Celebrate Earth Day Everyday!

Although we have one special day to celebrate Earth Day, we can still celebrate everyday by being the change we want to see in the world. I've seen it posted several times, people are tired of the extended winter temps into Spring. It's as if Mother Nature has lost her calendar of events. By now, we've all changed our light bulbs (I hope!!) but saving the planet goes a little deeper. Here are 12 ways to continue to celebrate Earth Day everyday and help save our planet - Every little bit helps.

How to make twinkling lanterns out of ordinary tin cans: http://bit.ly/ZDYtvW

12 Ways to Help Save Our Planet

#1 Support your local farmers - Shop local Farmers markets for seasonal fruits, veggies and even preserves, jams, baked goods and sauces.

#2 Buy food in bulk or only buy what you need. For excess or to avoid spoiled foods, freeze them for another time (fruit is especially great to do this with and make smoothies - freeze meets, take out in AM to grill that night)

#3 Donate clothing, furniture, decor, and even excess craft, party goods or wrapping paper to your local thrift shop - and better goods can be taken to a consignment shop: the extra cash to go towards a style update.

Teach Kids to help save the planet.

Erek Hansen collected 14,000 items of denim and over 7,000 pairs of shoes to be repurposed into new items! 9 inspiring kids who are saving the world: http://su.pr/21aoT8

#4 Repurpose existing items in new ways: cut off an old pair of jeans for new summer shorts. Reuse cut denim pieces for pillows or placemats.

#5 Salvage what you already have - a little elbow grease, TLC and paint can go a long way.

#6 Support your local Historic Preservation organization - whether by volunteering to help at an event, or help spread the word of their cause through your social media connections, friends, and family. Here in Arizona, check out:

Phoenix Historic Preservation

Scottsdale Historic Preservation

Modern Phoenix - The Neighborhood Network

#7 Throw trash in the proper receptacle - NOT out your car window or leave behind piles of garbage in a mall parking lot because you decided to clean out your car. Also: Be conscious of your surroundings: When you do see trash, pick it up and put it in the receptacle. 

How cool is this?

Dumpster Gardens: Moveable Forests Sprout Inside Trash Receptacles http://su.pr/2zwgVJ

#8. Beside cans, bottles and newspapers, recycle paper towel tubes, food boxes (like from Granola bars, cereal, Magic Erase), glass from scented candles (great to actually repurpose!) and yogurt cups.

#9 Save energy: natural light is beautiful, but in the summer, filter the heat with window panels + sheers, shades or blinds. Turn off ceiling fans in unoccupied rooms. When brushing your teeth, turn the water off. When going out for errands: make a list & map your route to save gas.

#10 Water plants at night. Keep track of plants and veggies with guides, notes, calendars and plant sticks.

 

DIY Garden Sticks :)

#11 Use resuable shopping bags when thrifting, shopping or doing groceries. If you do have extra plastic bags, Walmart has a bag recycling bin to bring them to.

 #12 Recycle paint by either mixing old colors together to make a new color (great for furniture or an accent wall!) or donate excess paint to Habitat for Humanity, a church, or even a school. Recently, I learned about a company whi IS recycling paint to new colors and reselling it. They are called AMAZON PAINTS. Learn more at AmazonPaint.com

Sure, there are other ways to "Go Green" - for example Xeriscaping in dry climates, rain catchers in the tropics, and creating a compost, but these can be more complicated for some lifestyles. The 10 above are things we can ALL do no matter our lifestyle. Jeff and I do all the above daily. Learn more ways to think, live, be and design green at InHabitat.com.

 

What are some things you do to be Green and celebrate Earth Day everyday?

Thanks for stopping by!

GREEN GOODS AT HOMEGOODS

Stores that have pretty displays like Pottery Barn and ZGallerie aren't the only place to shop around for inspiration. Although not as pretty, stores like HomeGoods are categorized to make it easy for you to find a new item for a particular space in your home - but you can also find inspiration to re-invent an old piece, or thrift for something similar and make it your own. For example - I really like nail head trim detail, but this piece was just over the top!

They had it in cream too - but that green!

And it was more unique in shape too (demi-lune) which made it even more interesting.

This is a refreshing way to add pattern to a home. They also had some other inspirational painted pieces...

HomeGoods must really love green too - Even their signs and tags are green!

Some painted pieces were on Clearance, but something like this can be found through thrift. Just use a snapshot of it to refer to to find the color paint and DIY.

Another way to add pattern to your home is to paint it directly onto a piece...

Even if it's a vase or vessel...

The textured white leaf on a shocking green vase looks crisp and fresh!

You might be able to DIY with caulk.

Basics in the kitchen are made fun with color!

Lamp shades are another place to get a simple injection of pattern.

These floral prints are great for Spring!

And even simple green shades can be jazzed up with ribbon.

Sometimes you can find good deals on home goods you can use in

unconventional ways... For example: A Shower curtain isn't just for the shower:

A fun print like this could  be used to cover a basic white lamp shade. You can create new wall art by using it to cover canvas with (just fold over and staple to the back.) One shower curtain can also easily be used to cover four dining room seat cushions (no sew and so EZ - my mom did it to her old chairs with a stripe pattern I got for her).

And of course there are always pillows...

By far - the easiest way to add a pop of color or pattern to a space.

This pattern reminded me of a tablecloth I have, and also the pattern

on some salad plates I've seen at Pier 1.

A great way to get more pattern for your buck:

If you're making a pillow, use print on one side, and a solid on the back.

Clearance finds like table cloths and napkins are good for pillows.

Pillow prints can be a great source of color combo inspiration too.

Green accents can be added to the garden as well. I spotted these fun planters - the cover is actually the dish to catch water. You could probably get the same clean-lined look by using a tissue box cover - upside down and with a glass container inside - to hold flowers in your home (and those are always on clearance).

Got a big yard? Get a big green flatbed!

Other bathroom accessories can be used to hold flowers.

I just recently used two stainless tumblers as bud vases to hold my green mums =)

LOVE the color!

Great inspiration!

But back to the stud details...

This chair was my fave!

Happy Spring and Shopping!

Thanks for stopping by!



INSIDE A HOT HOUSE

To continue the celebration of Earth Day, this weeks Photos for Friday features 'some' photos I shot yesterday while visiting Fairchild Tropical Gardens. This selection of photos is from just within one area of the gardens 83 acre lot - The Orchid House... also know as The Hot House. The Hot House is a structure specified to grow orchids with other tropical foliage - in the wicked Florida sun... and also features two beautiful glass art forms from Chihuly. A gorgeous Caribbean Blue wall created a GORGEOUS focal point and backdrop for these magnificent wonders to cultivate from... enJOY.

And if you are in town, you can not only visit the gardens,

but bring some of it back to your home...

EVENT 2010

EVENT 2011

 

Have a wonderful weekend...

and keep thinking GREEN.

All photos by Lynda Quintero-Davids