landfill:

1. C-Town. This was my favorite drop-off.

I had been collecting our glass milk bottles to re-use for iced tea and impromptu vases. However, I'd collected so many (17 to be exact) that I no longer had room. It was time for them to head off into recycling-ville.

But as I lifted the lid off my recycling can, John shouted, "Wait!"

Apparently, we'd paid a deposit on those bottles and he wanted to return them to the store.

I argued a bit with him asking if $.05 was worth the trip.

As it turns out, it was one time I was happy to be wrong as the deposit was not $.05 but rather $1.50! I collected over $25 for my 17 bottles! I stood in front of the cashier with a look that clearly frightened her. "Are you sure this is right?" I asked. She assured me it was.

I continued happily on my way with "the cart that paid for itself" and made my way to the next stop.

2. Ventura. Not the boulevard or the city. The apartment building. It's where the Wearable Collections box is.

Wearable Collections is a company I discovered in the NYC area that collects old clothes, bags, and shoes. The things that are in good condition are given to people in need. The stuff that is torn, ripped and headed for the landfill is turned into new fibers to make new things. The in-between stuff is made into rags.

3. Goodwill. I did have some household items that were ready for a new home.

4. The Animal Shelter. Here is where I drop off old towels, sheets, and t-shirts. They are used to line the cages of the dogs and cats. They are always at a shortage for this type of stuff and much appreciate the donation.

5. Aveda. I was not shopping but rather dropping off all of the bottle caps I had collected. Well over 100 of them!

Since bottle caps can't be recycled, I collect them at home and at work and turn them over to Aveda who turns them into their bottles. And sometimes, if you get a really nice salesperson, they'll give you a hand massage or a free sample of hand lotion as a thank you!

6. UPS. My final stop was the UPS Store where I dropped off all those horrendous styrofoam peanuts I'd been saving from packages at work. Those were the worst since they seem to fly around and get stuck everywhere. I was happy to unload those.

I returned home and finished my delivery day by posting some stuff on eBay which turned out to be somewhat lucrative this time around!

The entire process probably took less than 45 minutes and was well worth it. Not only did I keep a lot of things out of the landfill, but others will benefit from it.

So tell me...what can you keep out of the landfill this week?

Thar She Doesn't!

2011-07-06T16:15:00.001-04:00

Every Father's Day season when I was growing up, Tom Carvel's raspy voice would come onto our television set and announce that it was time for Fudgie the Whale. The ice cream cake. "For a whale of a dad."

So I decided that the first humpback whale I saw in person I would name Fudgie.

John took me on a New York whale watching cruise for my birthday. Arriving in Riis Landing in Rockaway singing "Rockaway Beach" by the Ramones, we were excited to embark on our three-hour tour (ok...we sang that song, too) to see all sorts of whales and dolphins.

Riis Landing is pretty desolate. However, there is a very tiny stretch of beach that we found while waiting for our boat to leave that offers free kayaking lessons in the bay.

As we walked the beach, we saw lots and lots of seashells. And lots and lots of trash. I started to pick up some of the smaller plastic bags and caps that I knew were immediate threats to the marine life. John helped, others watched.

Before we knew it, we were aboard our vessel heading out to sea. Immediately the captain told us of reports of humpbacks in the area. John nabbed a spot for us at the very end of the boat's bow and we let the sea air flow through our hair like Leonardo and Kate as we raced to the reported spot.

We were told to yell "Thar she blows!" should we be the one to spot Moby Dick first and were informed that there was a $250 prize for the best photo. I wasn't sure how comfortable I was yelling like an 1800's whaler to a boat full of strangers, but hoped that what we would see would be so huge that I could yell, "I think we're going to need a bigger boat."

With my camera ready, I scoured the vast ocean. I spotting ginormous freighters and several plastic bags, but no fins. The bags left me feeling sick to my stomach.

By the time we got to the site, there were schools of bunker, which whales like to feed on, but no whales. Turns out a humpback can hold its breath for up to an hour. We waited and then moved on to the next spot.

We covered a lot of ground and our captain did his best to help us spot something but to no avail. At one point, over a school of bunker, John saw a spray of water shooting out of the surface. The captain steered the boat slowly over to investigate. But again, no Fudgie.

Yet it was exciting to be a part of this incredible ecosystem. We learned from the on-board naturalist that the reason the Atlantic is so dark is because it's one of the highest nutrient-rich waters on the planet. This is why most of our seafood comes from the Atlantic as opposed to the Carribean waters, which lack nutrients, making them crystal clear.

Not seeing any whales just made us more determined to see them the next time we go. Which we will.

John and I agreed that the next time we do, we will be taking a trash bag with us and doing a bigger beach clean-up on Jamaica Bay. We might even try our hand at kayaking. And we'll definitely be on the lookout for Fudgie, whose humpback whale song is still easier to understand than Tom Carvel.

Greendependence Day

2011-06-30T11:20:00.004-04:00

America is celebrating her 235th birthday this year! I don’t know about you, but I want to do everything I can to keep our country and our planet beautiful! So this July, I pledge to celebrate this monumental birthday by doing the following:

1. While searching for seashells at the beach, I’m also going to pick up some trash.

2. When I go to a picnic, I’m going to bring something everyone will love – and less of it - so that no food will go to waste. I will bring it in a reusable container and will use as many organic and local foods as possible. Of course I’ll carry it over in a reusable bag!

3. Wherever I go, I’m going to make sure that I recycle everything I possibly can.

4. It’s important in this hot weather to stay hydrated so I’m going to carry my reusable bottle everywhere I go.

5. I will stay away from disposable plates and utensils.

Let's Keep America Beautiful during her 235th Birthday month and have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!

Seasonal & Local

2011-06-14T11:52:00.001-04:00

John and I decided that we really need to do more shopping at the farmer's market as the produce selection at the local grocery leaves little to be desired.

During the summer months we're lucky because there is a small stand right on our corner. But that doesn't open until the end of June.

Our other option is to trek down to Union Square which is challenging because of the crowds of people.

But recently, I discovered a small farmer's market 10 blocks from my apartment. How I've been living here for two years and never realized this before is beyond me.

On Saturday, John and I set out to visit this little gem.

We were very excited to arrive and find all of the amazing foods it had to offer.

We went with the intention of buying ingredients to make gazpacho but we quickly learned that that wasn't going to happen as most of the ingredients still aren't in season.

Our choices were limited as it is much smaller than the Union Square market however, it did the job.

We bought asparagus, scallions, strawberries, kale and bread.

I was mad at myself for having visited the Food Emporium the night before and buying non-organic potatoes and onions to make our breakfast when I could have purchased the local variety at the market. I did buy organic peppers. However, they were wrapped in plastic. There's something wrong with that picture. Below was our breakfast...

Last night, I roasted our beautiful, local asparagus, the other plastic wrapped pepper and the left over scallions to create a delicious dinner.

This was followed by my kale chips (kale, salt, pepper and a tablespoon of olive oil. Mix together and put in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. Delish!)

I capped off the evening with the most amazing strawberries.

Finally, when all the veggies had been cut up and devoured, the scraps went into our new composter (look for a future post about that!).

As John and I test out our ability to eat local and seasonal, I can hardly wait to see what this week's farmer's market holds for us!

World Ocean Day

2011-06-08T15:02:00.000-04:00

Iced coffee at the coffee shop
Includes: coffee, plastic cup, plastic lid and straw

Lunch on the run
Includes: sandwich, potato salad, plastic utensils, plastic container and plastic bag

A beautiful seafood dinner
Includes: garden salad, french-cut string beans, filet of fish stuffed with plastic bits

Hold on!

Plastic bits? That's a typo, right?

Well...not exactly.

The truth is, plastic never really goes away. It gets broken down into tiny particles that eventually find their way into the food chain (hence the beautiful seafood dinner).

Plastic has become a huge part of all our lives as you can see illustrated above. So much so that we take for granted how much plastic we are actually using. How long did it take you to consume that iced coffee? Not as long as it's going to take to rid the planet of the cup, lid and straw.

Laird Hamilton and Gabrielle Reece have created this video for World Ocean Day in association with the Plastic Pollution Coalition.

Help keep our oceans clean...take one less piece of plastic today!

And What Is So Fun As A Day In June

2011-06-06T14:39:00.001-04:00

You say June, you might think wedding season and the summer solstice.

I say June, I think Clearwater Festival, International Surf Day, Hands Across the Sand and, um, my birthday!

AN OLDIE BUT GOODIE!
If you're around the Hudson Valley area, The Clearwater Festival on June 18th & 19th always promises to be a great time. This year's theme is Great Hudson River Revival, "Clearwater Generations." "It is inspired by Pete Seeger’s vision and Clearwater’s mission - to inspire, educate, and activate the next generation of environmental leaders."

SURF’S UP!

Celebrate the great sport of surfing on International Surf Day - June 20th! There are events taking place that whole weekend, including beach clean-ups! Click on your part of the map to find an event near you!

JOIN HANDS!
Hands Across the Sand will take place on June 25th! Join people from all walks of life as they stand together to show their support for our coastlines and marine life. Find an event in your area!

I'd love to hear what you participated in! I'll see you at the beach!

Sunscreen City

2011-05-27T11:36:00.001-04:00

Where’s the beach?

I've been chanting this phrase for weeks now in anticipation for the Memorial Day Weekend and it looks like it is going to be amazing weather!

Unfortunately, with my super fair skin, sunscreen is a must unless I want to look like a cooked lobster. Not a good look for me.

So as we head off to the pools, lakes and oceans this weekend and summer, remember to bring along your sunscreen!

But be careful which sunscreen you choose to bring along. Sunscreens contain many toxic chemicals that are not only bad for the ocean and the environment, but for you as well!

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a great website which sheds the truth on sunscreens and also has some recommendations for better choices for you and your family.

My personal favorite is Smart Girls Who Surf products. They're an eco-conscious company based out of Laguna Beach. Their products are non-toxic and safe for marine life. I used their sunscreen for the first time in the Bahamas a couple months ago and it worked well.

They also have a men's line called Surf-Vival!

So slather on that lotion and go catch some waves this weekend!

And most importantly...have fun!

Burial at Sea

2011-05-24T14:01:00.001-04:00

Ever since the end of the world on Saturday (oh wait...I'm still here), I've been thinking a little more about death.

I always figured that when I go, I would not only get to see my mom again, but I would get answers to all the questions I ever wanted to know, like "Who shot JFK?" or "Who wins on the next season of Survivor (since I won't be one)?"

The one thing I know now is what I want to become of my remains.

I want to be cremated and I want my ashes to be put into a man-made coral reef.

No...I'm not crazy. This is a real thing.

See...I'm not a big fan of the creepy crawlies that live in the ground plus I'm claustraphobic, so traditional burial is out. Not to mention all the formaldehyde and toxic substances from the coffin that leak into our ground and eventually end up in our water supply.

I'm much more of an ocean fan so I found a company that has constructed a coral reef out of, well, human ashes.

In a nutshell, The Neptune Society, takes your ashes and pours them into non-toxic molds which have been assembled into an eco-friendly man-made reef. Your place in the reef is also marked by a bronze plaque with your name on it.

So to all my friends out there, wouldn't it be nicer to visit me during a nice scuba dive in Miami?

Destination funeral anyone?

I have the peace of mind of knowing that I will spend eternity helping marine organisms thrive.

Maybe you could consider ending up in a coral reef. Trust me -- it's not the end of the world.

Surfing for Change

2011-05-17T14:01:00.000-04:00

I read about this surfer, Kyle Thiermann. He created a short film about how to solve the plastic problem in 4 minutes. I'll bet you can do it in 1!

As an added bonus...Jack Johnson (musician and surfer extrordinaire) has a cameo and sings at the end!

Bird Is The Word

2011-05-16T15:18:00.000-04:00

Pretend today is Saturday (ahhh...wouldn't that be nice!).

May 14th was International Migratory Bird Day! But hey...I'm willing to extend the salute for the rest of the month for the little birdies.

Here are some bird-lovin’ tips…

1) Look for “Bird Friendly” marked packages of your favorite coffee. This simply means the coffee grew under trees used by migratory birds. If your coffee is growing under that big yellow star in the sky (the sun), it’s exposed to more pests which means more bad chemicals in your morning cup of Joe.

2) Ever wonder what “Cage-Free” and “Free Range” mean on your chicken products? Cage-free means that mama hen wasn’t in a cage. However, it does not mean she was allowed to sing like Julie Andrews in the open green pasture. If you see the label “Free Range”, you can now start singing Freebird. A company can only use this label if their farm has met the USDA’s free range poultry practice.

What chipper chicken choice will you make this week?

Tuesday Night Cookbook Club

2011-05-10T16:14:00.000-04:00

When I lived in LA, I had a little part-time job at The Grove, selling jewelry at one of the kiosks. It was a fun job. I got to meet all kinds of people and it became quite the social spot. I quickly became friends with the other retailers and security guards.

One night as I was closing down, one of the guards approached me in a stealthy sort of way.

"Be here tomorrow morning. 6AM," he said. "Someone big is going to be giving a concert right over there," he said, as he pointed to a tiny alcove.

"Who?" I asked.

But he had already walked away.

I went home and told John. We lived half a block from The Grove so we figured we'd be crazy not to check it out. But then 6AM came very quickly and we rolled over, asking ourselves if it was worth it.

And then I jumped up and said "What? Are we 80? Let's go!"

We threw some clothes on and headed over to the tiny alcove.

Even at 6:15 AM, there were some people there. I quickly grabbed my spot right in front of the stage. We waited for almost an hour going through every rock star we could think of. Rumors ran rampant.

And then finally, the rock star emerged. It was better than we could've imagined.

It was Sheryl Crow.

I was already a huge Sheryl Crow fan, having sped down Santa Monica Boulevard numerous times blasting "All I Wanna Do" and I had closed every one of my Universal Studio Tours with "Soak Up The Sun."

But her music isn't the only reason I adore her. She's also a big fan of the environment.

Her tours are eco-friendly, sporting bio diesel buses, recycling bins, energy-saving lightbulbs and biodegradable dinnerware. She also is a recipient of last year's National Resources Defense Council's Forces for Nature award.

I was bursting at the seams with excitement. She went on to give the most amazing concert to about 100 people who had been lucky enough to be "in the know."

She made comments how it was too early for a rock star to be giving a concert but that she was thrilled to be there. I was so close that I could practically reach out and strum her guitar. Although I was too close to catch her guitar picks as she threw them out into the crowd after the show.

I saw my security guard friend in the corner who gave me a wink which I returned with a big fat hug.

I had not seen Sheryl since that concert (though John saw her when she performed in Central Park a couple of years ago) when another opportunity arose last week.

She recently co-wrote a cookbook with her personal chef, Chuck White. It's called If It Makes You Healthy. She appeared at Williams Sonoma for a signing and John and I made sure we were there.

We skimmed through the book, eager to try the recipes.

And then she appeared looking as healthy as ever. She gave a brief interview for some unknown camera crew. She talked about her sons and a chocolate mousse made with avocado!

We posed for a picture -- me, Sheryl, Chuck and John. Sheryl looked at John, then turned to me and asked if I knew him. I laughed and said I did. Then she smiled.

I didn't get a guitar pick but I got my book signed - and a chance to briefly talk with one of my idols of music and the environment.

And I'll be sure to blast "If It Makes You Happy" while I get healthy!

A Dreamer and Doer for Earth Day

2011-04-18T15:54:00.000-04:00

I have received the best present.

It's not my birthday and clearly it's not Christmas (though it's been chilly enough).

It's for Earth Day.

Earth Day is this Friday. In its 41st year, it's promoting "A Billion Acts of Green".

I knew that my Earth Day celebration would include heading over to Grand Central Station where there are many events going on, but in my wildest dreams, I didn't imagine that I'd be getting such a gift.

My sister called the other day. My nephew Robert came to her and told her he wanted to enter the Disney Dreamers and Doers contest. Central Florida children in grades K-12 can nominate themselves. It is Disney's way of recognizing those "who demonstrate excellence in their schools and communities."

The children are judged on an essay so Melissa asked him what he wanted to write about.

Here is what he wrote:

"When I go to the beach, I walk with my sister and my aunt and we clean up all of the trash that people leave. We sort and make a trash and recycle pile. It is fun and other families walk by and say good job. It also helps the Earth."

I had no idea the day I took him and his sister Theresa for a walk on the beach to collect seashells would turn into a beach clean-up - and that it would make such an impact on him.

Robert is one of three finalists in his school, but it doesn't matter to me whether he wins the contest.

He's already won.

And so have I.

And best of all - so has the Earth!

Eating With The Enemy

2011-04-11T16:13:00.000-04:00

One of the saddest days of my life was when my boss's daughter quit Girl Scouts.

I'm sorry to say I wasn't sad because she was no longer earning patches, but because I would miss the coveted cookies.

Every spring, my boss would come in with that giant piece of paper. You know the one...with all the colored rows where you check off that green box for Thin Mints. (Of course in my house, it's never just one box of Thin Mints. It's more like four . . . or eight. . . or ten. Plus boxes and boxes of Tagalongs (now renamed Peanut Butter Patties).

Then that day would arrive when she'd walk in with her supersized duffle bag and start handing out the greatest cookies ever made.

They went straight home and into the freezer. Because everyone knows that a Girl Scout cookie is best when frozen. There's nothing like that first bite of the Tagalong...separating the peanut butter top from the cookie bottom in your mouth, letting the flavors mix together and...OK...I'll stop now.

John and I would savor each one and make them last for months.

Wait...who am I kidding? John could polish off a box in a night!

Clearly, the cookies are not good for my waistline and I didn't kid myself they used any organic ingredients. But I figured it's a once-a-year indulgence that brings me back to my childhood, when my sister and I sold them. My mom would be up all night grouping the boxes for easy delivery.

Unfortunately, there's another reason why I need to be worried about my cookies.

Orangutans.

Orangutans are in danger. And it's the Thin Mint's fault.

Apparently, the morsels of goodness are made with palm oil.

Most oil palm plantations are in Indonesia where deforestation, forest fires and hunters are the main cause of the decrease in organutans population.

But ironically, it's Girls Scouts to the rescue!

Madison Vorva and Rhiannon Tomtishen are two young Girl Scouts who are taking a stand against this. They have been awarded the titles of Rainforest Heros by the Rainforest Action Network. These two heroes are committee to convincing Girl Scouts USA to stop using palm oil in their cookies, via letter writing campaigns and presentations.

Girls Scouts USA claim that they can't make a cookie without the enemy. But I won't eat a cookie with the enemy.

It's good that that famous order sheet won't be making its rounds in my office anymore.

And I won't go hunting for the sheet until the orangutans, not the palm oil, are protected.

Code Green...Dr. Earth to the Trash Room - Stat!

2011-04-06T15:57:00.000-04:00

Last month, I said good-bye to a part of me.

An important part. A part that had been with me my whole life.

It wasn't a sad good-bye, but one that I knew would be good for me and make my life better.

I said good-bye to my gall bladder.

For 20 years whenever I had stomach pains I thought I had a corn allergy, when, in fact, it was those nasty gall stones.

My hospital stay was only about seven hours. But even in that short time-span -- and being heavily sedated -- I still managed to be on green patrol.

I was hooked up to monitors with disposable electric sticky pads, had various IV tubes stuck in my hand (including one that the anesthesiologist took out and replaced because he didn't like the nurse's "attachment style") and sported more band-aids than I could keep track of. I watched in amazement as the nurses continuously reached for the trash can.

As the doctor administered the anesthesia and I began to drift off (while alerting him every few seconds that I was still awake and it wasn't time to start cutting), I worried about the disposable items that were being used on me to make me feel better.

Wait! Isn't that how our whole lives are tailored these days? How much disposable stuff do we use to make our lives easier which in turn makes us feel better?

Why did I think the hospital would be any different?

I wondered, where does all that red bucket waste go? Is there a separate landfill?

It turns out that hospitals alone generate over two million tons of medical waste annually, of which about 90% is incinerated, generating all sorts of horrible gases into the atmosphere.

Before I knew it, I was back in the recovery room telling anyone who would listen that "it hurt."

They gave me another disposable plastic bag full of saline (I assume...it was really potent saline!) and I tried hard to keep my eyes open so I could go home.

John came by to visit me, but the doctor assured him that it would be a while longer. He told me later that I said something he didn't understand about "recycled styrofoam cups."

As my stupor began to wear off, I overheard three residents sitting at the desk across from my bed.

Here is the conversation as I remember it:

(Lots of laughter)

"Oh! You're the one!"

"Yes...she's the one that's all paper conscious and sh*t."

"Wow. Wait till she sees the OR and what they throw away in there! You better get over your 'green' thing fast!"

(More laughter as the female resident hit the "green thing" resident with a folder.)

So the good news was there was a fellow greenie on the staff. The bad news was they had to have a conversation about it. How much waste was generated on account of my stupid gall stones?

With infections on the rise, I realize that everything has to be pre-packaged and sterile. I'm all for that. But there must be a better way to dispose of medical waste.

A hospital's primary function is to serve the health of the people - which includes the health of the planet.

Now when someone says to me, "You mean to say you have the gall to tell me we should worry about hospital waste, too?" I'll say, "No, I don't have any gall at all."

After all, I said good-bye to it.

The Vampire Energies

2011-03-29T13:05:00.000-04:00

The other morning I awoke from my slumber like any other morning. I had a big stretch, got out of bed, gave Bailey his "good morning" kiss and made my way through the barely lit living room trying not to trip on one of the many stuffed dog toys lying on the ground.

I found my way to the fridge, took a swig of water and then continued on, making my way to the bathroom.

But something stopped me. Suddenly, I was startled awake.

Not by the alarm clock, but by the coffee pot being plugged in.

An energy vampire.

It had somehow been invited in.

In its sexy, caffeinated way, it was sucking up power.

I acted quickly. There was no time to waste. I reached for the stake, but it was still thawing (OK, I meant "steak").

I did the next best thing - I pulled the plug.

The vampire died, but will surely leave its bite marks on the US power grid.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the plugged-in appliances that we take for granted use up 5-10% of the residential energy supply. The average American has 10-50 of these appliances plugged in, jacking up their electric bills.

When I first started going green, I ran around my apartment like a crazy woman unplugging everything in sight. Hair dryers, clocks, phone chargers. We are very careful to unplug when we're not using the appliance.

Unfortunately, there are some things that seem impossible to unplug every time. Like the TV, cable box and our main computer. Unplugging them is an effort because it takes time to reboot your cable box and it also prevents the DVR from taping those all important episodes of The Bachelor. And simply turning them off is not enough. They're still leeching power.

So what to do?

Don't worry! You won't have to string garlic or douse your house with holy water. There are other solutions.

One way is to look for energy efficient Energy Star* electronics when you're replacing your old ones. (And don't forget to take the old ones to an electronics recycling event in your area.)

Another way is to get smarter power strips. I like the BITS Smart Strip Power Strip. You can get it with either 7 or 10 outlets. It has regular outlets for appliances that have to be on all the time, but other sensors that will turn off things when they haven't been in use.

So what are you waiting for? Bill (coffee pot), Damian (cable box) and Edward (chargers) may glamour you into the ease of keeping them plugged in, but at the end of the day, their survival depends on your blood. (I mean, energy.)

*As of January, 2011, the GOP wants the Energy Star program (among other "green" initiatives) cut as part of their "slash government spending" promise. Let's hope this does not pass. I will keep you posted.

Dancing in the Dark

2011-03-25T12:15:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow night is Earth Hour 2011! At 8:30 PM, people around the world will turn their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.

While this started in 2007, this will only be my third official Earth Hour.

For my first one, John and I sat in our apartment, candles lit, and...I waited. The hour seemed to take forever. We talked but I admit I kept checking my watch. And I remember when it was time to turn the lights back on, it felt weird. Was that it? Was the purpose just to sit in the dark for an hour? Had I really done my part? Or was I just waiting for HGTV to come back on?

For my second one, John and I sat in our apartment, candles lit, and...I fell asleep. That felt weird too. I was pretty sure the idea was to stay awake and reflect, not repose. And John had to listen to me snore.

For my third one, John and I sat...in a theater. We had tickets to a play. There we were...in a black box theater with lots of big, hot lights shining down. A reminder of the global warming that at that moment we weren't doing anything about.

Somehow my Earth Hours weren't adding up...or coming together.

For my fourth...tomorrow night...I will go back to sitting in my apartment, candles lit, and...what?

How can I/we make the most of our hour in the dark? (Minds out of the gutter, please...this is for the environment!)

Here are five ideas on How to Make the Most of Earth Hour...candles lit:

1) Invite friends over and have an Earth Hour party! Grab some organic or local wine/beer, bake some kale chips and par-tay!

2) Get crafty with the kids! Get out all that scrap paper, torn t-shirts, loose buttons and put them to work. It's about time you had some new art on your walls!

3) Plan out your next eco-friendly vacation equipped with a Terrapass, eco-friendly hotel and a beach clean-up!

4) Do an early spring cleaning! Get into your closet and purge. Fill up your bags of unwanted items and take them over to your neighborhood Goodwill so others can use them.

5) Grab your bottle of local/organic wine and snuggle up with your loved one. Revel in the silence, soak up the ambience and feel good that you are raising your own awareness to keep this incredible planet of ours going. (Now you can put your mind back in the gutter!)

Mizu

2011-03-22T09:23:00.000-04:00

Mizu is Japanese for "water."

And today is World Water Day!

Unfortunately, the image I'm associating with water these days is that of the tsunami - and the cars, buildings and people it took with it.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan.

Ironically, this year's WWD theme is Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge.

Challenge? What challenge? Getting your Klean Kanteen through airport security?

Not exactly.

Did you know that for the first time in history, most of the world's population now live in cities?

I found that staggering. Well, maybe not. I t feels that way when I'm in Times Square or on Canal Street.

New York has definitely become more crowded over the years but they're not referring to the US or Europe. 93% of urbanization is in poor or developing countries...mostly in Africa and Asia.

My initial thoughts were that they must be facing a water shortage. But that wasn't the case. They're facing management problems.

Hmm. It seems that we New Yorkers aren't the only ones being ripped off.

Because these city infrastructures have not kept up with the increasing rate of urbanization, their systems are declining and poor people are getting the shaft. And because they can't afford to extend sewers to less fortunate areas, the volume of sewage is increasing and is causing a threat to their health and the environment.

And this is only going to get worse.

As global warming continues, and floods, droughts and "extreme events" (their words, not mine) occur, disrupting services, rising costs will drive more people to urban areas, increasing demands on these urban systems.

So far this is turning into a pretty grim piece. But it does have an upside.

By bringing attention to issues like this one, cities have the opportunity to adopt more efficient water treatment technologies and capture water and waste to prevent it from causing environmental and downstream pollution.

Cities are resilient. There are opportunities here - opportunities to recycle and reuse water and waste.

For me...I'll throw that glass of water that has been sitting on my nightstand into the plant. Wash that hair a little quicker. Turn the water off while I brush my teeth.

Little things add up.

What will you do on this World Water Day?

Each day seems to bring us more unpleasant news from Japan. We can help. Text "REDCROSS" to 90999 and give a gift. Any amount will help.

Erin Go Green

2011-03-16T16:14:00.000-04:00

Top of the greenin' to ya!

This year, take steps to green your St. Paddy's Day...and I don't just mean your beer color!

1) Forgo all those plastic decorations including shiny shamrock garlands and green plastic bowler hats. You'll save money and keep stuff out of the landfill.

2) Go to an Irish pub that serves local beers. Not only will you be supporting your local businesses, they'll probably taste better too!

3) If you're hosting your own party, mark everyone's cup with their initials. Less waste means extra money in your pocket!

4) Visit your local farmers market this weekend and look for organic and locally grown and raised corned beef and cabbage.

5) Don't just wear green...choose green! Go for that organic cotton t-shirt that you can wear time and time again!

6) And finally...recycle, recycle, recycle! Leprechauns aren't the only ones who can work magic with common household items.

Have fun, travel safe and may the luck of the Irish be with you all!

Ask Not What Your Airport Can Do For You

2011-03-02T16:09:00.001-05:00

I entered Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas. I was returning from my relaxing, much-too-short visit.

My sister and I waited in the long line at the JetBlue counter to check in for our flight to Orlando.

People-watching had been a favorite pastime for the two of us in Nassau and the airport was no different. A guy dressed like a cross between Prince and Michael Jackson. A couple arguing over their passports. And a little boy carrying a Waterkeeper Alliance suitcase.

That caught my attention, since I'm a big fan of the Waterkeeper and Riverkeeper Alliances. They're amazing organizations doing incredible work to protect our waterways.

We finally reached the counter, while the "Waterkeeper" family pulled up to the window next to ours.

My sister and I went through the security check and moved onto carry-on bag X-rays. As we waited to unload our bags and shoes into the bins, the "Waterkeeper" family arrived behind us and unloaded their bags. Then the dad pulled the Waterkeeper suitcase off the belt because his son had forgotten to put an ID badge on it.

That wasn't unusual - but the man holding the Waterkeeper suitcase was the founder of the Waterkeeper Alliance - Bobby Kennedy, Jr.!

The last time I had seen him he was giving a talk on mountaintop removal at Town Hall in New York. I couldn't contain my excitement, but I couldn't lose it in front of him. So I whispered to my sister, "That's Bobby Kennedy, Jr.!"

She looked at me blankly.

"The environmentalist? Bobby Kennedy's son? JFK's nephew??? He's a KENNEDY!"

Finally, she agreed with me that he did have the Kennedy charm.

It was then that I realized I had a plastic water bottle in my hand.

Crap! I almost never drink out of plastic water bottles but in New York I had been stopped at the airport (the one named for Bobby Kennedy Jr.'s uncle) with my Klean Kanteen so I packed it away for this leg of the trip.

Now I was carrying the very symbol of everything I'm opposed to in front of one of the environment's biggest leaders. This was like flashing an upside down cross in front of the Pope...

I tried to conceal the environmental weapon but I was too late.

"Ma'am...would you like me to throw that away for you?" said the TSA agent who was speaking really, really loud.

My mouth became so dry I almost wished I had another plastic bottle of water.

Was he really asking me to throw it away? In the trash? I could only wonder where their goes? In the landfill? Or in the giant plastic island in the middle of the Pacific? Either way, I coudn't do it in front of Bobby.

In slow motion, Mr. Kennedy placed his belongings next to mine...

"Do you recycle?" came out of my mouth in scary, slowed-down speech.

The agent stared at me as my passport and plane ticket separated from my hand and flew in opposite directions.

The TSA agent didn't reply to my recycle question as he searched for my ticket under the X-ray machine. Even if my sister hadn't been screaming at me, I'd have been dying of embarassment though it seemed that Bobby was paying more attention to his children than to my environmental faux pas.

The lesson wasn't lost on me, however. To the hundreds of reasons why it's important not to use plastic bottles I can add another:

You never know who you might meet.

Stay tuned for an environmental update on the Bahamian culture!

The Arctic Secret

2011-02-15T09:58:00.000-05:00

Last year, John and I wrote a story for our Christmas card that told the story of a polar bear cub stranded on an ice floe, and how a dog named Bailey (based on our dog, Bailey) comes to his rescue.

We had no idea at the time that our story would ring so alarmingly true just a month and a half later.

Two weeks ago, it was reported that a female polar bear swam 426 miles over a nine-day period in freezing waters with her cub to find a piece of ice to settle on. Unlike our story, the cub didn't make it.

There is no doubt that the Arctic waters are becoming too warm and ice is becoming too scarce.

There is still time to help these beautiful animals. Together, we can help save the Polar Bears.

And we would love to share our story with you:

BAILEY AND THE ARCTIC SECRET

Once upon a time, a little dog named Bailey was taking a nap under the Christmas tree.

Bailey was a Tibetan Spaniel. His ancestors used to guard monasteries in Tibet. There were no monasteries to guard in New York City, so Bailey did what he could in the apartment. He liked to think he was guarding the presents under the tree, but really it was just a comfy place to nap. Bailey was the King of Comfy.

Suddenly, there was a noise. His ear flipped up. He opened one eye. Nothing. His ear and eye closed. Then he heard it again! Both eyes and ears flew opened.

He sat straight up, hitting his head on a low-hanging ornament. “Terribly sorry,” said Bailey to the ornament, which was a sparkly pink seahorse.

“That’s all right,” said Sparkle. “But be careful – I’m fragile.”

Bailey settled back down beneath the tree when he heard the sound one more time. It sounded like . . . whimpering. Whimpering that was far, far away.

“Where could that be coming from?” said Bailey.

The seahorse listened. “Off the top of my head, I’d say it’s coming from the Arctic.”

“The Arctic?” said Bailey. “How far away is that?”

“About a million miles,” said Sparkle.

“Can I get there on the subway?”

“You might have to transfer,” said Sparkle.

The whimpering started up again. Bailey knew he had to do something . . . and fast.

“I’m going to find that,” he said.

Sparkle swung off his branch and landed on Bailey’s back.

“I’m coming with you,” said Sparkle. “You’ll need my help.”

“Do you know where the Arctic is?”

“We’ll Google Map it,” said Sparkle. “Let’s go!”

Bailey went to the front door. He sat on his hind legs and turned the lock to the left. Then he took the doorknob in his mouth and turned it to the right. The door opened. He walked through and pulled it behind him with his paw.

“Do your mommy and daddy know you leave the apartment like that?” said Sparkle.

"No." said Bailey. “It would only worry them.”

They went down six flights of stairs, then out the front door. Bailey stood on the curb and put his paw up in the cold New York air.

“What are you doing?” said Sparkle.

“Hailing a cab.”

“Won’t that be impossible?”

“It’s only impossible at 5:00, when the drivers are all changing their shifts –”

“I mean, won’t it be impossible for a dog?”

Bailey lifted an eyebrow. “Nothing is ever impossible for a dog.”

A cab pulled up. The door opened. Bailey and Sparkle got in.

“My friend thinks it’s hard for a dog to get a cab,” said Bailey.

“Ha ha, that’s a good one,” said the cab driver, who wore a cap. His driver’s license identified him as a Great Dane.

The cab was a green cab, using no fuel, as it ran on Great Dane power. The cab drove them to LaGuardia Airport and let them off at an airline run by poodles called Jet Poo.

“Not the best name,” said Sparkle.

“But they have the best prices,” said Bailey.

As they boarded the plane, Bailey could hear the whimpering again, clearer, stronger. “I hope we get there in time,” he said.

“We will,” said Sparkle. “If there’s one thing poodles know – it’s keeping appointments. They’re always getting their hair done.”

After the plane was aloft and the pilot had retracted the landing paws ,Bailey enjoyed a meal of beef and lamb stew. Sparkle had assorted small crustaceans. But the flight seemed to take forever. Bailey tried to sleep but he kept hearing the whimpering.

Whoever was crying was in desperate need of Bailey’s help.

Finally the plane landed. “Thanks for flying Jet Poo,” said the labradoodle flight attendant. “We know you have a choice and we appreciate your flying with us.”

Bailey and Sparkle got out of the plane. As far as the eye could see was snow and ice.

“This is it, Sparkle,” said Bailey. “The Arctic Circle.” They heard the whimpering even louder now.

Suddenly, a St. Bernard bounded up to them. “Can I take you somewhere?” he said. “My name is Bernard.”

“St. Bernard?” said Sparkle.

“No, just Bernard,” said the St. Bernard. “But I get that a lot. You can call me Bernie.”

“Sure,” said Bailey. “Follow that sound, Bernie!”

Bailey and Sparkle hopped onto Bernie’s back. He lumbered across the vast, white plain, toward the whimpering, which was growing louder and louder.

They came to the edge of what looked like a shore. Actually, it was where ice was melting. They saw an ocean spread out in front of them. Way off in the distance was a little white speck. The whimpering seemed to be coming from there.

“This is where I stop,” said Bernie. “The ocean is out of my jurisdiction.”

“But I have to keep going,” said Bailey. “I can dog paddle out there. But how will I keep from freezing?”

“Don’t worry,” said Sparkle. “I’m not a seahorse for nothing, you know. I have connections all over the undersea world.”

Sparkle hopped onto Bailey and they went out into the icy water.

“Brr,” said Bailey, as he dog paddled. Sparkle jumped off of Bailey’s back and was gone for a few minutes. Then he jumped back on.

Bailey said, “Hey! It’s warmer now!”

“I have some beluga whales swirling around down there,” said Sparkle. “They’re churning the water up so it’s more comfortable for you.”

The whimpering was very loud now.

They swam and swam and swam. The white speck was getting bigger. It was an ice floe! A very small one. Right in the middle of it was a whimpering polar bear cub.

“Hi there!” said Bailey. “I’m Bailey and this is Sparkle.”

“Thank goodness you’re here!” said the bear. “My name is Dakota.”

“What’s the matter, Dakota?” said Bailey.

“I’m separated from my mom,” said Dakota. “She must be worried sick about me on shore.”

“That’s just where we’re going!” said Bailey. “Hop on!”

Dakota jumped on Bailey’s back. They went back into the water and Sparkle contacted his beluga whale friends.

Bailey swam and swam. The trip back was more tiring, since he now was carrying a polar bear. Sparkle swam beneath them, talking with the whales.

Finally, they reached the shore. Dakota jumped off Bailey’s back and Sparkle jumped on. He turned to a beluga whale, who had stuck his head out of the water.

“Thanks!” said Sparkle. “I owe you one.”

“Don’t mention it,” said the beluga whale.

Bailey, Sparkle and Dakota walked across the ice, around what looked like craggy rocks made of ice and snow. They didn’t see anyone. Suddenly, out of nowhere, there was a loud roar. A polar bear was standing on its hind legs, gnashing its teeth and waving brandishing its claws.

“Mom!” said Dakota. Then to Bailey and Sparkle he said, “Don’t worry. She always gets like this when she gets excited.”

The mother polar bear bounded over to them and scooped up Dakota. “My boy!” she said. “I’m so glad to see you!”

“These are my friends,” said Dakota. “Bailey and Sparkle. They came all the way from New York City to save me!”

“Thank you so much,” said the mom. “My name is Ursa. How can I ever repay you?”

“Don’t worry about that,” said Bailey. “Is there anything else we can do for you?”

“I wish there was,” said Ursa, who was cradling Dakota in her arms. “I’m afraid the same thing that happened to Dakota may happen again.”

“What do you mean?” said Sparkle.

“The ice cap is melting,” said Ursa. “Ice floes are breaking off into smaller and smaller pieces. Dakota and I were on one that broke in two. He drifted off, but when I swam to him, I couldn’t get my paws up on the floe. So he drifted off to sea.”

“We’ll tell everyone about the melting ice,” said Bailey.

“It’s because of global warming,” said Sparkle. “Even ornaments know that.”

“Some people don’t believe in global warming,” said Bailey.

“Some people don’t believe what’s right in front of them,” said Ursa.

Bailey and Sparkle took in the wondrous, winter landscape. It was the most beautiful place they’d ever seen.

“We’ll do our best,” said Bailey. “But first we have to get home.”

* * * * *

Bailey and Sparkle were sitting in their seats on Jet Poo. “Another bowl of water, please,” said Bailey to the flight attendant.

“More crustaceans, too,” said Sparkle.

“I hope we get home before Meredith and John realize we were gone,” said Bailey.

“I hope we get home before the other ornaments realize we were gone,” said Sparkle. “I don’t want to lose my branch on the Christmas tree.”

They made it back to New York in record time. With Sparkle holding on for dear life, Bailey raced up the stairs. They were at the front door.

“Quick, let’s go inside!” said Sparkle.

Bailey’s paws were flying every which way. “I can’t find my keys!”

Suddenly they heard a sound. People were coming up the stairs!

“Wait ’til Bailey sees this,” said a woman’s voice.

“He’ll love it!” replied a man’s voice.

“That’s your mom and dad!” said Sparkle.

“I know!” said Bailey. “Where are those keys?!”

The voices got closer and closer.

Finally, just in time, Bailey found the key. He struggled, but opened the front door. He ran inside and pulled the door behind him. He tore across the foyer, zoomed down the hallway and flew across the living room, where he dove under the Christmas tree.

The tree wobbled dangerously as Sparkle leaped onto his favorite branch.

“Where have you been?” said a seashell ornament.

“Ssh!” said Sparkle.

Bailey curled up and closed his eyes. John and Meredith entered the apartment. His heart pounding, he let out a fake yawn just as they came into the room.

“Where’s Bailey?” said John.

“There he is!” said Meredith. “He’s so sleepy!”

Bailey pretended to shake himself awake. One eye was half-open. One ear was flipped over on top of his head.

Bailey stretched, then groggily walked up to them and covered them in kisses.

“Look what I have for you!” said Meredith. “Your Christmas present!”

Bailey had almost forgotten it was Christmas.

Meredith took something out of a bag and handed to Bailey. It was a white stuffed animal. A polar bear cub!

Bailey sniffed the stuffed animal. He took it in his mouth. Usually he would start growling and playing with a toy like that. But this one reminded him of Dakota. So he placed it next to him under the tree.

“Do you think he likes it?” said Meredith.

“I’m sure he does,” said John. They left the room.

Bailey looked at the cute little stuffed animal. Suddenly it winked at him.

“Hi, Bailey!” it said. “Remember me?” It wasn’t a stuffed animal at all!

“Dakota!” said Bailey. “What are you doing here?”

“My mom said you so were so good to me that I should come visit you and help you spread the message about global warming,” said Dakota.

“That’s great!” said Bailey. “But how did you find my mom and dad? A nd why did they think you’re a stuffed animal? How? What? When? Where? Why?”

“Those are all good questions,” said Dakota. “But for now they’ll have to stay a secret. Let’s just say I had some help from one of your friends.” He pointed his paw at Sparkle.

“Hey, what are Christmas ornaments for?” said Sparkle.

“I’m so glad,” said Bailey. “I just wish the beluga whales could be here.”

“I’m working on it,” said Sparkle. “Believe me, I’m working on it.”

As Bailey, Dakota and Sparkle settled into their favorite Christmas ever, they knew that their real adventure was just beginning . . .

Bailey and the Arctic Secret copyright 2010 by Meredith Forbes and John Marshall. All rights reserved.

Want to help save the Polar Bears?

1) The WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is a world leader in Polar Bear Conservation. Learn more about their efforts to save these amazing animals.

2) The NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is doing great work as well!

Get your Polar Action Guide or become a Den Defender.

3) Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Bear Naked Wipes (Sephora)
Erase your face, not the polar bear race!

Wipe off makeup and dirt nature's way, with a blend of natural and healthy ingredients including aloe vera, cucumber, and vitamin E. Free of fragrance, parabens, and petrochemicals, these luxuriously soft wipes are kind to tender eyes and skin and are biodegradable. Leave your skin feeling nourished and refreshed!

And in support of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Polar Bear SOS initiative, Josie Maran will donate a portion of every package sold to protect these endangered animals.

What You Can Do Water Conservation Challenge

2011-02-05T00:35:00.001-05:00

"What You Can Do" is an amazing web series created by my good friend Jessica Arinella and
On The Leesh Productions. She created this project to show people what they can do to
help change the world in one minute. I was lucky enough to be asked to be a guest blogger
for her Water Conservation Challenge!

A Passionate Truth

2011-01-26T09:39:00.000-05:00

I went to a seminar last weekend called "Crash Course MBA" given by The Savvy Actor.

I loved it and learned a lot of new things about myself, promoting myself, and promoting my business.

There were two themes that kept resonating with me throughout the weekend. One was "Branding" and the other was "Passion."
Well, before I can begin to brand myself, I have to focus on my passion.

In the words of Irene Cara in Flashdance, "Take your passion and make it happen."

So I thought about what they asked. "What am I so passionate about that it gets me out of bed every day? What drives me?"

Of course, there's my husband, my dog, my family. And of course, The Bachelor.

But there's also helping the planet.

My journey began in 2007 after watching An Inconvenient Truth. After the ending credits, I went to their website and printed out the "Ten things you can do to help the environment."

The very next day I was at the store buying CFL lightbulbs, changing out my cleaning products, demanding that we not use anymore plastic bags, buying reusable water bottles and running around the apartment unplugging things.

I was a maniac.

And I remember thinking, "Is that it? Am I finished?"

And the answer was "For the time being . . . yes."

I had made a start and done all I could do within my four walls at that time. With those five simple acts, I had made a huge change.

But it wasn't enough for me. I became addicted and wanted to do more.

I wanted to purchase carbon offsets for every piece of traveling I did (ok...the traveling I want to do). I wanted to walk more and switch solely to public transportation...no more cabs.

I devoured information about what was really going on with our environment. I started yelling at people who didn't get it. I started a blog. I became obsessed.

This was why I get out of bed in the morning.

So - passion? - check.

Branding.

How do I brand myself?

The crazy tree hugger?

The insane trash picker?

The off-her-rocker/carry-her-groceries-home-in-her-arms-rather-than-take-a-plastic-bag girl?

Or maybe just a concerned guest of this planet. Who gets a little too passionate sometimes. By expressing herself to obtuse grocery store managers about using too much confetti.

But that's OK. Because of my passion, I feel better now when I go to bed.

And even when I watch The Bachelor.

T0:0:0:0XICITY

2011-01-18T16:26:00.015-05:00

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN PAYMENT AND CHECK-OUT.

ALL EVENTS ARE IN REAL TIME.

Scene One

FADE IN

The President has just finished an important speech in California and is greeting well-wishers on his way to his limo. A young woman holds out her hand. Smiling, he stops and shakes it. She moves on, but he doesn't. His hand has been poisoned with toxic chemicals. He collapses and almost dies.

FADE TO BLACK

Scene Two

FADE IN

A young woman has just finished an important shopping excursion in a New York store and has paid the check-out clerk. The clerk holds out the receipt. Smiling, the woman takes it. The clerk moves on to the next customer. The woman looks at her hand in disbelief. It has been poisoned with toxic chemicals. She doesn't collapse . . . but the toxins are getting her, just the same.

FADE TO BLACK

The first scene is from the second season of 24.

The second is from at least the last 24 stores I've shopped in.

The toxic substance in the first was fictional. The substance in the second is not.

I have recently learned that the receipts we are given every day from grocery stores, ATM's, restaurants and even the US Postal Service, are toxic.

If 24 taught us nothing else, it's that evil can lurk in the commonest places.

I've spent so much time warning about the toxins in make-up and plastic - and they were literally, right in my hands.

So what is the substance that even Jack Bauer couldn't stop?

Bisphenol A. More commonly known as BPA.

BPA is a carbon compound found in clear, hard, nearly shatter-proof plastic used in reusable bottles, canned foods, baby bottles, CD's, DVD's, medical equipment, fillings and sporting equipment, to name just a few products. It is usually identified by the number "7" in the triangle on the bottom of the object.

Unfortunately, lucky number "7" is something of a catch-all number (and not so lucky) but if the plastic is hard, it's probably using BPA unless it states otherwise.

It is also an endocrine disruptor which can lead to health problems.

Organizations like the the Endocrine Society and the Environmental Working Group are expressing concern over BPA and its effects on the human body.

Tests that have been conducted thus far on mice and rats have shown BPA to have an effect on infant brain development, obesity, neurological disorders (memory, learning, mood) and there may even be a connection to breast and prostate cancers.

CNN has reported that some thermal paper receipts (when the heat is applied to the paper, the BPA reacts with the dye, releasing the toxins) were found to carry 250 to 1000 times more BPA than the common products I've listed above.

A recent Swiss study showed that BPA in receipts penetrates deep into the skin where it cannot be washed away.

The average adult consumes 1 microgram of BPA for every 2.2 pounds of body weight. This microgram is considered a trace amount. To understand a microgram, the New York Times compares it to a single M&M that has been cut up into a 100,000 pieces, one of those pieces being the equivalent to a microgram.

And while more research is being done, a recent Swiss study showed that the BPA in these receipts penetrates deep into the skin where it cannot be washed away.

The good news is that companies like Starbucks and Target are switching paper so that their receipts are BPA-free or only contain trace amounts. Appleton Papers, one of the largest producers of thermal paper, no longer uses BPA.

I found out about the receipt problem through a fellow blogger...Green LA Girl. Others are finding out through news reports and environmental agencies. Whichever way you find out, it's clear that we need more research. In the meantime, let's not only protect the trees, let's protect ourselves.

Right now you can say no to receipts. Or ask that they be emailed to you.

What I'm really hoping is that soon THIS scene will be common . . .

Scene Three (Sometime in the Near Future)

FADE IN

Jack Bauer: Can I help you ma'am? You called CTU about a receipt problem.

Meredith Forbes: That's all right. It's been solved. I'm saying "no" to receipts now.

Jack Bauer: So you don't need me to save you?

Meredith Forbes: I didn't say that.

FADE TO GREEN

24 Photo Credit - Wikia.com

Meredith Mnemonic

2011-01-12T09:37:00.021-05:00

Here we are...a little more than a week into the new year and I'm already forgetting what it was I resolved to do!

Some say it takes 21 days to establish a new habit, others say two months. But if I can't remember which habit I'm supposed to be creating, it won't matter either way.

So I decided to make things easier on myself. I've heard of Meatless Mondays, so I've created some other mnemonic devices for habits that I want to instill.

MEATLESS MONDAYS
Not only is it good for our health, but it's good for the planet. The meat industry contributes to half of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions! If every American gave up meat on just Monday's, it would cut down meat consumption by 14% which would significantly reduce methane emissions. Instead, opt for veggie, legume and whole grain based meals. And there's nothing like a great pasta primavera! (http://www.meatlessmonday.com/)

TAKE TWO TUESDAYS
Two reusable bags that is. We already know that plastic bags are killing our sea life and our environment so let's cut down. Do a purse (or pocket) check to make sure you've got at least two reusable bags in there for those impromptu trips to the market. Chico makes a great little bag that folds into itself taking up almost no space in your bag. T hey're cheap, sturdy, come in fun colors and last a long time. And note this...one reusable bag is the equivalent of 1000 plastic bags during the lifetime of the bag!

WALKING WEDNESDAYS
It's time to get off my butt and off the bus and walk to work. I know this isn't possible for everyone, but if you can cut down on your transportation at all, every little bit helps. Gas, exhaust, traffic congestion...they spell trouble for the planet. For me, just by walking to work, I've added in two miles of exercise! And get this...according to Bikes Belong, "If 10% of NYC commuters walked or biked to work instead of driving or taking transit just once per week, they could save 120 million pounds of CO2 emissions per year, equivalent to the amount released by the homes of 25,000 New Yorkers."

THIRSTY THURSDAYS
Not only will I make sure I drink my eight 8-ounce glasses of water, but I'll do so without a plastic water bottle (no BPA for me) or bottled water (save money and less trash). You'll be sure to see me with my Kleen Kanteen and Brita pitcher. If you drink 3 bottles of water a day, you'd be keeping 156 plastic water bottles our of our oceans and landfills a year!

FIVE-MINUTE FRIDAYS
Skip the long, hot shower and opt for a 5-minute one. The average person showers for more than eight minutes and uses an average of almost 20 gallons of water. By using a timer and taking a 5-minute shower, you'll not only save water, but you'll also save the energy it takes to heat the water. Less water and less money!

SHOPLESS SATURDAYS
Not shop less...shopless! I know that on the weekends, we like to catch up on all those sales but if we have one day a week where we don't buy anything, not only are we saving money, but we're consuming less "things." Less packaging plus less stuff equals a better environment.

LOCAL SUNDAYS
What better day than the day of rest to travel leisurely through your local farmer's market and choose beautiful, seasonal and local fruits, veggies, meats and cheeses.

I've been trying this little project out for the past week and so far, so good.

New resolution: focus on these mnemonic devices...and how to spell "mnemonic."

AULD LANG GREEN

2011-01-03T16:11:00.005-05:00

About an hour after I posted "When You Wish Upon A (Times Square) Ball," I went out to run some errands. I found myself at The Vinegar Factory, a spin off of Zabars for the Upper East Siders. We usually only buy their bread since their staples, like butter, run about $12/pound. (Really. I'm not kidding. Airport food courts have more reasonable prices.)

As I walked in, I was literally attacked by mounds and mounds of confetti. On the floors, draped over the wooden beams. It was as if The Vinegar Factory were storing it for the Times Square party later that night.

Of course, I had just written my blog about the Times Square confetti and was really uncomfortable. I grabbed my loaf of bread, paid my bill and had my hand on the door, but I stopped. I asked to speak to the manager. He walked over to me, oblivious to all the non-recyclable debris.

I calmly stated my disapproval. Actually, I said I was "appalled."

He became defensive. "Times Square does it! This is nothing!"

To which I replied, "That doesn't mean you have to! You should set an example. This is hurting our environment!"

He then proceeded to tell me that he didn't care and that, besides, everyone else liked it.

I squeezed in one last "appalling" as I realized everyone on line was staring at me.

I went home wondering if I was too self-righteous or not self-righteous enough.

I kept thinking about how the manager compared his store to Times Square. Aside from the fact that the city probably paid for the celebration every year what his customers paid for potatoes, was there any point in attacking a little pile of confetti when there was going to be an even bigger pile downtown?

Of course there was. Small steps add up. Many times you write in telling me about small steps here and there and that's terrific!

But I have to thank the manager for giving me something he probably didn't count on: an idea. I'm contacting Mayor Bloomberg about the confetti in Times Square.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

When You Wish Upon A (Times Square) Ball

2010-12-31T12:12:00.008-05:00

Last night, John did a comedy show in Times Square. The day before New Year's Eve and the area was already a complete zoo. It took us longer to get from the subway to the theater than from our apartment to Times Square.

Thousands of tourists were wandering around, staring at the giant crystal ball, or rather, where the giant crystal ball was going to be placed on top of the lovely Toshiba sign. Although right now the only thing that was dropping was people's resistance to buying those awful plastic hats and other accoutrements which are required for New Year's Eve.

I have actually never taken part in this New York City tradition. At one time I thought it would be a cool idea but as I get older, the idea of being trapped in a space with no bathrooms surrounded by thousands of people has pretty much lost its appeal.

Bathrooms and crowds aside, I was curious to learn just how eco-friendly this ball drop would be.

The Waterford Crystal Ball which weighs in at over 11,000 pounds, is illuminated with over 32,000 Philips LED lights. That was encouraging.

I also found out that Duracell will be illuminating the "2011" numerals with human power for the third year in a row! How is this done you ask? Last year, my good friend Audrey, her daughter Mackenzie and me rode stationary bikes that were set up in Duracell's Power Lab in Times Square. Each push of the pedal captures our energy and converts it into power.

So far, so good! But then . . .

Thanks to Carnival Cruise, there is a big wishing wall in Times Square where thousands of visitors can leave their hopes and dreams for 2011.

On an official piece of 2011 confetti.

And at the stroke of midnight, one TON of these wishes will be dropped on Times Square.

I'm sorry...I just have to catch my breath for a second.

ONE TON?!

That's one ton of paper falling to slushy, post-blizzard streets, clearly unable to be recycled. That's 24 trees that will no longer get to have their branches blow in the wind. All to say Happy New Year! (More like Crappy New Year)

I boycotted the wishing wall and vowed to make my wish on the crystal ball as it hits the "2011" numerals. Eco-friendly and magical.

I leave you with this...

Tonight at midnight

Anticipate with delight!

Forgo the confetti

And have your wish ready

For 2011

Will bring nothing but heaven!

Ornaments On The Tree

2010-12-17T14:17:00.005-05:00

Even as a child, in the not-so-green 1970's, I remember traditions that helped make a Green Christmas.

My mom would bundle up my sister and me and take us for a walk down the block to Mrs. Randall's house. Mrs. Randall was an older woman who had a tree farm. She also was the only person in the neighborhood who would hand out apples on Halloween.

The four of us (mom, dad, Melissa and me) would pick out our tree (which I'm fairly certain wasn't covered with pesticides) and take it home, where my dad would then secure it to the bannister for dear life. (This was the result of my cousins and I running around our living room one December evening and knocking over the tree. Our parents came back from a night on the town to find all of their precious decorations in pieces on the floor.)

My mom would get our ornaments from the attic and my sister and I would run to the box and argue over which ones were ours.

We carefully hung each ornament, reminiscing about where it came from and fighting for prime front-of-the-tree real estate. Early on, my mom and dad made up a rule that was pretty eco-friendly -- only ornaments with meaning could go on the tree.

The ones I remember most clearly were the angels. Mine was green, Melissa's was pink. Although even that was debatable. They were gifts from my grandmother.

We had antique ornaments -- the kind made from glass -- from our neighbors, The Jobin's. They were very delicate and only mom was allowed to hang those up.

As we got older, my parents started a new tradition. Each year, we'd get an ornament representing something from that year. Like the year I went to Ireland with my mom and she got me a lamb. It's a tradition that I continue with my niece and nephew.

Our magnificent tree towered above us, its festive branches protecting us and our gifts while each ornament -- and its memories -- glowed from the lights. We marvelled at our tree every chance we got.

As the years went on, our real tree was replaced by a fake one because of my sister's asthma. Now we know that a fake tree is worse than a real one because of all the BPA's and formaldehyde used to make it.

Now in New York City, my Christmas trees come from city sidewalks. Temporary forests magically appear outside drug stores and Starbucks. This year, John and I went to find one in the arbor outside a local deli. Actually, I had already picked it out. It was this big, round, fat Fraser fir that I had seen on the corner for weeks. It was meant for us. Every time I passed it, it said, "Take me home!" (And "Don't settle for the asking price!")

The salesman saw how much I loved it and gave us a great deal. Like Upper East Side Paul Bunyans (or so we thought), we declined to wrap the tree in plastic (of course) and shlepped our new green friend four blocks to our building, where we carried it up six flights to our apartment. Once inside, we realized we had the perfect tree . . . and the smallest stand.

I went back to the nursery-deli to buy a bigger one. Our salesman looked both ways and told me to take it . . . his boss wasn't there. I thanked him profusely! We now call him Deli Claus.
Every night I lay on my couch and gaze at the ornaments. A penguin in a pink tutu from my dear friend Ruth in Ireland. A glittered sea shell from a trip to Florida to visit my family. A giant Paddington Bear - my most favorite bear of all. And a personal favorite -- a giant sequined ball with a snowman on it, taken when I was living in Washington, DC during a visit to see the National Christmas Tree. Many of the ornaments had fallen and broken and this was one of the ones we salvaged.

These ornaments allow me to remember my mom, dad, sister, good friends and memorable trips that have contributed to our special tree.

And every night I wander over to Mrs. Randall's house in my mind and remember the amazing childhood Christmases that I was blessed with.

I wish you all the greenest of holidays with lots of memories!

Picture Perfect Packages

2010-12-15T14:48:00.007-05:00

One year, my mom gave me a photo album for Christmas. It's a cardboard album, kind of like a children's board book. It's red with a Christmasy design on the cover and a green satin ribbon that ties it together. Every year I put a picture of John, me and Bailey in it representing that particular year's Christmas.

I love pulling it out and looking through it but this year, I realized I forgot to add 2009's picture.

I went online to the Kodak Gallery where I store many of my pictures that I want to print and found the perfect one. I ordered it immediately.

A couple of days later at work, I was informed that I had a package. I went downstairs to our receiving dock and was handed a good-sized box. 12" x 10" x 1", to be exact.

I hadn't ordered anything so I couldn't figure out what it was. An early Christmas present perhaps?

I got it back to my office and opened it. Inside was a piece of heavy-duty cardboard covered in plastic wrap. I opened it and removed a blank, yellow piece of paper that had been resting against the cardboard. What was behind the piece of paper was appalling.

Behind the piece of paper was my Christmas picture. A 4" x 6" picture, to be exact.

I immediately went to Kodak's website and filed a complaint with their customer service.

After waiting for a response for almost three days, I finally received an email. After a token "we're sorry" and "we'll pass off your complaint to the powers that be," they blamed their packaging on the US Postal Service! They clearly weren't aware that the US Postal Service actually strives for a green footprint!

No, no. They weren't getting off this easy.

I wrote back. This was not acceptable! What were they going to do? They were at risk of losing a customer.

Two weeks went by. No response.

And then...I heard from them.

More token apologies for my inconvenience. MY inconvenience? How about the tree's inconvenience?!

They further explained how they strive to have your photos arrive safely. Really? I've ordered from other photo websites. Wouldn't a simple cardboard or padded envelope have sufficed?

The next paragraph: "You might consider our level of packaging to be way above standards, when compared to others within the industry. Please note that this is done to assure the overall safety of your placed order."

Above standards? What standards? I just want my small, flat picture!

They ended by "understanding my concerns," forwarding the email to their labs and offering me a $5 coupon on a future order. Don't think I'll be taking them up on that. Can you imagine how five pictures would be packaged? I'd need a cab for the box to get home!

After this atrocity, I started to re-think my shipping methods. Of course Christmas is the time for exchanging presents with loved ones near and far. And I, like many, will be shipping gifts.

So instead of buying boxes, I've been taking boxes from work. Not new ones! Ones that our orders were shipped in...reused.

I'm also cutting down on my wrapping paper supplies. During the holiday season, Americans will throw away approximately 4 million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bags.

This year, think of creative ways to wrap your presents. How about wrapping your gift in a brand new dish towel or a comfy sweater? Or use the funny pages, paper bags from the grocery store or recycled wrapping paper.

Regardless of what you use, make sure to reuse or recycle it and don’t forget to bring along your reusable bag on your holiday shopping spree!

But please don't send 4" x 6" good wishes in a 12" x 10" package!

Happy shopping (and shipping)!

Shopping in a Greener Wonderland

2010-11-29T19:29:00.011-05:00

This past weekend, the Holiday Market in Union Square opened. There is a holiday market in Bryant Park, one in Grand Central and one in Columbus Circle, but this is my favorite as it has the most booths and I've been very lucky in the past finding fun, eco gifts.

I dragged John down there to help me go on my green expedition.

Or so he thought.

I really dragged him down there to give him ideas of what he could get me for Christmas.

I could barely contain myself as we made our way into the maze of red and white striped kiosks.

Hats, chess boards, hot apple cider and Turkish tiles. Nothing eco yet. Puppets, wooden cutting boards (not sustainable wood), ornaments. Zilch. Where were the green booths?

As we turned a corner, I saw a giant painting of a guy catching a wave on his surfboard. AH!

I grabbed John's sleeve and pulled him over there, almost tripping on a small child.

The painting was in a booth from She Hit Pause Studios. The photographer, Matt Schwartz, was there and I noticed he had several surfing paintings among other interesting pieces like a girl pulling a wagon full of record albums and one of bougainvillia flowers.

I struck up a conversation. Turns out, these weren't paintings but Polaroid photographs that he stretches and then transfers onto water color paper, creating a unique effect.

He travels the world and in between photo shoots, he grabs a wave (or two).

John and I looked through every one of his pieces and each one was more beautiful than the one before it.

It was hard to decide which surfing one I liked best. Was it the girl paddling out? Or the group waiting for the perfect wave with pelicans hovering above them?

I strongly suggested to John that one of them would be the perfect present. I figured I could let him decide as there should be some element of surprise!

As we were about to leave, Matt told me how he donated some of his work to a green school in Mexico and that he was hoping to volunteer there. I became instantly jealous. This is how I should be living my life. (http://www.shehitpausestudios.com/)

I thanked him, told him we'd return and we were on our way to discover the next eco booth.

We didn't have to walk far before we stumbled upon an old favorite, Engage Green. I found them several years ago and have many of their products, including my favorite make-up bag made from recycled paper and a messenger bag made from recycled plastic bottles. I was very excited to see their 2010-2011 line of products which included a very fun red backpack. (http://www.engagegreen.com/pages/shop)

I was feeling good, still high on the surfing photographs. At this point, John was overwhelmed by the sea of kiosks and I knew he needed a quick fix...of glühwein. This mulled wine is a German holiday specialty. Here in its non-alcoholic condition it was more like a really good hot grape juice.

My quick fix was from the organic chocolate shop called NibMor. The most amazing, delicious, creamy cup of hot chocolate you'll ever taste. I'm drooling just thinking about it. (http://www.nibmor.com/)

Down the aisle a bit was it's counter-part, MissTea. An array of organic teas that serve everything from the common cold to relaxing before bed. It's sold in simple glass jars that make for the perfect eco gift. (http://www.miss-tea.com/)

As we made our way through, we ended our journey at Copa Soaps. Again, an old favorite, their handmade, all natural soaps smell incredible while give a gentle exfoliation and a fantastic clean. This time, we went home with Ginger Carrot. (http://www.copasoaps.com/)
It was a successful mission and I got some great gift ideas for the wonderful people in my life.

As for me, I know the idea is to "reduce" but even a die-hard greenie like myself likes to open something on Christmas day. And what better present than a useful gift which supports a local artisan who is also respecting the environment?

I hope the glühwein didn't go to John's head and he'll remember what I showed him.

Happy Thanks-greening!

2010-11-24T09:32:00.018-05:00

When I was young, Thanksgiving was one of my favorite holidays. It was always spent with my family (mom, dad, and Melissa), my uncle's family (George, Carol, John and Shannon) and my grandmother ("Babi" (pronounced Bobby) - Polish for grandmother).

After dinner, the kids would quickly exit the table. There were some serious games of hide and seek, Barbies or Star Wars but as we got older, the kids would head off to the movies to see the latest holiday release.

Every year, one thing was for certain...there would always be a good laugh.

One particular year, my mom had redone the house and took everyone on a tour, proudly showing off the new curtains she had just made for my sister's bedroom. After the tour, we made our way downstairs to the table.

By this time, everyone was quite ready for the turkey which had filled the house with that great Thanksgiving smell and had been sitting on the table just waiting to be eaten.

We all filled our plates, eager to dig in.

But even as our stomachs cried out for the food, the key was to create the perfect first bite.

A little turkey, a dollop of mashed potatoes, a taste of the green bean casserole, a bit of cranberry sauce and finally, a dip into the gravy.

Our forks quickly found their way to our salivating mouths when my mother said...

"If anyone's is cold, let me know".

Silence.

And then my grandmother lifted her plate from the table and announced "Well, mine is!"

We all looked at each other and held up our plates as well.

I miss those days very much, especially now that my mom, Sheila, and my Uncle George are no longer with us.

Back then, our turkey wasn't organic, our vegetables came from cans (that I'm sure were coated in BPA) and our milk wasn't from grass-fed cows.

Today, if my mom were still with us, I'm sure I would be saturating her brain with information on organic foods, locally grown foods, BPA's and anti-biotics...and she would soak it up like a sponge.

This year, I will be spending my Thanksgiving with John's family in Tarrytown. His mom, Maryann, has informed me that their turkey will be organic along with organic veggies!

Here are some things that you can do to green up your Thanksgiving:

1. Buy only as much as you need and carry it home in your reusable bags.

2. Recycle what you can.

3. Choose an organic or anti-biotic free turkey. (Local turkeys are the best!)

4. Choose as many local and organic fruits and vegetables as you can (and if you need to use canned food, look for BPA-free cans)

5. Use real plates and utensils instead of paper and plastic and wash them in the dishwasher which uses less water.

and finally,

6. Give much thanks for the people around your table. Cherish each one of them.

I would like to give my deepest thanks to all of you. I love your comments and your willingness to take this green journey with me every week.

Have a Happy (and green) Thanksgiving!

Picture Notes:

-Mom on our trip to Ireland, one month before her last Thanksgiving.

-The Marshall Family Thanksgiving Day table.

-John in front of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Earth Balloon - Thanksgiving Eve, 2007

America Recycles Day!

2010-11-14T16:57:00.005-05:00

Today is America Recycles Day!

Your most likely are aware that our landfills are overflowing. Overflowing with objects that can take 500 years to decompose. Overflowing with food scraps that give off methane gas (more potent than carbon dioxide) as they decay. Overflowing with trash that finds its way into our rivers and oceans killing our marine life.

But you can help! Every item you leave out of your trash makes a difference.

We're all familiar with the easy stuff -- glass, aluminum, plastic and paper. But what those odds and ends that you're not quite sure what to do with? What about those things you didn't know could be recycled?

For instance...

Have you been throwing away your old eye glasses? "Recycling" those bottle caps? Trashing those ripped socks?

Stop!

There is a place for all those things...you just have to know how to find it!

Old Electronics - Look for an e-waste event in your area. Google "e-waste recycling" with the name of your city and you will get a list of recycling centers and events in your area. E-waste is usually limited to computers monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, copiers, routers, hubs, modems, TV's, VCR's, DVD players, A/V equipment, cell phones, pagers and PDA's.

Eye glasses - The Lions Clubs collect used eye glasses then clean, sort and distribute them to people in need in developing countries.

Old Clothes - We all know you can take your old clothing to Goodwill or Salvation Army, but what about those socks where you can now see your beautiful little pedicured pinky toe? The t-shirt that has so many holes, it woudn't be fit for a lazy Sunday lying on the couch? Cut them up and use them as rags around the house. They're great for dusting and wiping up spills.

Old Towels and Sheets - Donate them to your local animal shelter. They wash and use them in the animal's cages. Some shelters will even take old t-shirts.

Brita Filters, Yogurt containers and all #5 Plastics - Most recycling programs don't accept #5 plastics because it's too expensive to recycle them -- but Preserve does. Preserve is a great company that makes razors, toothbrushes, plates, utensils, collanders and other products from #5 plastics. Click here to find your nearest Gimme 5 recycling box.

Bottle Caps - This is another one of those things that most recycling programs don't accept. Aveda will take them off your hands and turn them into new caps for their products. And sometimes, if you get a nice sales person, they'll reward you with a free sample or neck massage!

Finally, I've found that Earth 911 is an excellent resource for all your recycling questions and needs. And I recently found this website, "A Million Ways to Go Green" which has a page dedicated to the most important things to recycle.

So before you go to bed tonight, as yourself "What did I recycle today?" Whatever it was, you helped to Keep America Beautiful!

America Recycles Day - Monday, November 15th

2010-11-11T12:42:00.003-05:00

Old Electronics. Paper. Plastic. Aluminum Foil. Old Pots & Pans. Plastic Bags. #5 Plastics. Old Clothes. Old Towels. Old Sheets. Used Brita Filters.

Collect them all this weekend and I'll tell you how you can particpate in America Recycles Day on Monday, November 15th...take the pledge!

Plastic Sandwiches and Drumsticks

2010-11-08T12:59:00.007-05:00

When I found out there was going to be a green event at Biz Bash (the yearly special events expo for event and meeting planners) I felt like banging on a drum. Literally.

Fortunately, this turned out not to be a problem.

A group of percussionists were promoting their business at the expo. They would come to your place of business and lead you in some sort of rhythmic activity. It seemed like it was Stomp meets The Office.

They handed out drumsticks to everyone who came by and invited them to play on chairs, drums or whatever was in their path. It was fun. It was cool. But I couldn't wait for the green session.

Or so I thought.

It was called "Do You Measure Up? The New Measurement Standards for Green Events." Not the sexiest title, but hey - green measurement standards are my favorite kind of measurement standards.

I arrived early to get the best seat, eager to absorb all of the innovative green concepts.

The head of the conference came in to introduce our speaker and mentioned that because it was a green event, all their presentations would be available as downloads only . . . no paper handouts!

The speaker stepped up to the mic. She was from Wisconsin. "Oh, good" I thought. Wisconsin must be green, with all its mountains and cheese.

Then she began speaking. In initials. CMP. MPI. ISES. These were the certifications and organizations for event planners.

I began to get twitchy in my seat. This was not interesting. What about the measurement standards?

"Event planners all over the world are moving towards greener events."

Yes! Here we go.

She said London's Olympics would be the greenest ever. Canada was creating an official green certification process for event planners. And the U.S. was doing . . . nothing.

She then thanked us and left the stage.

That was it? The greenest thing I had experienced since getting there was the carpet.

I moved on to the showroom which was filled with caterers, florists, and entertainers. There had to be something green in there.

The first caterer I stumbled upon was the DJ Caterer. This was a guy who played music while serving BBQ pork sandwiches on non-recyclable CD jewel cases. I gave him credit for his creativity. I hesitated as I took the sandwich and wanted to give it back when I realized how wasteful this was going to be, but I had already touched it. So I took the jewel case and tucked it in my bag and recycled it when I got home.

Lunch was next. A plastic container had a sandwich wrapped in plastic, plastic forks wrapped in more plastic and several plastic condiment packets. I don't know which had more plastic, the sandwiches at lunch or the sandwiches on the DJ's CD boxes.

As lunch ended, I watched as all this plastic was being thrown away. Trash cans full of brochures, lunches, food. It was their own mini-landfill.

To take a break from it all, I went back to the percussionists. They were a great group and a lot of fun.

After they gave you the drumsticks, you could keep them as souvenirs. Or you could throw them in the trash. Which is where I saw them. Dozens! Drumsticks that could have been left for others or donated to someone who wanted them. But these drumsticks had been tossed aside like . . . toothpicks.

My head was spinning and I started to see spots. Not green ones. These planners were all buying into this wasteful culture.

I left feeling disappointed. But rather than be defeated, I went back to the office (with my drumsticks) and started pounding out my own plan. To reduce waste, incorporate recycling and bring green awareness to our events.

I realized that you don't need a green measurement standard event to go green. It would have been nice, but if you use a little creativity, like DJ Wasteful Plastic and Pork did, you can always measure up.

Confessions of a Farmers Market Shopper

2010-10-18T12:30:00.012-04:00

A confession: I am a recovering non-healthy food shopper.

Before I went green, I avoided healthy places like the plague (if you can call a health food store a plague). I wasn't used to them and didn't trust them. When John and I lived in L.A., our apartment complex included the Erewhon health food supermarket, one of the best in the country. It scared me so much I forbade John to shop there. (He told me later that he used to sneak in and buy one or two things so I wouldn't find out.)

Now I do as much organic shopping as possible, but old habits die hard. When we lived ten blocks from Union Square, we almost never went to the farmers market, even though we loved it. Now that we live way uptown we go even less.

Three weeks ago, however, we fell in love with all the delicious locally grown food we bought at a Farmers Market in . . . New Jersey (we were visiting friends). I decided if I could bring vegetables back from the Jersey shore, I could get on the subway and go back to Union Square.

So this past Saturday, I went back and found . . . it was still an ordeal. While I love being surrounded by all the fresh fruits and veggie, I still hate the crowds. Every square inch is covered with lettuce, potatoes and people. And I'm not sure all the people are organic.

In the past I've never been sure exactly what to buy at a farmers market. Or even how much for that matter. Each stand is filled with crazy looking, root-type veggies with names like celeriac or rutabagas. I thought a rutabaga was something people drove in the 30's.

But Saturday, I had a different experience. I decided to embrace the process and conquer my inner non-organic shopper.

I took my time, took in all the sights and smells and patiently made my way over to each stand. I picked things up, smelled them, thought about what I might do with them and found myself standing with a parsnip in one hand and a bunch of kale in the other.

With no idea of how I wanted my food to taste, I decided to go for how it would look - I went for amazing colors. I grabbed red onions, blue potatoes, rainbow carrots! If nothing else, my plate would look like there should be a pot of gold at the end of it.

I took all my beautiful finds home and spread them out on my counter. I took a photo. And then I panicked. What had I done? How was I going to eat these visuals?

My friend Jules had taught me some recipes, so I pulled out my cutting board. I started to chop and slice, throwing everything into a bowl. I took out two chicken breasts, drizzled agave on top and laid them in a casserole dish. I scooped in all the veggies around the chicken - the rainbow carrots, the parsnip, the bright red onions and garlic. I coated them with olive oil, masala and curry powders and then roasted it for an hour in a 400 degree oven. What came out of the oven surprised me. It was like getting a delicious, fragrant, pat on the back from the farmers market!

The next morning, I used some more of my farmers market ingredients for breakfast. I sliced up blue potatoes, diced the most tear-jerking onions ever and roasted those babies for an hour. Then I took my farm-fresh eggs, some more onions and peccorino cheese and made a kick-ass omelet that was so healthy a doctor would prescribe it. Everything was so fresh! I declared my lifetime membership in my local diner over.

I couldn't remember what I had been so afraid of. Loss of convenience? Greater expense? I didn't experience either of those. I realized what I was afraid of was leaving the comfort zone. But I had found something better. And tastier.

As I looked I my plate, I realized that I really did get my pot of gold...not one filled with coins but one filled with good health for me!

How Much Water Are You Wearing?

2010-10-15T09:26:00.006-04:00

Water.

That's the topic of today's Blog Action Day -- an annual event in which bloggers from all over the world post about the same issue to raise awareness and trigger discussion about a topic that affects all of us.

Water is already one of my favorite topics.

So today I decided to wear 400 gallons of it.

How, exactly? A big bowl that fits over my head? A dress with special compartments filled with the clear stuff?

I don't have to get that complicated. I just have to throw on a plain, cotton t-shirt.

Yep...according to Treehugger, that's about how much water it takes to grow the cotton to make one cotton t-shirt: 400 gallons.

Hard to believe, right?

Between my husband and I, we have over 40 cotton t-shirts, which means we have used 16,000 gallons of water. Never mind drinking, brushing our teeth, flushing the toilet or cooking. This was just for souvenirs from old Dylan and Duran Duran concerts.

I freaked. This is me we're talking about. The one that yells at the people in the bathroom for running the water. The one that complains about guys hosing down sidewalks on a rainy day. And here I am with a chest of drawers that holds enough water to fill over 33 hot tubs! [Note: avg. hot tub holds 475 gallons]

And it's not just our clothing that's a problem.

According to the Blog Action Day website:

-38,000 children under the age of 5 die from unsafe drinking water all over the world.

-A lack of water contributes to poverty, with parents and children too ill or too busy collecting water to go to school and work.

-Nearly one billion people lack basic access to safe drinking water.

-Even though people in the US have access to clean water from their taps, they drink an average of 200 bottles of water per person each year. Over 17 million barrels of oil are needed to manufacture those water bottles, 86 percent of which will never be recycled.

We take water for granted. It's something that is always there for us and we use it as if it were an unlimited resource...but it's not.

So the next time I go to a concert and want to take home a Simon LeBon T-shirt, I'll think, do I also need to be taking home all that water? Instead, I'll save the $35 and invest it in more H2O-friendly fabrics like bamboo or hemp.

Water makes up 60% of our bodies. It doesn't need to make up that much of our wardrobe.

Join me in taking inventory of our closets and see whether you have a pond, a lake or an ocean.

Let's Be Fair

2010-10-01T15:12:00.007-04:00

October is Fair Trade Month!

Fair trade? What on earth is fair trade? A Mickey Mantle card for a Sammy Sosa? A Sponge Bob Silly Bandz for a dolphin one?

Not quite.

Fair Trade makes sure that farmers work in the best, safest conditions, get the best price for their goods and encourages them to protect the environment.

From the Fair Trade USA website:

"Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

Fair Trade is much more than a fair price! Fair Trade principles include:

Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.

Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.

Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest Fair Trade revenues.

Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.

Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations."

You may have seen the label on coffee as that is one of the most popular items that is sold Fair Trade, but you'd be surprised how many products in your daily use you should consider buying Fair Trade: Fruits, vegetables, juices, chocolate, tea, nuts, spices, cotton, flowers and even soccer balls!

I've become much more conscious of Fair Trade products. It's better for the workers, better for the enviroment and better for us.

Let's be Fair!

Two Years & Gazpacho

2010-09-29T08:46:00.013-04:00

John and I recently went to New Jersey to visit friends and found ourselves in Long Branch at the beach. I love going to the beach off season -- cool sea breezes with that amazing ocean air and not a lot of people around.

We walked the boardwalk with our friends and their baby. I told John if this community weren't a zillion miles away from NYC, I'd beg him to move there.

As we were walking, I spotted a green awning that served as the roof for... a farmers market. Hooray!

We made our way over. It was small, but full of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Add in the smell of the earth from the veggies and the salt from the sea, I was in sheer heaven.

I wanted to buy everything, but what stood out were the most incredible heirloom tomatoes. Huge, crazy-shaped, edible objects that looked more like art than food.

John yelled out, "Gazpacho!"

"Yes!" I shouted back as everyone stared at me.

The first time I ever had gazpacho was at John's parents' house. His mom made this amazing cold soup concotion that had chunks of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, fresh from his brother's garden. It was almost like a salad.

I tried to make it once. Mine was turned out more like salsa. I watched John eat it.

"How do you like it?"

"It's good," he replied.

"Does it taste like your mom's?"

"Uh... It's different."

I learned early on never try to re-create a recipe that his mom makes perfectly...you won't win.

This year I had found another gazpacho recipe from Mariel Hemingway's cookbook. I'd wanted to try it but was afraid to. This was the perfect opportunity. If it turned out well, then I could claim it as my own. And with these gorgeous tomatoes, I knew this was going to be special.

I pulled out our reusable bag and carefully chose my favorite ones, trying not to go overboard since heirlooms are not only known for their big shapes but their big pricetags.

Heirlooms at the farmers market in our neighborhood are $9 a pound!

I asked the owner the price and braced myself for impact.

"$2 a pound."

Was this possible? Without asking again, John and I immediately began putting more in the bag.

We gathered a few more items like cucumbers and peppers. Cucumbers...three for $1! My itch for wanting to move there got stronger.

We got home and I carefully removed each tomato from the bag and began making the gazpacho.

I took the first tomato and make the cut. The colors inside were even more spectacular than the color outside! Yellow, orange, red!

I couldn't wait to try it. My concoction!

This recipe was chunkier than the last time, yet soupier than John's mother's. The coloring was different, too. Less red and more... brownish red. Or reddish brown. No...it didn't look gross!

Once again, I watched John taste it. My nerves were on edge. He swallowed the first spoonful and I looked for a wrinkled nose or slight smile.

Silence.

"Wow!"

Phew!

"You like it?"

"Oh my God! This is incredible!"

Hooray! Success!!

"It's completely different from my mom's."

Uh oh. Was that a bad thing?

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No. I love it!"

Then I tried it. I loved it too! This was definitely a keeper.

Local. Organic. Delicious. What could be better?

* * * * *

For two years I have been writing about my experiences in going green and it's been a lot like the gazpacho.

I've learned that you don't abandon an effort just because one recipe didn't work out or the ingredients didn't blend the way you thought they would. Greening your life -- like gazpacho -- can take some time to get just right. But even gazpacho that isn't quite there is still gazpacho.

Going green is not about perfection. It's about a willingness to try, to make mistakes, and to run the risk that someone might wrinkle their nose or laugh.

Even one small step can make a huge impact.

Thank you so much to all of you who have been with me from the beginning and those of who are just joining me on my journey.

To use one more gazpacho analogy, we're all in this bowl together.

Family Beach Clean-up

2010-09-20T13:40:00.009-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, my sister, niece, nephew and I went to the Ron Jon resort in Cocoa Beach, Florida. It's a great place for families with a big pool, a lazy river and a water slide. But the best part is that it's a only a short distance to the beach.

On that Saturday morning, the kids and I set out to check out the waves and do a little seashell hunting.

We were quickly disappointed when we found very few seashells but plenty of trash.

Straws, bottle caps, plasic bags...all lined up neatly where the foamy water met the dry sand.
I pulled the kids aside and explained how dangerous all of this waste is to the sealife and how the fish can choke on the small pieces of plastic, often mistaking it for food.

Theresa, who is fourteen, had heard my lecture the last time she and I were on the beach a few weeks earlier. Once I started talking, she gave me the classic teenager eye roll and continued down the beach.

Robert, who at eight hasn't had time to hear all of my lectures, listened closely and began to help me pick up trash. Our blue sand pail filled up quickly.

"Is this bad ,Auntie?" he would ask as he held up an unidentifiable piece of plastic.

"Throw it in!"

When Robert found an unopened water bottle, he couldn't believe it.

"Why would someone do that?" he shouted.

I wished I had an answer. I could only hope it fell out of someone's bag and the person didn't notice. I hated to imagine that someone deliberately threw it there.

We walked farther down the beach, picking up trash and the occasional seashell, which was now even more of a treasure. We made a lot of headway and decided it was time to head back.

In the distance, we saw Theresa coming toward us with huge handfuls of seashells. When she got closer, we saw that she, too, was carrying trash.

I was touched that, beyond the eye roll, she had heard me.

And I was so incredibly proud of both of them!

Mission WWO-Success!

2010-08-24T13:15:00.014-04:00

In my last post, I talked about embarking on the official Weekend Without Oil challenge which took place this past weekend.

At first I remarked that I was fearful of what crazy things they were going to ask me to give up but quickly discovered that it wasn't going to be as hard as I'd imagined.

Eat more local and organic foods, walk more, use your reusable bag, eat more veggies, don't buy new clothes, make-up or electronics, drink tap water. Basically things I was already doing. This was going to be a piece of cake (made with vegetable oil)!

I chose to accept this mission.

And I learned that this green stuff takes even more thought than I realized.

Because I've been going green for a while now, a lot of it is second nature and I don't think about it. But sometimes, things become so routine that I become sloppy and occasionally, that non-green thing slips in. And that was what was so important and eye-opening about this weekend.

I decided not to go to the beach and instead, had lunch with my mother-in-law who was in the city for the day on Saturday. We ate at Le Pain Quotidien. I chose this cafe because I know they use a lot of organic ingredients, their furniture is made from reclaimed wood, they use "green" cleaners and energy efficient lamps. Perfect for my oil-free weekend.

I ordered an iced tea/lemonade...my favorite. The waiter placed it on the table, along with a sliver of lemon garnish and an oil-based product. One that you use to sip drinks. One that I usually opt out of. But this time I didn't. There it was, smiling at me, as if to say, "I gotcha!"

I had barely made it into the day and I already felt defeated by . . . a straw.

I quickly forgave myself, ate my delicious gazpacho and enjoyed the conversation.

After lunch, I headed over to the store to pick up supplies for dinner. I got to the store, placed my items on the conveyor belt and dug in my purse to pull out my reusable bag...only to find out that I had forgotten to put a new one in because mine was in the laundry.

"You've got to be kidding me!" I said aloud as the cashier was about to place my first item in the plastic (oil, oil and more oil) bag.

She looked at me as if she'd done something wrong. She hadn't...I had.

"Sorry...I forgot my bag. I'll just carry the stuff."

She looked at me even more strangely. I paid for my items and walked out of the store with groceries in hand. And elbows, wrists -- anything that would hold my unbagged groceries.

The best thing about this weekend without oil was that I did a lot less shopping. I stayed home the rest of Saturday and read.

Sunday was a much needed rainy day so that kept me indoors. Until it was time to grab a few things for dinner and this time I sent John out...bag in hand.

He came back from his trip to the store with a horrified look on his face.

"What?" I shouted.

"You're not going to believe this!" he exclaimed.

"What??"

"There is a sign that I've never notice before hanging in the produce section. It says that the fruits and vegetables have been waxed for freshness. And one of the things keeping them fresh is petroleum!"

My mouth hung open. I had no idea that when I cooked vegetables in oil they may have already been covered in it. Was this going to have to be a weekend without vegetables? My head started to explode.

Because he's so awesome (and afraid of me), he told me he fled that store and went to another one where he was fairly certain that the vegetables were oil-free. At least we hoped.

I was proud of myself that I had cut out so much oil of my weekend, but disturbed that there was so much oil to cut out. With all the attention focused on the Gulf, I couldn't believe all the places oil has gotten into that we overlook on a daily basis. Common, everyday items we never even think about.

I mulled this over with a glass of oil-free tomato juice.

No straw.

Weekend Without Oil

2010-08-20T13:24:00.006-04:00

I came across this website today...Weekend Without Oil. This Saturday and Sunday, the partners (Treehugger, Climate Counts, etc.) of the movement are asking everyone to live, well, a weekend without oil.

I have to admit, when I first read the headline, I was a little intimidated to read the list of things they wanted me to give up.

My first thought was my air conditioner. I live on the 6th floor of a 6-floor walk-up. I do not have to tell you that after hiking up the stairs, entering a warm, sticky apartment was not on my top 10 list.

My second thought was travel. I want to go to the beach this weekend...would I still be able to take the train?

Finally, the thought that frightened me the most, food! So much of our food comes in packaging made from petroluem.

I decided to put on a brave face and click the link.

It was a one-page, non-intimidating website that, along with telling us that the US is one of the largest oil consumers, was trying to get 166,000 people to lesson their oil load this weekend. Each pledge accounted for about 6 gallons of oil.

I was still nervous. But as I read their list of 11 actions, I felt a wave of relief come over me.

They weren't asking me to live in a sauna. They didn't mind that I took the train to the beach. And they weren't asking me to starve...just to eat less meat and delicious, local, organic foods which, let's face it, shouldn't I be doing anyway?

Here is what they ask...

1) Walk or ride your bike: Avoid using cars and if you must, always try to carpool. Transportation accounts for 40 percent of our petroleum consumption and is easily one of the biggest areas we need to improve upon.

2) Enjoy the outdoors: Avoid buying new sporting equipment, since oil makes up nearly 25% of rubber. Footballs or basketballs, for example, can last for many years and used equipment is often just as good and will reduce demand for oil needed to make new rubber.

3) Use reusable bags: Avoid disposable plastic. Plastic bags are a huge waste for very little benefit. Nearly 10 percent of U.S. oil consumption, approximately 2 million barrels a day, is used to make plastic products alone.

4) Be conscious about what you eat this weekend: You can reduce oil demand by changing your diet to eat less meat, more local foods that require less transportation and organic food, which doesn't use petro-based fertilizers.

5) Don't buy new make-up this weekend: The majority of cosmetics are petroleum-based, including lip gloss, face powder, nail polish, and more. So avoid buying new make-up products this weekend and research the brands when you purchase in the future.

6) Drink tap water: Avoid beverages bottled in disposable plastic, they make up nearly 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year, so get a reusable bottle and fill it up.

7) Make your electronic gadgets last: Avoid buying new electronics. Electronics take a lot of oil to produce and the gadgets you already have can last much longer than the rate at which new ones are released.

8) Go to the movies or stream them on Hulu: Avoid buying new DVDs/Blu-Rays, as oil is a key ingredient in their production, packaging and shipping.

9) Skip buying new clothes that weekend: Swap clothes with friends or check out the local vintage store. The less new clothes you buy the less oil is used in the manufacturing process and transportation.

10) Head to your local library or read online: Avoid using a printer and buying printed material including daily newspapers. Printing doesn't just waste paper, nearly 100,000 gallons of ink each day is used on daily newspapers alone.

11) Spread the word! Get 3 friends to sign the pledge and help raise awareness on ways they can help reduce their dependence on oil-related products.

I hope you'll join me this weekend in using at least 6 less gallons of oil! Not too hard, right?

The Lonely Orange Folder

2010-08-11T14:04:00.005-04:00

Once again I found myself digging through the trash at work to remove some sort of paper product that belongs in our recycling bins.

The culprit this time...a filing folder.

The beautiful, bright orange folder was sitting on top of the day's trash, ready to be used again but needlessly folded in half. It was if someone had said, "You are not worthy of re-use, orange folder!"

I gingerly pulled it out and found that thankfully it did not have the remnants of someone's lunch spilled on it. I smoothed it out and placed it into the proper recycling bin.

When I sat back down at my desk with a big "harumph," my office mate quickly said, "Oh no," and her face got red. I knew she didn't do it and I told her not to worry. I didn't care if there was red in her face as long as there wasn't any orange in our trash.

Clean Coast Petition Acknowledged!

2010-08-10T14:30:00.004-04:00

I recently signed a petition to my senators to pass the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009. This bill directs the EPA to modernize the technology we rely on to tell us if beach water is safe for swimming. It also takes steps towards tracking and solving our sources of beach pollution.

I sign a lot of petitions and I never really know if my voice is heard...until now.

I received this reply from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. I thought it was pretty cool!

August 9, 2010

Dear Meredith,

Thank you for contacting me about the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009 (S. 878). I support this important piece of legislation which will amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to update provisions relating to water monitoring on beaches. Specifically, this bill will correct the two main problems regarding beach monitoring: that current testing methods do not cover the full spectrum of waterborne pathogens and other forms of contamination. Currently the results are too slow, taking anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to process from the time the sample was drawn.

This legislation will protect American families who frequent our beaches by directing the Environmental Protection Agency to complete its validation of a rapid water testing method, which would give beach goers same day information about water quality conditions, by 2012. This bill will also require health officials at beaches to make quicker decisions about beach advisories and closures. Another great feature of this legislation is that it will provide funding for coastal communities to study, identify and correct sources of beach water pollution.

The Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009 will ensure that beachgoers get timely and actionable information about the conditions of the water they swim in and provide local communities with the resources they need to identify and eliminate sources of pollution.

Thank you for contacting me regarding this important issue. Please stay in contact with my office regarding any future legislation or issue that may concern you. For more information on this and other important issues being discussed in the United States Senate, please visit my website http://gillibrand.senate.gov and sign up for my e-newsletter.

Sincerely yours,
Kirsten Gillibrand, United States Senator

There's No Such Thing As A Free Sample

2010-08-09T10:48:00.008-04:00

My family has one rule when we go to Costco . . . go on an empty stomach.

Everyone knows that Costco is famous for their low-cost, jumbo-sized items, but in my family, it’s the sample stations that are the real bargain . . . free lunch!

We make our way up and down every aisle, tasting all of the yummy delights. Sometimes we split up and when we run into each other, we compare notes: “Did you try the shredded beef near the frozen section?” or “Oh my God…the cake over there is to die for.”

I've only ever gone to Costco when I’m visiting my family in Florida because there weren’t any in New York City . . . until now.

Recently, one opened in Harlem and a good friend has a membership. She invited me to go along with her and I happily accepted. I didn't tell her about the Forbes Family Rule, but I figured she'd pick up on it soon enough.

As we made our way along the first aisle, we hit our first sample station. Asian noodles! My mouth watered.

Ravenous shoppers flocked around the server, who scooped slippery noodles into little plastic cups. I stuck my hand out just in time to grab the last one. What had been hidden behind the sea of grabby hands were little plastic spoons, one in each cup.

I wanted to boycott this sample, but I'd already touched it.

I downed the noodles in one bite and then had to jam my used plastic cup and spoon into the overflowing trash can. What had I done?

The next station was cherries. I love cherries and was dying to have one. An older woman was passing them out, this time in paper, not plastic cups. I hesitated, but before I knew it, she had stuck one in my hand. I looked inside and saw one cherry. One, lonely cherry in one, single cup. Once I removed it, I had a clean paper cup in my hand and once again, found myself jamming it into the overflowing trash.

I thought about the tree that made the paper cup and the tree that bore the luscious cherry. I wondered if they had somehow been reunited. I hoped not.

As we passed other stations and I spotted each stack of paper and plastic cups, I lost my appetite. I was no longer interested in eating any of these samples, let alone making a meal of them. The Forbes Family Rule was being overruled by Meredith's Injunction Against Wasteful Packaging.

I left the store with agave, a pineapple and a sense of frustration.

I thought about the tray of Asian noodles that held nine samples that disappeared in nine seconds and the 15 people waiting to grab the next batch of samples.

I started to do some math in my head.

Let’s say that in a five-minute period, a server hands out five sets of samples (nine in each set). That’s 45 cups in five minutes. Let’s say the server does this for 20 minutes. That’s about 180 cups.

At any given time there are at least three sample stations operating in that 20-minute period. Now you’ve got 540 plastic cups being thrown away into our landfills.

Consider that this is happening all day long. Now we’re taking my basic math to another level.

An average piece of plastic takes 20 years to decompose but a plastic cup can take up to 250 years! All for some free noodles?

So how free are the free samples? What is Costco really costing us? Do we have to choose between convenience and sustainability? Can't we save money AND the planet?

The next time I go to Costco, I will make sure that I’ve had a hearty meal ahead of time because the lunch I get there may be free, but it's one I can no longer afford.

An Inconvenient Spoon

2010-06-14T09:00:00.011-04:00

Let's face it. There are things in life you have to do that are not convenient. Going to the DMV, cleaning gum off your shoe and taking a reusable spoon with you as you head out to lunch.

The other day, a co-worker came up to me and asked me if I had a plastic spoon. Isn't that like asking the seagulls if they like oil?

Once I had picked up my jaw from the floor, I said, "Are you seriously asking me this?"

She stared at me with a half smile, gave a nervous chuckle and said, "Yeah."

I counted to ten. I replied, "I have a metal spoon you can use."

Another blank stare, another crooked smile. "No."

"Why not?" I asked, trying not to run screaming down the hall.

"Well," she said, "it's for my yogurt."

Flashback to a previous blog about a woman who announced that she could only eat ice cream with a plastic spoon, because a metal one got too cold, so she couldn't taste the flavor.

"Are you telling me that yogurt only tastes good with a plastic spoon? Is that what you're telling me?"

She laughed and slapped her knee.

"No, no. I'm taking my yogurt outside and I don't want to carry a metal spoon around."

I wanted to slap her knee for her.

How big did she think the spoon was? Her cell phone was bigger than the spoon.

"Don't ask me to find a place to put it," she said.

I was about to give her a not-so-nice suggestion where she could put it. Instead, in my usual cheerful-but-trying-to-make-her-feel-bad way, I told her that I was unable to help her.

She went off and no doubt found a more willing petroleum-based utensil supplier. Ever since the BP disaster, it's been hard to even look at a plastic spoon without seeing the oil that was used to make it. Not to mention that plastic forks, spoons and knives are not recyclable, so they end up in our landfills, beaches, and oceans. Americans toss out enough plastic utensils each year to circle the equator 300 times.

If my co-worker fully understood hat her choices were between supporting the industry that's hurting the seagulls or carrying the metal spoon, I wonder which one she'd pick?

Or anyone, for that matter.

Please tell me you'd carry the spoon.

I'll Have A Turkey and Paper, Hold The Plastic

2010-05-24T13:16:00.006-04:00

We tend to order out a lot at my work. A favorite is a luncheonette that makes yummy sandwiches and salads.

One day while placing our lunch order online, a bright red paragraph came up on screen letting us know that to help the environment, the take-out deli would no longer provide plastic utensils, condiments or napkins.

I was so excited! Finally! We have an entire drawer full of leftover plastic utensils and a basket as big as a pond overflowing with condiment packets.

We placed our order and waited for our new eco-friendly lunch to arrive.

The delivery man arrived with a big plastic bag. Inside the plastic bag was a paper bag. Inside the paper bag were our sandwiches...wrapped in three layers of paper surrounded by an elastic band. Tucked neatly inside the elastic band was another slip of paper which listed the ingredients of our sandwiches.

To top it all off was a stack of napkins. At least there were no utensils.

As I pulled out the last sandwich out of the bag, there was a final slip of paper. A shiny, bright note announcing that to help the environment, they would no longer be providing utensils, napkins and condiments.

Hmmm. Is it really a green initiative if it includes extra paper to repeat the initiative that you just announced on-line?

And does your sandwich really need the tissue-like piece? What is that for? It always gets wet and sticks to the sandwich, anyway.

And the piece that they wrap around the sandwich and cut through. Do they really need that to hold the sandwich together?

It's enough to make you want to prepare your own lunch. Which I should be doing anyway.

Green and Natural

2010-05-17T17:03:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago, I was looking to find a new facial cleanser. My favorite, Stella McCartney, has been removed from all of the shelves in the US because somehow the organic standards of the EU are worse than the American standards. But that's another blog.

In my journey to find my new cleanser, I travelled to "earth-friendly" stores like Origins and Aveda as well as Sephora to compare products and find one made with the safest ingredients.

After misleading experiences in both Origins and Aveda (both of their products carried at least 2 of the danger list ingredients...see link below), I was off to Sephora.

Upon arrival, a young man came over to me and asked if I wanted help. I explained to him that I was looking for a cleanser that was made with botanical ingredients, minimal chemicals and most importantly, no parabens.

He was very excited about one of the eight brands that are displayed in the "Naturals" section of Sephora.

"All the stars use this one!" he exclaimed holding up a colorful tube.

Well, if the stars use it! I excitedly picked up one of the jars and began to read its contents.

"Oh, you don't have to do that! They are completely free of all the bad stuff."

I trusted him and took home a sample. But something was bothering me. I put the sample aside and went back to the store to do some more research.

I snuck into the store and looked down each aisle carefully so as not to run into him. Finally, I found the product and read the label. It had parabens! I breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn't used the sample.

I decided to check out the other 7 brands against their big wall decorated with pretty green leaves, obviously showing the correlation between nature and these products.

One actually had a list of all the things that supposedly weren't in it on the box, including parabens, yet when I read the label on the jar, it had parabens!

I frantically picked up the other pretty, leafy, flowery patterned jars. Fragrance, parabens, more fragrance! What was going on here?

I pulled a very nice saleswoman to the side and asked her to tell me what Sephora's definition of natural was.

She smiled and said "You are the first person that has asked me that question!"

Really? Was she kidding me?

"Sephora's "natural" products are the ones that contain the least amount of bad things."

Ok. I could accept that. It was unfortunate that only 2 of the 8 products were truly natural. But at least they were trying. And they were honest and up front about it. With me anyway.

But what about all those poor people who want a better product and don't ask what their policy is? Maybe I should stand there with a sign telling them. Hmmm.

Read those labels! Become acquainted with what the nasties are. Know what you're putting on your body, your children's bodies and what's going back into the earth via your drain. Remember that your skin is your largest organ!

Here's a partial list of the most common ingredients to avoid. I pulled this list from a site called Northwestern Health Sciences University but these lists are everywhere...just google them. I liked this one because it had explanations of why these products are bad. And there is a cool app from Gorgeously Green that also has these lists at your disposal.

Good luck and I wish you a very clean and natural shower!

Coal Tar
Function: This chemical helps stop itching, controls eczema, and makes hard, scaly, rough skin soft. It is also used as a colorant in hair dyes.
Product types: shampoos and hair dyes.
Health concerns: International agency government research on cancer says there is enough evidence to suggest that coal tars are carcinogenic in humans. Coal tar has been banned by the European Union since 2004.

Formaldehyde
Function: This chemical acts as a disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, and preservative.
Product Types: deodorants, nail polish, soap, shampoo, and shaving products.
Health Concerns: This is considered a possible human carcinogen, may trigger asthma, irritates eyes and the upper respiratory tract, can damage DNA, and is banned by the European Union.

Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl)
Function: These are a large group of chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics to prevent bacteria, yeast, and mold formations in products such as toothpaste.
Product Types: moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, hair styling gels, nail creams, foundations, facial masks, skin creams, deodorants, and baby lotions.
Health Concerns: This chemical may impair fertility; alter hormone levels; increase risks for certain types of cancers; alter reproductive development, cause skin irritation, rashes, and allergic reactions; and some studies have found parabens in breast tumors.

Phthalates
Function: These are industrial chemicals used as solvents and plasticizers in cosmetics.
Product Types: nail polish, deodorant, fragrance, hair spray, hair gel/mousse, and lotions.
Health Concerns: Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs and acts as a reproductive toxin in males.

Talc
Function: Talc is designed to absorb moisture.
Product Types: blush, powder eye shadow, perfumed powder, baby powder, deodorant, and soap.
Health Concerns: Talc is a proven carcinogen and is linked to ovarian cancer. The chemical has particles similar to asbestos and data suggests that it can cause lung tumors.

Sodium Laureth/Sodium Laurel Sulfate
Function: Acts as a penetration enhancer.
Product Types: shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, face cleanser, liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, mascara, shaving products, moisturizer, toothpaste, sunscreen, makeup remover, perfume, cologne.
Health Concerns: This chemical alters the structure of the skin and allows chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amount of chemicals reaching the blood stream.

Eco-Friendly Unplugged

2010-05-03T10:15:00.006-04:00

Who says you need electricity to put on an amazing show?

Not me.

Last week, my father was in town and we went to see Rock of Ages on Broadway. It stars Constantine Maroulis from American Idol. If you grew up in the 80's or are just a fan of 80's music, then this is the show for you. This was definitely a show for me.

The show is a huge spectacle with its share of flashing lights, electric guitars, smoke machines and a mic'd up cast.

My dad bought our tickets and the lady sold him front row. While I was not thrilled at the idea of being exposed, I figured we'd just have a really good view of Constantine. Little did I know that the "front row" was actually 2 seats that were practically on the stage.

The show opened with "Come On Feel The Noise" by Quiet Riot and believe me, we did. The seats shook from the sounds of the instruments and singing.

The first act ended and we laughed about how close we were and how I spent a lot of time looking at, well, lets just say that the cast does a lot of...grinding.

The intermission seemed to be taking longer than usual and then finally the band came out, plugged in and were ready to play. The smoke started but it didn't seem like it was really getting anywhere. And then the news came...

"Ladies and Gentleman, we are experiencing some technical difficulties. We hope to start the show soon."

A lot of groans of disappointment were heard. The band was called off stage. And then one of the stars came out shirtless and looking pretty hot with his six-pack abs.

He apologized for the delay and informed us that there was no power. He started talking with the audience members. My guess is to distract them. After a Q & A, he suddenly decided that he should sing something. He brought one of the guitarists back out and they started jamming. Singing unplugged. And then a couple more cast members came out. And then Constantine. More Q&A and then they got rocking. Soon, the entire cast was out, sitting on the stage, chilling out and singing with just a single, acoustic guitar. No mics. No drums. Just...them.

"We Built This City", "Sister Christian", "The Joker", "Any Way You Want It". It was great. Soon the audience was standing, singing and cheering. This was better than any Broadway show I'd seen in a long time. They ended with "Don't Stop Believin'" when suddenly, the lights popped on.

Another disappointed sigh from the audience. We were having too much fun without the electricity.

They launched into the second act and uttered a few impromptu in-jokes about there being no power during intermission. And by the end of the show, we felt like we had all bonded.

It just goes to show you that while all the lights and mics are great, you can sit through an amazing, electrical show without the electric part.

The Green, the Bad & the Ugly's Earth Day Top Ten

2010-04-22T09:33:00.003-04:00

Happy Earth Day!!!

40 years ago today, people gathered together for a nationwide, grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment. Their efforts have turned into a global phenomenon and today millions will celebrate our beautiful planet and raise awareness to protect her and her resources.

It's so cool to see how far we've come. But for every step forward, there's been a misstep. Or two. Or three . . .

Here are my Top 10 Environmental Faux Pas Since Earth Day 2009.

10. Finding underwear in the sand during my beach clean-up.

9. Hearing people behind me scream “Fuck the Porpoises” (don't ask why) at a Kiss concert (which used so much confetti that the show actually managed to insult the environment twice).

8. The girl in Whole Foods who licked peanut butter off plastic lids and them left them at the peanut butter making machine.

7. Hearing “Going green is for young people” stated by one of my peers, who is the ripe old age of 53.

6. The Metropolitan Museum of Art employee who offered me a coupon and when I declined, instead of putting it back in the pile, threw it in the trash.

5. The Starbucks barista who made my frappucino in a paper cup and then poured it into my reusable cup, thereby defeating the purpose.

4. At the Grove in L.A., walking by stores that kept their doors wide open with the air conditioners on full blast.

3. Watching people secure their natural, real Christmas tree to their car with plastic wrap.

2. Overhearing a woman who proclaimed that she would only ever eat ice cream with a plastic spoon, because you don’t get the full flavor or experience of the ice cream with a metal one.

And the Number One Environmental Faux Pas Since Earth Day 2009…

1. Seeing a woman hand a Starbucks barista her eco-friendly, reusable Sigg bottle to fill with coffee (you're not even supposed to fill it with hot water) and then ask for the cardboard sleeve because the bottle was too hot.

When It Greens, It Pours

2010-03-01T17:07:00.008-05:00

I have to admit that I love a rainy or snowy day outside. It makes me feel all warm and cuddly. I love to bundle up, put my cute rain boots on and most of all, I love to pick out my umbrella for the day.

I have many obsessions...shoes, handbags and umbrellas. My absolute favorite umbrella is my "Friends" umbrella. Yes, the TV show and no, it doesn't have pictures of Chandler and Phoebe on it. Just the simple logo. It is the second best umbrella I ever bought. After almost 6 years, it is still in great condition!

The best umbrella I ever had lasted close to 10 years. It was a Swatch umbrella...red and orange with a clock on it. So adorable.

I remember the day I finally had to part with it. It had turned into a skeleton and it pained me to throw it in the trash. We said our good-byes, I thanked it for its protection from the elements and then carefully placed it into my trash bag.

Most people don't have any sort of attachment to their umbrellas. I know that because of all the umbrellas I see in the corner trash cans on a rainy day.

Just the other day we had a horrible, windy storm and my friend's umbrella broke and she threw it in the trash right in front of Sothebys. I actually wasn't with her when she did it but I certainly heard about it. I wanted to run outside and rescue it from the landfill. Maybe I could've turned it into a piece of art, so it could be inside Sothebys instead of in front of it.

So many of the umbrellas made today are so cheap, they barely make it through a heavy rainstorm. Millions of people buy umbrellas which wind up being thrown away only to head straight to the landfill where it takes an eternity to decompose.

BUT...there is something you can do! Actually, there are many...

1. Buy a well-made, strong umbrella. Sure, it might cost a little more but just think of the long relationship the two of you will have!

2. Buy an umbrella made of recycled materials. There are so many companies like Engage Green that make super cute umbrellas out of old materials. I even own a biodegradeable one made from a company called Brelli!

3. Don't throw it away! Once you've said your good-byes, return it to Recycling Zychal. She is a fabulous designer that turns broken umbrellas into doggie coats, placemats, bibs and a ton of other cool stuff. Here is her address:

Recycling Zychal
c/o Taryn Zychal
2033 Spruce St Apt BR
Philadelphia PA 19103

4. Turn your used umbrella into a reusable grocery bag! Here are the instructions.

5. Click on this link for some other terrific ideas on what to do with your broken umbrella including using it as a drying rack!

I say let's start an umbrella project! Let's all take that one crappy umbrella and turn it into a work of art. We can sign them, display them and inspire others to think before they chuck.

Olympic Green

2010-02-22T14:34:00.011-05:00

The Olympics are about dreams coming true. They're about hard work, determination, commitment and love.

While each athlete is inspiring in his or her own way, sometimes they also inspire crushes. Or, in my case, a Cougar Crush. What can I say? I like Shaun White… I guess I have a thing for snowboarders!

He's adorable (it's the red hair), he's the greatest snowboarder of all time, he never seems stressed out and of all the athletes, he's the one who looks like he's having the most fun.

But wait! This is a blog about being green! Not about his signature move, the Double McTwist 1260. Because that isn't the only thing I'm excited about...the Olympics are Double McGreen 2010!

For starters…the medals are not only super hip, they're super recycled and made from old circuit boards! Hmmm. Could Shaun White be wearing my old Mac around his neck? Could we be hardware mates?

The medals' design is inspired by the “ocean waves, drifting snow and mountainous landscape found at the games.” They are taken from a larger piece of art and each Olympian will receive a silk scarf of that work so that they can see how their one-of-a-kind medal fits into the scene.

The medals aren't the only thing that's green. The Olympic village was given LEED Gold Status by the US Green Building Council.

The City of Vancouver required at least half of the village's 22 buildings to have 50% coverage of "living roofs" or "greenroofs," that help reduce energy consumption. The buildings also reuse rainwater to flush toilets and irrigate landscaping.

Residents moving to Southeast False Creek after the Games will benefit from the City’s Neighborhood Energy Utility (NEU) project. The first of its kind in North America, NEU will supply hot water and heating to residents by garnering heat from the sewer system. This initiative will reduce carbon emissions by 7,700 tons a year, which is equivalent to taking over 1,900 cars off the road.

And while you can't get to the games by bobsled, Vancouver has provided tons of buses and trains to get the fans back and forth. Bus and train passes are included with every ticket purchase.

Now I also have a crush on the Canadians!

Unfortunately, not all of their green efforts have won the gold. You may be familiar with some of the problems they've been having with smoothing the ice for the speed skaters. It's due to the environmentally-friendly, but malfunctioning ice resurfacing machines. They had to send to Calgary for a Zamboni (which, for some reason, I keep referring to as a Stromboni).

As far as Vancouver's efforts to produce a green Olympics goes, sometimes a quadruple toe loop only winds up a triple, but the hard work, dedication, and commitment do not go unnoticed. Canada obviously has a lot of love and respect for Mother Earth.

The Vancouver Olympics are proving that “owning the podium” is inspiring, but so is recycling and reusing it. The Gold, Silver and Bronze are all impressive, but I say Canada wins the highest honor of all…the Green Medal!

I am ME!

2010-02-16T10:15:00.006-05:00

My friend Jen sent me a link to the Josie Maran Cosmetics blog. Josie Maran is a model and mom who developed an entire make-up line that is eco-friendly (made with the best ingredients) and sold in biodegradable packaging.

I love her products! They look and feel great. Her smooth eye shadows, non-sticky lip gloss and Bear Naked make-up remover wipes are my favorites.

I had no idea she had a blog so when Jen sent me the link, I immediately navigated over to it.
It’s a great blog full of make-up and health tips, activism, and even contests!

But there was one thing that really moved me and got me thinking. It is their “I Am” Revolution. Send in your picture with your “I am” sign and a little description about what “you are” and they will post it on their blog.

So I thought, “I am…what?”

I am aware. I am accepting of myself. I am at peace. I am happy. I am healthy. I am secure. I am where I should be right now. I am hard-working. I am pretty. I am in love. I am silly. I am in the moment. I am a writer. I am green. I am an actor. I am thankful.

Which one most reflected what I am right now...in this moment. And the one that kept coming back was I am accepting of myself.

This is a new thing for me as I am also someone who really does care what people think of me. I am not at the weight that I would like to be at. I am clumsy. I am critical of myself. I am a people-pleaser.

All these things are hard to admit.

But a few weeks ago, I saw my friend Marc. He had moved and we hadn’t seen each other in a few years. He always inspires me and this time was no different. Something in our conversation sparked me and I seemed to let go a little of my insecurities and accept that this is who I am. I am a work in progress. I’m still clumsy and will always be sensitive but I’m me and there’s only one of me.

So on Josie’s wall, I will post that “I am me!” And as “me,” I will continue to be green and do what I can to help make a difference in the world. I will act and be proud of my work. I will write and love my words. I will be kind and treat people the way I’d want to be treated. I will be present in my life. I will be silly. I will work hard to get to where I want to be. I will love.

And I will do so wearing Josie Maran Cosmetics!

If I Can't Laugh, I Don't Want to Be a Part of Your Greenolution

2010-02-08T16:56:00.004-05:00

Last year's Super Bowl got me all hot and bothered because of the confetti on the field. This year the confetti still drove me crazy, but somehow (dare I say) I felt New Orleans deserved it.

The current green Super Bowl controversy has nothing to do with paper and everything to do with a car that was named Green Car of the year by Green Car Journal.

Some greenies are going through the ozone layer in their reaction to the Audi "Green Police" ad, which depicts a world in which Americans are arrested for a variety of crimes against the environment -- choosing plastic over paper, using incandescent light bulbs, not composting compostable refuse and sitting in a too-hot hot tub.

"You picked the wrong day to mess with the ecosystem," says one cop before hauling off a hapless, non-green consumer.

Very little of the controversy stems from objections to Audi's car, the A3 TDI, which runs on "clean diesel" and claims to get 42 mpg on the highway and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%.

And no one seems to have a problem with Cheap Trick's decision to re-record "The Dream Police" as "The Green Police."

It largely comes from people objecting to greenies being portrayed as "meddlesome do-gooders."

But wait! Isn’t that what we are and isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?

I pass out citations practically everyday at work, home and even on the street. I’m constantly picking paper out of the trash and waiving it in people’s faces asking who threw it away. Or giving people their Miranda rights over the using a plastic water bottle instead of a reusable one. And the only reason I haven’t arrested anyone over hot tub temperatures is because I’m not in LA (though that will be my first call of duty once I return).

The earth needs us to be meddlesome do-gooders!

The best humor makes use of exaggeration as well as humanity. This Audi spot has both. It lampoons the zeal of the green movement, but not its basic principles, which it champions -- and claims to embody -- in a product.

Plus it was funny! It was funnier than the Simpsons Coca-Cola ad (and made a better point).

If the green movement REALLY wants to stop being seen as stuffy, uptight and yes, meddlesome, it needs to laugh more.

Look, as anyone who reads this blog knows, I've been a member of the Green Police for quite some time. And I'm not due for my pension for at least 30 years.

LIGHTS! CAMERA! GREEN!

2010-02-01T13:22:00.009-05:00

Hollywood celebrities have been going green for some time ( Ed Begley, Jr., Leonardo DiCaprio, and Edward Norton just to name a few). And now Hollywood productions are getting into the act.

Film festivals, awards shows, TV and movie sets are going carbon neutral.

I was beside myself to learn that my favorite show, 24, is turning off all electrical equipment when not in use, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and using renewable power sources like wind and solar energy. I knew I loved Kiefer for a reason!

Maya Rudolph's new film Away We Go was so environmentally friendly that they are releasing a documentary about the ways they reduced their environmental impact.

Even the Screen Actors Guild Awards got their green on by limiting their printing (on recycled paper), using organic and locally grown food and flowers, and donating or composting leftovers.

I was also pleased to find out that the Producers Guild West has a Green Committee.

These are just a few of the inspiring efforts going on. A couple of weeks ago, I got to be a part of one.

My friends, Sharon Shenk and Adam Schram, are filmmakers whose work has appeared and won awards in many festivals, including the LA Shorts Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival and Tropfest. Their production company is called Sundown Productions and I was recently fortunate enough to be cast in their latest film. At the shoot not only were they innovative in their filmmaking, but also in their approach to the environment.

Sharon reuses all of the napkins, coffee cups, food containers, etc. from the restaurants that cater her meetings. And when she can, at craft services she uses the real deal -- plates, silverware, ceramic coffee mugs. She is also vegan, so the food she supplies is always healthy and from good sources.

We were waiting around for a scene to be shot when I walked onto the set while the crew was setting up the lighting. I noticed they were using CFL light bulbs! I started to talk with the cameraman and he showed me how he had crafted a few of his own lighting set-ups using items around the house (like a used, disposable foil roasting pan). I was amazed and impressed. I not only felt great about being part of the movie, but also about being part of its green efforts.

When I was in L.A., I lived two blocks away from Grauman's Chinese Theater and was always thrilled by its famous footprints. Now the film business is aspiring to something even better than a cement footprint -- a small carbon one.

SIDE NOTE...If you’re into celebrity gossip AND being green, then you must check out one of my favorite sites, Ecorazzi.

Building Code Green

2010-01-22T13:25:00.005-05:00

Every day I walk by a construction site on my way home from work. In the morning, the dumpsters are empty. By the end of the day, they are bursting at the seams. Bailey, my dog, loves to pee on the bins. I like to think this is his way of expressing dissatisfaction at all the unnecessary waste.

In the past, nobody cared whether construction sites were green. They were simply a means to a necessary end, such as a new school, a store, or a skyscraper. Today, it's different. I'm amazed at how many construction projects there are in New York , and how many of them are for . . . banks.

For a building to be considered green, it must be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.™ This is something that was developed by the US Green Building Council. It is a way to identify buildings that incorporate energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

There are some “green” buildings out there. New York City has a few, including The Octagon on Roosevelt Island, a brand new one in Kips Bay and my favorite, Riverhouse. As its name promises, it overlooks the Hudson . Its most famous resident is Leonardo DiCaprio. Right there…how bad could it be! Not only King of the World, but king of environmental activism!

The building boasts using only non-pollutant materials and finishes, and residents are provided with twice-filtered air and solar-powered energy…my dream!

A few months ago, John and I thought that it would be cool to check it out. We walked into the gorgeous lobby, through the halls which sprouted fitness centers, children’s playrooms, billiards area and a media café and into the sales office.

The salesman greeted us with a smile and showed us the 3D version of the building. After talking about the amazing amenities, he showed us an apartment. There were two bedrooms with the space to create a third, an open living room/kitchen with floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the Hudson, a washer and dryer (a slice of heaven not having to lug 30 pounds of laundry to the Laundromat), and a decent amount of closet space (about three).

We drooled, ooohed and ahhhed. Simply euphoria. Then there was the small matter of the price. It was only about $2 million.

“We have to find a way to make this work!” I exclaimed to John who turned to the man, thanked him for his time and pulled me out, kicking and screaming.

We jumped on the subway and headed home to walk Bailey, who peed on yet another construction site. One that, presumably, wouldn't cost us $2 million to move into.

Happy Green Year!

2009-12-29T11:28:00.025-05:00

Happy 2010!

As I reflect back on 2009, I see that it was a year of keeping up with changes that I had already made and finding new ways to do even more to lessen my carbon footprint. But mostly, it was a year of...

Discovery

John and I came across a gadget at the Go Green Expo. It's made by a company called Soda Stream. The contraption comes with refillable liter bottles and we make our own seltzer! We've saved money and our recycling bin has significantly decreased because we're not going through tons of plastic bottles.

Action

Participating in the beach clean-up and the march across the Brooklyn Bridge (350.org and Greenpeace call for action on global warming) with my close friend Jen made me feel like I was really helping to make a difference. I was no longer just talking about what I should do but I was practicing what I preach.

Inspiration

I had the opportunity to meet one of the greatest environmentalists of our time. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) sponsored “An Evening with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.” at New York City’s Town Hall. He was both amazing and inspirational.

Creativity

I noticed how many cardboard sleeves we use on our takeout coffee cups. I’ve been recycling them, but I thought there’s got to be a way to reuse them. So I asked everyone I knew to save them for me. I sat down one night and wove them into a Christmas wreath. In a similar spirit, I wrapped John’s presents in Whole Foods paper grocery bags and used the handles as “ribbons.”

Full Green Ahead
This past year I have definitely outed some bad, praised some good and definitely seen some ugly! But most of all, I have learned so much from all of your comments. I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy days to read about my adventures in going green and staying green.

I wish you a very green 2010!

Plastic Around the Christmas Tree

2009-12-18T15:17:00.003-05:00

The other day I was waiting for the bus and watching the cars drive by. One car sped past me carrying a Christmas tree on its roof. The tree was tied to the roof of the car by...plastic wrap!!!

I stared in dismay. I'm sure my mouth was hanging open. What happened to good old-fashioned reusable rope?

In NYC, you don't go to a tree farm to get your tree. You go to the street corner. There's practically a tree stand at every one of them. Why on earth these people needed to drive to pick up a tree is beyond me. Of course I could add that the cost of driving the car to pick up the tree and drive it home didn't add to our air quality.

The next day, John and I went to get our Christmas tree. (Yes...we have a live one. Check out why below!)

I was so proud that we weren't going to be using any plastic wrap. We picked out the perfect one and proudly brought it over to the tree guy.

He took the tree from us and fed it through this round contraption. He was just going to saw some of the trunk off. While he was at it, he shaved some of the branches off too which I quickly picked up and later turned into a wreath.

When the trimming was done, he fed it through the rest of the gizmo. Only the tree came out a lot thinner. I realized that when he fed it through, the gizmo contraption wrapped the tree in a plastic netting for easy transport.

NO! I was no better than the saran wrapped car! As I realized this, he asked if I was interested in purchasing a plastic bag to wrap the tree in when we were finished!

In slow motion I mouthed the words "No thank you." I composed myself and told him that if New Yorkers leave their UNWRAPPED trees on the sidewalk the week after Christmas, the City collects them and turns them into mulch for all of the parks! But not enough people know this and are suckered into a neat and tidy tree clean up.

We carried the tree home. Actually, John carried the tree home and I'm pretty sure he was thankful that it was wrapped in plastic netting. The sidewalks are very narrow and he was barely escaping clobbering someone with the trunk. For me, I would've rather knocked someone out. Ok. Maybe not. But still, you get my point. It made me think though of all its sisters and brothers that would soon be wrapped in plastic.

We got the tree up the 6 flights of stairs and quickly into a warm, sugary stand full of water. And then I had to operate...carefully removing the plastic netting. When the surgery was over and some pine needles lost, I held the bundle of plastic up to John who felt bad. "Next year we'll know" he said.

I threw it away and decided to move on to my decorating, quickly stringing the LED lights and my favorite ornaments.

It's a beautiful little tree. And at least I know that at the end of the season, after its provided us with much love and beauty, mine will be turned into mulch for the parks.

For those of you interested, here is why fake trees are horrible for the environment:

First, most of them are made in China so the fact that they have to travel so far to reach your living room is a carbon dioxide disaster.

Second, they are made of PVC which is a type of plastic. Plastic is a petroleum based product. And they use lead to make the PVC.

Finally, you can't recycle a fake tree so it ends up in a landfill.

Live trees absorb carbon dioxide, have no harmful chemicals and can biodegrade or be recycled into mulch for our gardens.

Check out the National Christmas Tree Association's website for more information about your Christmas Tree.

Green Thanks

2009-11-25T10:38:00.004-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I am so thankful that you read my blog week after week!

I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to write this blog!

and

I am so thankful for my health, my family, and my friends.

And it wouldn't be me if I didn't provide some green tips for tomorrow...

Avoid paper plates, cups, utensils, etc.

If you have nice china, use it! What good is it sitting in the china cabinet!

Buy organic or local.

Compost if you can.

and

Recycle your cans, boxes, bottles and aluminum foil.

Peace and love on this special holiday!

Pollute What You Wish, But You Must Pollute Something

2009-11-17T16:42:00.006-05:00

Recently, my dad came to New York for a visit and we decided to take him to The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

It was very crowded so we immediately headed to a ticket counter.

We were greeted by a young girl who quickly took our money and gave us a receipt and a handful of coupons. I kindly said, "no thank you" to the coupons. Barely looking up, she gestured her head to the side and said, "The trash is right there."

I gasped. I'm actually gasping again as I write this.

I gained composure and said, "Can't I just give them back to you?" She stared at me blankly. A sarcophagus in the Egyptian wing had more life than she had in her eyes. I stared back at her and said "We can't waste all that paper! What about the poor trees?"

She was not amused by me. She had other people to deal with, other coupons to give out. Without looking up, she snatched the coupons from my hand and threw them back into her pile.

I walked away feeling agitated. My day at the Met was ruined. It was all I could think about. How many other people had wanted to give the coupons back and wound up throwing them away because she wouldn't take them?

A few hours passed and we were ready to leave. I couldn't possibly leave without saying anything or at least inquiring about their recycling policies.

I went to the information desk and the following conversation took place:

"Hi. I'm just wondering...does the Met recycle?" I asked.

"Um. I'm not...hey...do we recycle?" said a woman.

A man answered, "We print all of our brochures on recycled paper."

"That's great! But I'm wondering, do you recycle?" More sarcophagus stares.

Feeling frustrated by their non-response, I said "OK...here is what happened..." and I told my story. Neither of them seemed interested in the fact that those tiny coupons made of trees almost wound up in the trash, needlessly.

But then, I discovered what got their attention. I mentioned that the girl had been rude.

"Oh ma'am! We're so sorry! Please, fill out this form and return it to our customer service department." All of a sudden, they were as attentive and full of purpose as George Washington Crossing the Delaware.

I took the piece of paper and left the Met, making sure to recycle my little metal "M".

Here is my message to The Met. Let's save paper for something better . . . like artwork that my father will see hanging in a museum the next time we visit. Or how about this...the coupons were for discounts to the gift shop. Since everyone gets a coupon with their paid ticket, why not just discount everything and save the paper!

I have sent my complaint to their customer service department. I'm hoping that they realize that being rude to a patron is one thing, but being rude to the planet is pretty bad too.