Blog Award

As most of you know, I'm fairly new to blogging. Having a blog is a HUGE stretch for me. I don't really do the whole Twitter thing, I never had a MySpace page, and it took me my whole freshman year in college to figure out Facebook. Point is, I had no idea there were Blog Awards floating around the blogging world. So, when Michelle (another blogger, http://ladybugsandmore.blogspot.com/) left me message saying she had given me an award, I was really surprised!

Michelle awarded me with a "Inspirational Blogger Award". She was given the award a few days ago and was asked to pass the award on to five other blogs that she finds inspirational.

Here is what Michelle posted on her blog about Take On Green...

"Take On Green, Roque's blog inspires me to do more. I stumbled across her blog by seeing a comment she left on another blog I follow. Her blog name, Take On Green, is what caught my attention really. I have mentioned Roque and her blog in my posts before. Not only does she inspire me to be more "green" but I also get tips and ideas on how to have more "green" in my life. It is not just about recycling and reading her blog, she helps me realize that. Roque is trying to live a more eco-friendly and healthy life and with her blog, you learn how to do the same. If you want more "green" in your life then you must be sure to check out her blog. I hope you will find yourself following and find her blogs as inspiring as I do. Thank you so much Roque for being so inspiring."

Thanks Michelle for the sweet award and I will be working on passing it on to the blogs that I find inspiring!

Green and Beautiful: Alicia Silverstone

She is green, beautiful, and an inspiration for us all! Alicia Silverstone definitely practices what she preaches from what she eats to how she decorates. Alicia is a vegan (which she claims is why her skin is so perfect), she is a PETA activist, and she diligently practices being green in all aspects of life.

This photograph is Alicia in just one little area of her home (all eco-friendly, of course). She told InStyle magazine that "everything we’ve brought into this house is environmentally sound." If anyone finds more pictures of her home, please send them my way! I would LOVE to see more!




She has a book coming out in October called The Kind Diet... Alicia says "The book is about being kind to yourself, being kind to animals and being kind to the environment, all in one bite…It’s just easy-to-read, easy-to-digest…For those who want good skin, or to lose weight, or for the enviro-curious, this book is for you!"

Here is a link to an interview with Alicia about her new book...
http://www.ecorazzi.com/2009/04/27/exclusive-alicia-silverstone-chats-with-ecorazzi-at-heart-of-green-awards/#more-15904

If you are interested in her book, it is available for pre-order on Amazon.com for $19.77 in Hardcover! Snag that!

Just One Last Earth Day Thought...

"It is a beautiful and blessed world we live in, and while life lasts, to lose enjoyment of it is a sin."

-Talbot Chambers

Hanalei Bay, Kauai

Earth Day Resolutions

As most of you know, today is Earth Day! I hope that everyone has something planned to honor the day whether it is spending a few hours outside or shopping with reusable bags for the first time. In addition to your Earth Day activity, try making some Earth Day Resolutions. Just like New Years, make some resolutions for yourself or for your family that will improve the environment.

Here is my list of Earth Day Resolutions:
1. Keep a reusable bag in my car at all times...just in case I have spontaneous grocery run!
2. Practice eco-friendly decorating in my new apartment.
3. Buy more eco-friendly cleaning products and make some of my own.
4. Keep up with my green blog!

**My Going Green Inspiration...over-grown bright pink bougainvillea flowers and palm trees**

Now, it's your turn! Find some inspiration and make a resolution or two!

Watch Movie, Disney Plants Tree

T-minus two days til Earth Day! I hope everyone is planning on doing something (even the tiniest thing) in honor of Earth Day/week/month. I have been throwing out some ideas of things to do or buy for Earth Day and I have another one!

On Earth Day, April 22nd, Disney is releasing their movie titled Earth. Earth is the first film in the new Nature Disney series. For every ticket bought during the opening week, Disney is planting a tree in your honor.

Check out their website for more information about the film.

http://disney.go.com/disneynature/earth/

This is something I am definitely planning on doing within the week so I will give you all a follow up on how it is!

More Reusable Shopping Bags: Kir DeVries

I found this site a few days ago on another blog I follow (MadebyGirl...check it out). Since I just posted about the Gap shopping bags, I thought I would continue the trend and give you some more options for cute reusable shopping bags.

Kir DeVries bags have bright, fun patterns and can be bought in packs of three if you wish!

http://www.shopkirdevries.com/index.html

Gap Reusable Bags: 0% Plastic

I have always been a HUGE fan of the Gap. I'm not lying when I say that it was my childhood dream to be a Gap model. Of course, that didn't work out for me, but I still love Gap and everything they sell!


So naturally, today, my best friend and I stopped in the Gap to do some shopping and I found another reason to love the Gap even more! The Gap is selling really cute reusable shopping bags for just two dollars! AND, when you purchase a reusable bag, you receive a reward...10% your next Gap purchase!


My best friend decided that it was her time to give in and buy a cute reusable shopping bag. I guess she figured if Gap thinks it is cool, then it is.

So, in the blogging spirit, Rebekah (my best friend) and I decided to document the event of buying her first reusable shopping bag! I am such a proud friend!

Aveda Earth Month

Sorry I have been M.I.A with my blog lately! I have been really busy finishing up my last semester of college! But, although I have a lot going on, this is a really important week for my blog since we are six days away from Earth Day!!

So, if you are looking for something to do in honor of Earth Day, I have some ideas for you that I will be posting throughout the week.

My first suggestion not only benefits you, but also the earth! Go visit an Aveda salon this month. I have been browsing the Aveda website and this a company that is doing extensive philanthropy work. Not only are their product eco-friendly, but they have several campaigns going on to benefit our earth! One of my friends visited an Aveda salon yesterday to get a quick chair massage and she informed me that this month the proceeds from the massage go to their Earth Fund. So, go get a massage for Earth Day from Aveda!!

Here is the link to Aveda's Earth Month Campaign....

http://aveda.aveda.com/aboutaveda/earth_month.asp

Tin Can Herb Pots

I am in the process of putting together my first annual Earth Day Party.

REMINDER TO MY FOLLOWERS: EARTH DAY IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22

I ran the party idea by my good friends and they approved, so I've been brainstorming some "activities" for the party. This is the one that my friends thought they would most enjoy....this activity plus organic cocktails, of course!

So, we will be making tin can herb pots! The link for the instructions is posted below. I am really excited because it is an activity that we can do outside, have some fun with, get creative, and make something that we will use for cooking, decoration, etc. And, the pots are so darn cute!!!

http://crafts.kaboose.com/earth-tin-can-herb-pots.html

I will keep everyone updated on how these turn out!

Keds Green Label

Happy Monday Everyone! I thought I would get the week started off with a fun post. What is more fun than shopping...? Eco-Friendly Shopping!

I just found out this morning that Keds (yes, the shoes you used to wear when you were 5) has come out with a new "Green Shoe".

http://www.keds.com/text/greenshoes/

The shoes are made from recycled material and 100% organic cotton. In addition, when you buy a pair of these shoes, Keds will plant a tree for every pair sold in 2009! They have two different styles and several different colors, so don't worry....you don't have to wear green colored shoes to be eco-chic!

Wondering where to buy them? Well, you can buy them on the Keds website and at Nordstrom.

And speaking of Nordstom, my dear friend sent me this link from the Nordstrom website which features "Eco Fabulous Finds".

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/6022791/0~2376779~6008000~6022788~6022791?origin=Flip_Book

Enjoy!

Energy Star Top Cities

I read in my school newspaper that The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program has ranked Dallas-Fort Worth 5th in the nation of cities with the highest number of energy efficient commercial building in 2008. I was actually surprised to see my city on that high on the list, and it makes me very proud!

The article explains that Energy Star buildings typically use 35% less energy and emit 35% less greenhouse gases than average buildings.

Here is the list of the top ten ranked cities:

1. Los Angeles

2. San Francisco

3. Houston

4. Washington

5. Dallas-Fort Worth

6. Chicago

7. Denver

8. Minneapolis-St. Paul

9. Atlanta

10. Seattle

YAY Texas for having two cities in the top ten!!