Day 31 of 31 - Happy New Year!

Day 31 of 31 - Happy New Year!

What are your New Year’s resolutions this year?? Thinking of making any green changes? You know we are!

Day 30 of 31 - What You Can Doers New Years Resolutions

Day 30 of 31 - What You Can Doers New Years Resolutions.

Need some tips - look at our ideas.

Day 29 of 31 - Touch for Hunger!

Day 29 of 31 - Touch for Hunger!

If you have even one minute there’s something you can do to fight malnutrition around the world. By clicking @ the Hunger Site, you can help make a difference in the lives of those suffering from hunger.

Day 28 of 31 - Save Water at Your Bathroom Sink

Even the smallest change to your everyday routine goes a long way… shutting off your faucet as you brush your teeth, for instance. Watch this video for more water-saving tips.

Day 27 of 31 - At Risk Youth

Day 27 of 31 - Support At Risk Youth
This time of year, we spend a lot of time thinking of children. Take a minute and support at risk youth.

Day 26 of 31 - A Last minute gift of pet lovers

Day 26 of 31 - Happy Kwanzaa
Still looking for a last minute gift? What about a gift for pet lovers?

Day 25 of 31 - Green Holiday Party

Day 25 of 31 - Green Party TIps!
Merry Christmas! If you're hosting a Holiday Party, consider some of these green tips.

Day 24 of 31 - Wear your Seat Belt

Day 24 of 31 - Wear your Seatbelt!
Many of us are traveling today. Make a pact and CLICK IT!

Day 23 of 31 - Gifts that Give More

Need gift ideas? Check out this video, and consider giving your loved ones the greatest gift by helping to put an end to world poverty.

Day 22 of 31 - Turn down your water heater

For a safer, greener winter season, dial down the knob on your water heater. Watch this video to learn more about this energy-saving tip.

Day 21 of 31 - Go Green Heat

- Save energy this winter with eco-friendly heating tips for your home.

Day 20 of 31 - Happy Hanukkah

What You Can Do is sending the best wishes to you for a very Happy Hanukkah.
May you be surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Day 19 of 31 - Doing Dishes

So, you took a trip down memory lane, letting the warm water flow over your hands as you washed the dishes…who hasn’t been there? But the amount of water wasted during that daydream is quite the wake up call. Watch this:

Day 18 of 31 - Conserve Water in Your Bathroom

Entertaining guests at your home this winter? Watch this video to learn a fast and easy way to save water in the bathroom.

Day 17 of 31 - Elderly Volunteering

What You Can Do teamed up with volunteermatch.org for this video on how to help the elderly get involved in their community. It only takes a minute to find worthwhile volunteering projects to keep seniors active and socially engaged.

Green and Delicious

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the baking! I love bustling in the kitchen with my girlfriends or relatives. When I reflect on my favorite holiday memories, the majority of them take place in the kitchen, with my loved ones and I partially covered in flour. Not only do I absolutely love eating holiday cookies and other treats, making them brings everyone together! For this very reason, I have decided to share a few of my favorite recipes, and a couple new ones that are worth a try, along with a few helpful tips to keep your time in the kitchen as environmentally friendly as possible.

1. I’ll start with my all time favorite recipe from Mrs. Fields. It’s so simple, and out-of-this world delicious. These cookies taste way too good to be this easy!
Recipe:Mrs. Field's Brown Sugar Shortbread
Mrs. Field's Brown Sugar Shortbread

Ingredients:

1 cup salted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour

Topping:

1 Tbsp salted butter
1 cup (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup (4 oz) pecans, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 325°F.

In a large bowl cream butter and sugar awith an electric mixer at medium speed. Scrape down sides of bowl. Then add vanilla and flour, and blend thoroughly on low speed.

Shape level Tablespoonfuls of dough into 1 inch balls, then form into logs 2 inches long and 1 inch wide. Place on ungreased baking sheets, 2 inches apart.

Bake for 17-19 minutes or until the cookies spread and turn a light golden brown. Transfer to a cool, flat surface.

To make topping:

Melt butter and chocolate chips in a double boiler over hot (not boiling) water or in a microwave oven on high power. Stor chocolate every 30 seconds until melted.

Dip top of each cooled shortbread cookie into melted chocolate, then into chopped pecans. Place cookies on waxed and refrigerate to set.

Yield:2 1/2 dozen

Source:Mrs. Field's Cookies
Page #64
http://community.tasteofhome.com/community_forums/f/30/t/305947.aspx

2. All this recipe needs is a kiss. A Hershey’s Kiss that is! I love peanut butter cookies with a chocolate kiss in them. My holiday just isn’t complete without them! This recipe is gluten free, and as easy as can be. Only 4 ingredients! Check out this great site for further baking instructions. The kiss is gluten free too!
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
One cup creamy peanut butter

One cup white sugar
One teaspoon baking powder
One egg
http://glutenfreegirl.com/yum-yum-peanut-butter/

3. What’s a holiday without gingerbread? Here’s a recipe that’s sugar free and gluten free! It looks delicious to boot! Great one to try out this year. Your friends and family members who have allergies or diet restrictions will love you for it!

http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com/old-fashioned-gluten-free-gingerbread-recipe/

While you’re baking these mouth-watering treats, keep your kitchen as green as possible. Here are a few tips to help you.

1. Kick the paper towels.
I struggle with this one myself because I feel like I need paper towels while baking…lots of them. This of course, is incredibly wasteful and unnecessary. Instead, I’ve been trying to use a kitchen towel instead. They get the job done without wasting anything other than the water to clean them later.
If you can’t go without the paper towels, try recycled paper, or reuse them a couple times before you toss them.

2. Double your recipe, and cook batches simultaneously.
While your oven is in use, might as well make the most of it, and get as many batches baked at once to reduce energy expenditure. You can always freeze extra cookies. Here’s a link to PlanetGreen.com where you can learn more energy efficient baking tips.
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/tips-energy-efficient-baking.html

3. Skip the hand washing, and load a full dishwasher instead.
Using the dishwasher can actually reduce the amount of water wasted, provided you’re running a fully loaded dishwasher. You’ll also be saving time! Avoid using the rinse cycle to further reduce the amount of water used.
For more information on helpful ways to save resources and energy around the house, head to The EPA’s site for more effective tips!
What You Can Do wishes you all a very happy holiday season that’s both delicious and green!
epa.gov

Day 16 of 31 - Learn about the Night Sky

Light pollution: it’s what prevents most city-dwellers from enjoying views of the starlit sky. But it also harms wildlife and contributes to global warming. Watch this video to learn how to help protect the night.

Day 15 of 31 - Help Fight Animal Cruelty

For animal lovers and pet owners, it can be hard imagining life without them, let alone the cruel conditions animals sometimes face. If you’ve got even a minute, there’s something you can do to help.

Day 14 of 31 - Make Your Holiday Party Green!

Hosting a holiday party? Make it green festivity. Email your invites for starters and save paper and money!

Day 13 of 31 - Rethink your wrapping!

Day 13 of 31 - Give our planet a gift this season! Save money, paper, and have fun using green wrapping paper.

Day 12 of 31 - Carpool to Work

For those commuting to work, consider sharing the ride with friends or
colleagues. Organizing a car pool takes just a moment, but goes the distance in lowering your carbon footprint.

Day 11 of 31 - Make a difference with your gifts

Make a difference with your holiday gifts by buying a Mercy Kit. These gifts can help people in need all over the world.

Day 10 of 31 - Click to help Kids

Images of suffering children can sometimes make us feel helpless, unable to make even the slightest difference in their lives. But The Child Health Site reminds us that in just a minute’s time, there’s something we can do to help a child receive much need medical care.

Day 9 of 31 - Help those living in Poverty

Tis’ the season of giving! There’s a lot you can do in one minute to help others living in poverty. Watch this!

Day 8 of 31 - Traveling Green

The holidays are certainly a time for travel and vacation! It only takes a minute… to help the environment by using these energy saving tips on your next trip.

10 Green Gift Ideas for under $20!

10 Green Gift Ideas for under $20!

1. Reusable KeepCup
Who doesn’t need their tea or coffee on the go? Give the gift of sustainability by giving this recyclable commuter cup. It’s dishwasher and microwave safe, and baristas can safely use it too under their espresso machines.
Prices range from $12-16.
http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=956


2. Beautiful Jewelry from Globalgirlfrind.com
Show someone you care for them (and others) by purchasing unique and stunning jewelry from Global Girlfriend. Jewelry starts at around $5 and up, and when you make a purchase from Global Girlfriend, the treasures you buy are woman made, fair trade, and eco-friendly. Your gift purchase will also help support the women who produce them by providing fair living wages, employment opportunities, and safe working conditions.
https://www.globalgirlfriend.com/store/client-side.do?siteId=344&categoryId=252&adId=80584&placementId=213472&origin=&sort=Most Popular


3. Klean Kanteen
This gift is perfect for everyone regardless of age or gender. Each and every one of us needs a sleek stainless steel, reusable, and environmentally friendly canteen. Klean Kanteen is a wonderful company to support! The canteens are perfect for water, hot or cold beverages, and soup. Through many of the purchases you make, Klean Kanteen will donate a portion of each sale to a deserving foundation. Prices start around $13.
http://www.kleankanteen.com/index.php


4. Buy a toy, and donate it in someone’s honor.
This is something that I’ve always wanted to do, and this year, I’m putting the plan into action. I have a half brother and sister, who now in their teens, no longer need any more toys. Therefore, this year I’ll be purchasing a toy for a boy and girl, and donating them in their honor. If you’re in New York City, you can drop off toys at any Toys R Us location. If you’re elsewhere, visit the Toys For Tots website to learn more about making donations.
http://www.toysfortots.org/


5. Holiday Baked Goods
I baked a variety of cookies with my Mom one year when I was younger, and we prepared gift baskets that we gave to extended family. Not only did I have a blast with my Mom in the kitchen, it was a low-cost, eco-friendly way to make a delicious gift. If you purchase fair trade, or locally grown or produced ingredients, you can further help support your local economy, and make the event extra green. You can also opt to prepare healthier recipes, or you can approach the baking like my Mom and I did and just make the most scrumptious recipes you can find. Package the cookies in containers that can by recycled too! This gift idea can definitely be kept under $20, and you’ll most likely create wonderful holiday memories with your friends or family in the kitchen!

6. Fair Trade Coffee or Tea
Chances are, someone you know is a coffee or tea lover. Help strengthen farming communities, and purchase Fair Trade coffee or tea. Check out this great site for wonderful gift ideas. Prices start around $14.
http://www.fairtradecoffee.org/


7. Head to your local farmers market!
I always find unique hand made soaps or candles that are locally made that would make the perfect gift. If you’re attending a holiday party, consider picking up some fresh bread or locally produced cheese, honey, or other delicious baked good to bring as a hostess gift. You can always find something for under $20 at the farmers market!

8. Custom Eco Friendly Bag
We all use them, or we all should be using them. I recently discovered this site where you can custom make a recyclable bag. How cool is that! With this gift, you can assist your family member or friend in eliminating plastic bags, and they will be reminded of you every time they shop.
Here’s a link to their site to learn more
http://www.customecofriendlybags.com/index.html


9. Purrfect gift for a Pet Lover!
We all know at least one animal lover. We all probably even know an animal lover who would choose to forgo their gift to help animals in need. Give them the gift they will really love by making a donation in their honor to the Pet Finder Foundation. They, and a deserving four-legged friend, will love you for it!
http://www.petfinderfoundation.com/help/


10. Make your own holiday cards and gift-wrapping!
Save paper, and money, and have some festive fun making your own cards! They’ll be more personal, and much more appreciated. One of the greatest gifts of all is spending a little time showing someone you care about them, so get crafty and creative! Also, you can recycle newspapers or magazines to use as wrapping paper. Your gift will then include juicy celebrity gossip, or vital world news that they might need to be reminded of.
Price range: Could be FREE

Day 7 of 31 - Beware of Phantom Power

Are you brightening this holiday season with beautiful holiday lights? Watch this video to learn more about how not to light up your electricity bill.

Beware of Phantom Power!

Day 6 of 31 - Make a difference with your holiday shopping

Want to buy a beautiful unique gift that will also help support women in Africa? Make your purchases on www.globalgirlfriend.com, and watch this one minute video to learn more.

Day 5 of 31 - Remember the Rainforest

Remember the Rainforest while making your purchases -

It only takes a minute to help save the world’s rainforests. Watch this video for tips from The Rainforest Alliance.

Day 4 of 31 Days of Green - Conscious Buying Tips

It’s holiday shopping season! Before your next trip to the mall, check out these quick, effective one-minute ideas for greener spending choices.

31 Days of Green continues with a Tip to stay Warm

Looking to start a fire this weekend? Why not try this tip instead? Make your own fire logs. It only takes a minute and they'll keep you warm all winter. Also, save your ashes to compost in the Spring. The provide great nutrients for the soil.

31 Days of Green - Rethink your holiday tree!

Looking to get a holiday tree this year? Well why don't you try something different. Join us and let’s save trees this holiday season! Consider a live tree, or think Charlie Brown. Save money, and our forests!

Today is World Aids Day - It only Takes a Minute to Help

Today is World AIDS Day. As we take a moment to remember those impacted by this disease and support those living with HIV, there’s something you can do to help. What You Can Do and our friends at Angelwish share how you can help grant the wish of a child living with HIV/AIDS.

Social Media for Social Good: Q&A with Heather Mansfield pt. 2

In Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits, author Heather Mansfield draws on over a decade of social media and nonprofit experience for clients like The National Peace Corps Association, Safe Kids, and The National Wildlife Federation. Her book provides nonprofits with tools and effective strategies using social medial and mobile web technology. Currently, Heather is on a national book and training tour. We recently caught up with Heather for a Q&A about her new book, and how growing non-profits can best reach the public and spur positive change.


Q&A with author HEATHER MANSFIELD pt. 2


Q: With social media promotion, what are the pitfalls of relying solely on dominant platforms such as Facebook and Twitter? Ideally, what does a comprehensive marketing plan look like in terms social media mix?

I am a firm believer in diversifying your brand online. Having your avatar spread throughout many different communities results in a synergy that grows stronger as your communities grow larger over time. Also, like never before nonprofits are enmeshed with for-profit companies like Facebook and Twitter that provide absolutely zero customer service and little to no support for nonprofits. Eventually, I think this is going cause an increasing sense of frustration and resentment by the nonprofit sector, and unless nonprofits go out of their way to diversify their brand to inspire competition, innovation, and social responsibility on the part of these companies, we will then be completely at the whim of the for-profit Web.


Q: For more established social nonprofits, how important is reinvention and how often should organizations revise communication strategies?

The nonprofits who excel online today were on Myspace in 2005, Facebook and YouTube in 2006, and Twitter in 2007. The Web moves very quickly now and those nonprofits that embrace early adoption and take risks on new tools are the best positioned to reap the benefits. It’s not so much reinvention, but rather always evolving and acting quickly – often on a good impulse. The truth is that the best nonprofit social media campaigns are the best not because of the tools, but because of the person behind the strategy and the avatar. The best social media managers love social media and are always experimenting with the Next Big Thing – usually years before it becomes the Next Big Thing. The old model of waiting for case studies to come out to prove a tool works before a nonprofit starts to use it is dead.


Q: In addition to the book release, you’re also doing a nationwide social media and mobile technology training and book tour. Can you tell us your goals for the tour and how those who participate can actually help support deserving nonprofits while learning more about social media?

The book tour is a fundraiser, and honestly, I don’t think a book tour being launched as a fundraiser has ever been done. As of today, it has raised more than $11,0000 for partner nonprofits. Launching a book tour as a fundraiser is the nonprofit psychology at work in me. The tour is more about making the world a better place than making a profit. I have to practice what I preach, or I wouldn’t have any credibility in the nonprofit sector. Beyond that, I love to train in person and this tour is allowing me to reach nonprofits all over the country and Canada. So far, the feedback has been very good. The content of the training is based on the book, thus packed with a lot of How-To’s and best practices which is what most nonprofits are looking for these days – proven methods that work.



Q: Finally, today is the era of the Mobile Web, or Web 3.0. How is this changing the landscape as we speak and where do you think social media and nonprofit communication are headed next?

Nonprofits are tragically falling very far behind in mobile! I think it primarily has to do with what I mentioned above about nonprofits now expecting Web-based tools to be free or they won’t use them. Now is the time for early adoption, but a couple hundred dollars at least is required to experiment with mobile and most nonprofits won’t pay it. Smartphones, tablets, and texting are changing how supporters and donors consume content, and that means nonprofits need to change how they present their content. Internet TV is going to transform the sector as well, but from what I can tell most nonprofits haven’t even considered mobile or Internet TV. That said, the early adopters of the Social Web – the Humane Society of the United States, Oxfam, Peta, The Nature Conservancy – they are just now beginning to launch well-thought out mobile campaigns and “TV” stations and when they do, others usually follow. I just wish for the sake of nonprofits and social good in general that it would happen a little faster. ☺

Thanks again for this interview.

Continued success from everyone at What You Can Do!


Heather Mansfield is the owner of DIOSA Communications, principal blogger at Nonprofit Tech 2.0, and author of Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits. She also created and maintains the “Nonprofit Organizations” profiles on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, and Foursquare, which cumulatively have more than 500,000 Friends, Followers, and Fans. A pioneer in utilizing social media for the nonprofit sector, Heather has fifteen years of experience utilizing the Internet for fundraising, community-building, and advocacy. To date, she’s presented more than 100 social media and mobile technology trainings throughout the United States and over 500 webinars to audiences worldwide.

Using Social Media for Social Good: Q&A with author Heather Mansfield pt. 1

In Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits, author Heather Mansfield draws on over a decade of social media and nonprofit experience for clients like The National Peace Corps Association, Safe Kids, and The National Wildlife Federation. Currently, Heather is on a national book and training tour. Training participants will also help other organizations, like the American Indian Center for Excellence, and goodnik.org, who will receive a portion of their paid workshop fees. We recently caught up with Heather for a Q&A about her new book, and how growing non-profits can best reach the public and spur positive change.


Q&A with HEATHER MANSFIELD


Congratulations on the release of Social Media for Social Good!

Thank you!

Q: In your book, you draw on over a decade of social media and nonprofit experience, tell us what prompted you to embark on this comprehensive guide and what key tools you hope to pass on to readers?

Most nonprofits these days are very low on staff and resources and they just don’t have the time to experiment with tools or get the training they need when it comes to social and mobile media. That’s what I do 10 hours a day, six days a week. I experiment, test, and through a process of trial and error learn what works and what doesn’t. I wrote this book to share that knowledge with nonprofits so they can better communicate and ultimately execute their mission and programs. The brutal truth is that most nonprofits do not understand the Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, etc. tool sets and are making obvious mistakes. Even if they aren’t aware it, most nonprofits need a little help fine tuning their social and mobile media campaigns.

Q: In a striking contrast with social media as we know it today, you tell of your first online fundraising campaign: emailing friends and family on Yahoo! to raise funds at the Guatemalan school where you volunteered. That was in 1997. Please give us your impressions of how social media has changed non-profit efforts and why those daunted by technology should embrace social media tools?

The most obvious difference from today’s Internet to that of 1997 is that there’s no one Internet fits all anymore. In 1997 the only Web-based tools available to nonprofits were websites and email and that’s how nonprofits primarily reached their online supporters and donors. It was simple. Then in 2003 that began to change with the launch of blogs. Today, there are thousands of Web-based tools and communities that nonprofits can tap into, but more importantly, who uses what tools and communities is usually directly related to age, location, class, and race. So, if nonprofits want to reach all potential supporters and donors, then they need to use and integrate a wide variety of Web-based tools and communities into their communications and fundraising plans.

Some nonprofits – primarily executive staff – still tend to think of social media as a fad (much to the chagrin of younger staff). They aren’t seeing the bigger picture which is that the Web is now constantly evolving and social media with each passing day is becoming more deeply integrated into the structure of the Internet as a whole. In the next decade as we migrate over to the Mobile Web, social media will be the foundation of the next chapter of communications and fundraising, and those nonprofits that have yet to embrace and integrate social media into their communications and fundraising plans are going to be a severe disadvantage.


Q: What You Can Do provides individuals with simple action steps they can take to help solve social problems from poverty, to hunger, to domestic violence. For those involved in social activism, public engagement can be difficult at first. As an expert and leader in non-profit fundraising and community organizing, can you tell about one of your most difficult undertakings and how you were able to garner support, or make the best of the situation?

I think the biggest problem facing all nonprofits today is that information overload is resulting in an increasing numbed down, collective response to our calls to action online. These days people are bombarded all day and night with bad news and negativity. Many people just can’t take it anymore and are starting to tune out. Even I struggle with it… social media burnout. So, I take time away from social media and my communities to disconnect and reconnect in person with friends and family. Nonprofits need to do this as well to recharge, and resist the urge to spin and perpetuate the bad-news-is-always-breaking news cycle. Share more success stories, be kind and generous, and for the sake of your own well-being and that of your communities, ban, block, delete, and report the Internet trolls. They have gotten out of hand over the last few years and are creating an Internet meme of gloom and doom that’s affecting our mental health, our collective sense of hope, and our economy i.e., unconfident consumers do not make donations to nonprofits.


Q: Most important advice to social entrepreneurs and nonprofit start-ups in devising comprehensive communication and fundraising campaigns?

One of the downsides of social media is that nonprofits have now become too accustomed to expecting Web-based tools to always be offered for free. Even if a premium version of a tool only costs $25 a year, many nonprofits just won’t pay it. That is a huge mistake! You have to spend at least a little money to make a little and hopefully a lot of money. If you need to hire a designer to create a new banner for your blog, do it. If you have to pay $50 a month for a premium “Donate Now” vendor, please do so. If you need a custom-designed avatar, then by all means necessary, find the funds in your budget somewhere. The era of winging on the Social Web is over. Donors and supporters expect polish and professionalism in the execution of social media campaigns. It’s tragic really, how many nonprofits are spending hours upon hours blogging, tweeting, and Facebooking while making mistakes that severely hamper their ROI (Return on Investment) simply because they haven’t been willing or empowered to spend a little money or taken necessary training.

Check back later this week for Part 2!


Bio: Heather Mansfield is the owner of DIOSA Communications, principal blogger at Nonprofit Tech 2.0, and author of Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits. She also created and maintains the “Nonprofit Organizations” profiles on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, and Foursquare, which cumulatively have more than 500,000 Friends, Followers, and Fans. A pioneer in utilizing social media for the nonprofit sector, Heather has fifteen years of experience utilizing the Internet for fundraising, community-building, and advocacy. To date, she’s presented more than 100 social media and mobile technology trainings throughout the United States and over 500 webinars to audiences worldwide.

Show us your cans!

Since moving to New York City a little over a year ago, the prevalence of hunger has become an impossible issue to ignore. I have always felt passionate about this issue since I was a young girl who boldly told my Mom to ship the food I was unable to finish at the dinner table to the children she informed me were without food in other countries. Now I see just how many people are without enough food, and I get angry about just how much is wasted everyday. With the holidays just around the corner, I’ve been reflecting on previous holiday engagements I have had with family and friends in the past years. The one thing they all have in common, in addition to the warm fuzzy feelings and holiday cheer, is an over abundance of food.
If you have ever felt like you had to unbutton the top button of your pants to prevent it from flying off and hurting someone, as I have, you probably could have eaten less at a holiday meal. Also, if you’ve ever had so many leftovers that you had to eventually throw them away before they turned into a science project in your refrigerator, as I regret to inform you I have done as well, you probably could have purchased less food at the grocery store for your holiday celebration.
Here in good ol’ ‘Merica, many of us are more privileged than we realize, and live in a world of excess and over indulgence. I know you know what I’m talking about, especially at many of our favorite stable chain restaurants where the size of an entrée is comprised of enough food to feed the entire table! While you’re shopping this holiday season, before you grab the ingredients for the additional side dish you could do without, or that extra pie, maybe stop to consider your health and waistband, but also the unavoidable fact that there are just too many people who are less fortunate and don’t have enough to eat. You can use that extra bit of cash to buy cans to donate to a local food drive.
I feel very passionately about this, and will definitely be reconstructing my holiday season with others in mind. I hope you will join me so we can spread some cheer and make sure others have a nice meal to brighten their holiday spirits!

Tricks and Treats

Happy Halloween everybody!

Full disclosure: Cute ballerinas, Buzz Lightyears, princesses, pint-sized SWAT officers (true story!) and ghouls aside - Halloween is not quite one of my favorite holidays. BUT, there are certain aspects of this day that I can definitely get behind… like delectable treats, and the creativity of costumes that make even the most jaded of New Yorkers do a double take.

Which reminds me, I’ve got tickets to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show tonight. It was a last minute invitation, but having never seen the cult favorite in its entirety, I’m “shiver[ing] with antici…pation.” I’ll even go as far as bringing one of the many props to be hurled at the movie screen… note to self, buy roll of (recycled) toilette paper...

Now, back to the matter at hand, what would Halloween be without a Trick or a Treat?

I came across a site that has plenty of both. GreenHalloween.org, encourages visitors to “think outside the candy-box” and provides families with tips for affordable ways to turn traditionally un-eco-friendly holidays into greener, healthier celebrations. The site is a trove of ideas from candy alternatives, to a National Costume Swap Day, to a thorough planning guide for a Green Halloween Party!

That’s it for now… off to see about a tissue roll…

A happy (Evil laugh, eerie music, gooseflesh… etc. etc. etc) safe, and Green Halloween to all!

Fitness Schedules Benefit Cancer Survivors

Cancer survivors are not at the end of their battle once they go into remission. Treatment for cancer patients often leaves the person feeling depleted, drained, and at an absolute loss as what to do next. Lack of motivation is extremely common in all types of cancer patients and survivors.

Experts have discovered and claimed that creating a regular exercise and fitness schedule each week can help cancer survivors to regain their lives and to feel in control again. Energy levels are boosted and feelings of self-confidence are redeveloped and established once again with the implementation of a consistent fitness routine.

The National Cancer Institute writes about how exercise that is consistent in routine can help to greatly improve the quality of life for cancer patients. Whether a person has had mesothelioma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, or any other common form of cancer, exercise can help to reverse the effects that treatment has had on the patient.

Cancer treatment often leaves a person feeling unable to perform typical daily chores. Although it may seem difficult at first to find the motivation to begin an exercise regimen, once a person gets started with one, the positive results are seen almost immediately. Endorphins are released in the blood stream and these create higher energy levels in the person. Muscles are built back up after long periods of not being used very much. Mental and physical stimulation begins to occur within a cancer survivor when he or she begins to embrace a fitness schedule on a regular basis.

Long-term, healthy benefits result from incorporating exercise into almost anyone’s normal weekly schedule. Cancer patients and survivors can receive even greater benefits as exercise provides a healthy outlet to reduce the anxiety and stress that has accumulated from dealing with the various aspects of having cancer. Social activity, combined with exercise, can increase a positive outlook and help a person to return more quickly to his or her old and familiar lifestyle with a new outlook on life.


This post was contributed by David Haas. For more information please visit

http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/

Thank you David!

What You Can You Celebrates a Breast Cancer Survivor (pt. 3)

Hey everyone! October is coming to a close. We have been so honored and inspired by all of the support and outreach we have received in honor of our Breast Cancer Awareness month. A huge thank you to everyone who sent in names for our Breast Cancer Event (set to go next week!), and a special thank you to Katie Parker, a 37 year old, one year breast cancer survivor/ speaker /writer and a 2011 Pink Together Ambassador who has shared her remarkable journey with us over the month of October. Please read on for Katie’s last blog. We hope it inspires you as much as it inspires us.


I've told you about my breast cancer diagnosis, surgery and treatment. Now, I'll tell you what happened after I finished treatment and how I'm doing now.

One week to the day after I finished treatment, I was terminated from my job.

Although I was given a specific reason, I don't think that it was a coincidence. Yes, I did speak to an attorney. This attorney agreed to represent me and told me that in the area where I reside, it's not uncommon for those who work in the medical community to be let go from their jobs after they finish treatment for cancer.

I also learned that having cancer puts you in a protected status with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This means that there are certain steps an employer would need to follow in order to terminate you if you are protected under that status. My former employer did not follow those rules. Unfortunately, this attorney discovered that she could not represent me due to a conflict of interest. I was provided the names of other attorneys that could potentially help me and I called a few, but they were not interested in my case.

For those of you that have ever been unemployed, you know how time consuming a job search is. The first attorney I met with told me that my best option would be to file a discrimination suit with the EEOC. Apparently, it's a long drawn out process that takes about six months. Who wants to do that while searching for a job/starting a new one? Let alone trying not to disclose that information to a prospective employer. Nor is it a good idea to disclose a cancer status to future employers.

Long and heart wrenching story later, I chose to put my efforts into finding work, instead of suing my former employer, as I deemed a steady income more important. More than a year later, I am still searching for full time work. With benefits. Yep, I should have pursued the EEOC suit, but I didn't so I must move on. Currently, I work several part time jobs that don't quite add up to 40 hours a week. It's a scramble to pay my bills every month. I no longer have health insurance and the state I live in does not provide any assistance to single individuals. My oncologist has encouraged me to still get my follow up exams; however, it ends up being more bills that I cannot pay. Needless to say, the loss of my job financially devastated me and I have no idea how I'll ever catch up. I get depressed about it sometimes, but always remain hopeful that things will get better.

With the bad, I've had a lot of good. My breast cancer diagnosis was not devastating for me. It gave me a greater purpose and I knew that the second I was diagnosed. I've been able to speak at several events and spread the word about early detection. I've written for The Pink Lotus Breast Center's Breast Cancer 101 blog and am a breast cancer writer for www.thefightlikeagirlclub.com. I was selected to be a 2011 Pink Together Ambassador. As a Pink Together Ambassador, my picture, along with the four other women chosen appears on the back of select boxes of Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Total cereals. My individual picture appears on the back of select packages of Chex Snack Mix (Sweet and Salty and Turtle Mix) and Betty Crocker Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix. Pink Together also invited me to ride on the Pink Together Express powered by Amtrak for Martina McBride’s “Eleven across America” tour.

So, what does the future hold? I don't know, but at least I'll always be hopeful for what's to come.

Clearly, if you find yourself in a situation similar to mine, you'll need more than 60 seconds, but while you should not have to be secretive about a cancer status at work, it may be best to inform only those who need to know. Also, be familiar with the laws regarding cancer and employment in your state.

Of course, if you only have 60 seconds, what can you do to give yourself the best chance to survive breast cancer? Call your doctor's office or local imaging center to get scheduled for a mammogram!


Katie Parker is a 37 year-old, one-year breast cancer survivor/speaker/ writer and is a 2011 Pink Together Ambassador.

Tricks and Treats

Halloween is almost here! Hope everyone has their costumes ready!

While I do love the candy that comes with the holiday, Halloween has plenty more treats to offer. I found this awesome recipe on www.Care2.com for a pumpkin face mask that will make you look and feel fabulous, especially when you take off all that scary Halloween make-up!

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/pumpkin-face-mask-vitamin-rich.html

One of my absolute favorite treats in the fall is pumpkin pie! I could probably eat it every day of the year, but it’s much more special if I hold out for Halloween/Thanksgiving. I love to make them, but I have yet to try baking an organic pumpkin pie. I found this mouth-watering recipe, which I’m going to try out, and figured I’d share it with you. If you have any good recipes, or baking tips, please feel free to share. I know my way around the kitchen but I can still use any help I can get ☺

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/organic-pumpkin-pie-recipe.html

Also, I don’t know about you guys, but it’s starting to feel very chilly in my apartment. Almost time for the heat to come back on. While my West Coast blood has thickened a little, I’m still a complete wimp in the winter and I love making my apartment warm and toasty. As I learned last year, which was my first ever East Coast winter ever, and not an easy one at that, is that the warmer your apartment the higher your bills are. To avoid astronomical bills this season, here are a few energy efficient tricks for heating your home from www.energysavers.gov. I will definitely be using some of these tips this fall/winter!

Heating and Cooling Tips
• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.
• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.
• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
• During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.

Hope everyone has a very safe, warm, scary, and happy Halloweeeen!

Go Green For Halloween!!!
Halloween has always been my second favorite holiday, right behind the 4th of July. This could be due in large part to my sweet tooth that just never seems to go away, but I also love the costumes! On what other day is it acceptable for you to live out your secret fantasy to be a pirate, or vampire? I also love horror movies, so the whole season is right up my alley! While I love a good scare on the screen, one of the scariest parts of Halloween has to be the costumes that are sold. Expensive, poorly made, and campy, oh my! Let’s be honest, for the price tag you’d think some of the women’s costumes could cover a wee bit more skin.
Since working for OTL, mind wheels have been turning about how all of us, including myself can make positive life changes, especially those that are beneficial to the environment. I then thought maybe I can apply my newly revived earth conscious thinking to one of my favorite days…and I’m challenging you to do the same! This year, I am planning on making the majority of my costume out of recycled materials. Not only is this going to be way more fun than going to the store, I’ll be saving a ton of money and helping our planet. This could also be a great activity to plan with your friends or kids, and help spread the word that recycling can be more than just separating your bottles, cans and other recyclables from the rest of your garbage. It’s amazing what you can do with different materials when you get creative.
Won’t you join me this Halloween, and see what we can do when we put our thinking caps on and go green! If you feel like sharing, as I will do, send us a pic of your magnificently beautiful, terrifying, disgusting, or fantastical creation.

What You Can You Celebrates a Breast Cancer Survivor (pt. 2)

Katie Parker, a 37 year old, one year breast cancer survivor/ speaker /writer and 2011 Pink Together Ambassador offered to share her remarkable journey with us. Over the month of October we will be sharing with you Katie’s story in her own words. We hope it inspires you as much as it inspires us.


Although I was told that my breast cancer was treatable, I didn't know exactly what that meant.

Treatable can mean a lot of different things. For six months? A year? Forever? Fortunately, my question was somewhat answered when I met with the doctor who would be performing the surgery to remove the cancer. I was told that since the size of the mass in my breast was 6 mm (approximately the size of a man's wedding band), and that I would have 3 surgery options to choose from-partial mastectomy, full mastectomy or bilateral (both breasts) mastectomy.

This meeting with the surgeon was truly a crash course in breast cancer 101. Terms and phrases I've never heard in my life or expected to know. My dad came with me to this appointment, to take in all of the information as well in case I forgot something. Bless his heart. I'm sure it was hard for him to listen to all of this stuff. Instead of just telling the surgeon to simply do what she thought was best, I decided to take the information she gave me and do my own research. Of course, I wanted to do the least invasive thing that would provide the biggest impact. This is why I chose to have a partial mastectomy-my first real surgery ever.

My partial mastectomy was done as a same day surgery, and I spent about 2 hours in surgery and several more in recovery as I felt really nauseated from the anesthesia. In my specific case, my treatment wasn't decided until after my surgery was completed, so I had no idea or expectations of what was to come. It was possible that I could wake up to the news that I would need several months of chemo followed by radiation. Luckily, my surgery was successful and the cancer was contained to the mass only. I did have 3 lymph nodes removed as the surgeon thought they felt swollen. In fact, I tolerated the surgery so well, I was able to go for a short walk with my mom that same night.

Since no other cancer was found, and testing of the mass found that it was estrogen/progesterone positive and HER2 negative, it was determined that the only treatment I would need would be radiation, which I started 6 weeks after surgery, so that my body could heal. Being ER/PR positive and HER2 negative is considered to be the "good kind" of breast cancer. While I met with an oncologist prior to surgery, he didn't really know what to tell me since my treatment wasn't decided until surgery. He gave me a general explanation of chemo and radiation treatments, but held off on going into much detail until we knew what was needed. Since my mass was so small, I did inquire about partial breast radiation, as opposed to whole breast radiation. I was informed that having partial breast radiation for my particular case would be extremely experimental. The oncologist offered to make some phone calls to check to see if this would be the best option, but I was having thoughts of the cancer returning with the partial breast radiation, so I decided to go ahead and have full breast radiation.

While I have no regrets, I do wish that I had explored the partial breast radiation more. I had little problems after surgery and no real pain, just extreme soreness. When I was finally able to start radiation, I found that to be easy as well. The appointments last about 15 minutes and you lay on a table while the machine does all the work. You can't move even once during the radiation treatment, as everything has to be lined up specifically and accurately in order to radiate the correct area. All of this is measured out prior to the actual treatments starting. I tolerated the radiation well, although it was not made clear to me that I should have been using a deodorant without aluminum in it, as aluminum causes a bad reaction with the radiation. My skin had a pretty serious skin reaction to this, so it took me a little longer to heal. Even though my surgery and treatment was relatively easy, I was surprised at how long it took me to heal. Even now, over a year later, the surgery site is still sore. I guess it would be, although it gets better every week.

If you only have 60 seconds, what can you do to give yourself the best chance to survive breast cancer? Call your doctor's office or local imaging center to get scheduled for a mammogram!

Rosie the Ribonner

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Breast Cancer in one minute? Join The Pink Ribbon Army today - http://apps.facebook.com/pinkribbonarmy

Starring: The What You Can Do Ensemble
Written by: Jessica Arinella & Cassandra Lizaire
Shot by: Alicia Arinella, Amanda Blohm, Cassandra Lizaire, and Brittney Phelan
Edited & Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Graphics Designed by: Amanda Blohm
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Dave Pell
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc.  Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Rian Cool, Rosemary Jones and everyone at The GreaterGood Network and Dennis Arinella

Help fight Breast Cancer by clicking today at www.TheBreastCancerSite.com and help fund mammograms for  Women in Need.

Join the Pink Ribbon Army

Think there's nothing you can do to help fight Breast Cancer in one minute?  Lend your name to The Pink Ribbon Army today - http://apps.facebook.com/pinkribbonarmy

Starring: Alicia Arinella
Written by: Jessica Arinella & Cassandra Lizaire
Shot by: Amanda Blohm & Cassandra Lizaire
Edited & Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Animation by: Ace & Son Moving Picture Company
Music by: Shohan Cagle
What You CAn Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc.  Used by Permission

Special Thanks: Rian Cool, Rosemary Jones and everyone at The GreaterGood Network and Dennis Arinella
This video was a collaboration between What You Can Do, TheBreastCancerSite.com, and Ace & Son Moving Pictures Company. Thanks to everyone!


Help fight Breast Cancer by clicking today at www.TheBreastCancerSite.com and help fund mammograms for  Women in Need.

What You Can You Celebrates a Breast Cancer Survivor

Hey everyone! Jessica here, the creator of What You Can Do. One of the things that I have loved most about working on this project is the collaboration that ensues with our talented community. When we were thinking about what we could do to honor those affected by breast cancer this month, we asked for someone to share their story with us. We were so honored when Katie Parker, a 37 year old, one year breast cancer survivor/ speaker /writer and 2011 Pink Together Ambassador offered to share her remarkable journey with us. Over the month of October we will be sharing with you Katie’s story in her own words. We hope it inspires you as much as it inspires us.




I'm Katie. A 37 year old breast cancer survivor. I will be writing a series of blogs detailing my experience with breast cancer. This first blog is about how I learned I had breast cancer.

The last thing I ever expected to hear from a doctor was "You have breast cancer." Breast cancer does not run in my family, there was nothing in my general health history to indicate that this diagnosis would be a possibility, nor had I ever had any pain or problems in my breast area. However, on May 23, 2010, at age 36, I was being told over the phone by a radiologist that breast cancer was now my reality.

Without family history, pain or problems or specific health concern, you may be wondering why I decided to have a mammogram. At the time, I was working in a radiology clinic and noticed that several women my age were calling in to schedule what's called a baseline mammogram. Since the clinic I was working in offered free digital mammograms to eligible employees, I figured that I would get one. After all, it was free and I like free things. At a regular check up with my primary care doctor, I informed her of my decision to get a mammogram. She advised me to wait a year. As crazy as it seems, this was not bad advice. Remember, there's no family history or a specific health reason why I should have one. Thinking about it for a month, I decided to have one anyway. The mammogram took about ten minutes and I expected to move on with my life and resume regular screenings at age 40.

A few days later, I was notified that there was an area of concern found and needed to have more images taken. This is what's called additional views or add views. This did not alarm me, and I expected this due to density in my breasts. During my add views, I was told that an ultrasound was needed. When that was completed, I was informed that a biopsy was needed and was being done right then and there. As I was being prepped for the biopsy, the radiologist gently informed me that the results would most likely be breast cancer. Even if it wasn't cancer, the mass would still need to be removed. Since it wasn't quite 8:00 a.m., it was a lot to take in. Plus, I just had this done because it was free! I was thinking that I was getting a little more than I bargained for. Once the biopsy was completed, I was given specific instruction to keep the biopsy area as cold as possible to prevent pain. I was provided with ice packs to keep and use for the remainder of the day.

Once everything was done, I simply returned to work. Since all of this was done by the company I worked for, I just had to drive to the building I worked at and start my work day. No big whoop. It was a Friday and I had lots to do during the upcoming weekend. Even though I was told that cancer would be the likely outcome, I was still shocked by the diagnosis when I received the call at home two days later (a Sunday evening). It was during that call that I knew I had received the freebie of all freebies. The cancer was caught early. Very early. Good news! The cancer type was invasive ductile cancer, the most common type of breast cancer. The second bit of good news was that it was treatable. The radiologist told me that I would look back on this later in life and see this all as a big inconvenience. Next steps were to notify friends/families/boss and to wait until the next day to meet with the surgeon and determine what the next steps would be.

NEXT BLOG: I'll tell you about my meetings with the surgeon, oncologist and let you how my surgery went!

So, if you only have 60 seconds, what can you do to give yourself the best chance to survive breast cancer? Call your doctor's office or local imaging center to get scheduled for a mammogram!

Honoring 9/11

Think there’s nothing you can do to help commemorate the memory of 9/11 in one minute?

Starring: Jack Halaby
Written by: Jessica Arinella & Cassandra Lizaire
Shot by: Cassandra Lizaire
Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Special Thanks:
Martin Blair and everyone at The 9/11 Healing and Remembrance Program, & Dennis Arinella

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Check out this Interview with What You Can Do Creator, Jessica Arinella on Halogen TV!

What You Can Do Creator, Jessica Arinella, was recently interviewed by Halogen TV. She talks about how the project has developed over time and what issues inspire her the most.

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What can you do in a minute? Order a pizza? Brush your teeth? Jessica Arinella , founder of What You Can Do, believes you can do a lot more.

Creator of one-minute videos about small and simple ways to make big and meaningful differences, Arinella shows that you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint, alleviate cruelty to animals, protect the oceans or reduce hunger – take your pick, or do them all! (Warning: Doing them all will take four minutes.)

Arinella remembers the day she decided that she was going to start paying it forward; on her blog she wrote that it was not unlike the feeling that she got while watching the polar bears in “An Inconvenient Truth”. At the time, she was gripped by what she calls an “ISD,” short for Impending Sense of Doom.

That sense would eventually lead to a monumental surge of inspiration when she started What You Can Do in 2009.

Halogen TV recently chatted with Arinella to discuss her motivations, which issues hit home the hardest and an easy way to save 25 million trees.

How did you get motivation for What You Can Do , and how has it evolved since its inception?

Jessica Arinella: The motivation for What You Can Do came from a two-fold catalyst in my life. The first part was that I lost my mother to lung cancer. Losing her was a profoundly shattering experience for me, and it brought up that age-old question of “What’s it all for?” I found myself deeply questioning the world, how it works and what my place in it was. For some odd reason I was watching a lot of documentaries during this time. During one especially compelling film, I became so agitated that I left the room and started reading Us Magazine. I kept thinking, if there is nothing I can do about this issue, then I don’t want to know about it. I would rather read an article on Brangelina than confront that overwhelming feeling of helplessness again. Documentaries are so good at illuminating the gravity of the perils facing our world, but they often stop short of showing us how we can help fix the problem. I kept thinking, someone should do something about that! And then it hit me. Wait! I have access to one of the best producers in New York – my sister, Alicia Arinella. I have (albeit limited) production skills! Maybe I could do this.

Every weekday in 2010, we produced a new video highlighting what someone could do to take action on a variety of social and environmental concerns. We now have a website that serves as a toolbox for change and features over 260 videos. Each episode showcases a different one-minute idea to make a positive impact on causes like climate change, hunger and ocean conservation.

What are the issues that really hit home with you?

I care deeply about all of the issues we have covered, but I think the one that hit me most deeply is cancer. But even more than any one specific cause, I am most inspired by the idea of offering people an action that only takes a minute to do.



When we first started making the videos, we honestly weren’t sure there was something you could do in a minute for something as serious as cancer. But we were excited to learn from experts that, yes, there IS something you can do to help fight lung cancer, for example, in just one minute. This is especially inspiring to me because it implies that if real change is possible in one minute, then these problems are potentially solvable.

One of your one-minute videos says 75 percent of the energy used to power consumer electronics is consumed while the product is not in use. Think of how much less coal we could burn if we just unplugged our phone chargers!

I know! We’ve learned so many illuminating facts like that during this project. But our goal is to present these statistics in a way that inspires people rather than just making them feel guilty. For example, the average American can use up to 100 gallons of water a day. BUT, eight of those gallons can be effortlessly saved just by shutting off the tap while you brush your teeth morning and night. If one person made that simple change, he/she would save 240 gallons of water a month! Multiply that and the numbers are staggering. If 100 people did it, we’d save 24,000 gallons of water. With 1,000 people? We’d save 240,000 gallons!

Our one-minute actions don’t need to happen in a vacuum. We are hoping to build a community where we can start to see our individual actions add up to real and measureable change.

Conserving water is a recurring theme on your site. Why is this a major concern?



The EPA estimates that by 2013, 36 of the 50 states will be facing local, regional or statewide water shortages – and that projection is for non-drought-like conditions. The good news is there are countless ways to easily save water. We’ve already discussed turning off the tap when you brush your teeth, but you can also do so when you wash your face or shave. When you are heating up the water for your shower, put a bucket in the tub to catch the run off. You can then use the saved water to refresh your plants or wash your car.

In your opinion, what’s the best way to get people to understand the cause and effect of their actions?

One thing that helps me is to be more mindful of how much of a resource I actually need. Just become aware of how much water is going down the drain when you wash the dishes, or how many napkins you grab for your lunch. And then, start making changes where it’s easiest for you. If a hot shower is your favorite part of the day, don’t make your life miserable by taking it away. Start with something that feels easier. For example, maybe start with turning off the water when you wash the dishes, or make an effort to unplug your electronic equipment when it’s not in use. We recently learned that cable boxes are a huge culprit when it comes to energy drain, so maybe unplug your box at night.

I’ve learned that changing the world doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Know you can make a difference even one minute at a time. Just try it for one week. You will be amazed by what you can do.

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Wanna read the article on Halogen TV click here!.

Alicia Beats the Heat

Whew! What a week we had huh? I am not one for the heat. I get grouchy, blotchy and tired. In other words, I am no fun to be around. AT ALL. In fact, I don't have much patience for the cold weather either. I have about a 20 degree span of comfortability. Anywhere from about 55 - 75 degrees is my ideal. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but once we hit the triple digits? There will be a reckoning!

With heat reaching 105 degrees in New York and a heat index of 115 degrees, last week I gotta say, my first reaction was annoyance! I know it's summer and therefore Mother Nature has license to make it as hot as she likes wherever she sees fit on this continent of ours. I, however, disagree with the adamant and persistent attack that she enforced on us. I mean, we deal with the snow and the shoveling, we shouldn't have to deal with this kind of heat.

And then...as I went to restaurant after restaurant and their lights dimmed and their air conditioners failed cause of power outages, I got scared. Really scared. What was happening? This heat was not normal. Was this global warming? Eh Gads!

I am a subscriber of Green Energy and use a lot of recycled or green products in my home. I also recycle, reuse and reduce as much as possible, but on a recent vacation, I realized that's not the norm throughout this great country of ours. Even in 2011. And that makes me sad. We all gotta pitch in folks. We gotta help to fight these issues in our own homes first. If we want change to happen, it has to start with us.

If this past week freaked you out at all, or annoyed you in any way - consider watching these videos for some ideas on how to help stop global warming. Or please feel free to share ideas of your own.

All of these big changes start with us, we have to do something about it.
Take Action!

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Hot Child, Summer in the City

Summer. Wonderful, beautiful, glorious summer is far and away my favorite time of year. I love the light. I love the long days. I love the food and the leisurely pace that comes from taking the time to slow down and relax. But here in NYC it is HOT. Really, truly, oppressively hot. And apparently we are not suffering the worst temperatures in the country. It is well established that watching the news can make me a lunatic, yet somehow I can’t stop myself. Everywhere there are reports of extreme weather. Extreme heat is pulverizing the middle of the country and Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas and their neighboring states are facing the most serious droughts since the Dust Bowl of the 20’s. All of this extreme weather has made me spend an enormous amount of my time thinking about water.

Water is our most precious and finite resource. Although about 70% of our planet is covered in water, only 1% of that water is available for human use. As the world’s population increases so does the demand for fresh water. The EPA has estimated that by 2013, 36 states are anticipating local, regional or statewide water shortages - and that is without drought-like conditions. So what do we do?

I created What You Can Do, because I firmly believe that we, all of us, want to help. I believe that we want to get involved and help fix these problems. And while we hold out hope that our elected officials will do their best to pass legislation to help ameliorate these issues, we can’t wait. We need to start with us. The good news is there are countless ways that we can easily save water in our everyday lives. Our Facebook fans collectively saved almost 2,000 gallons of water in a single week simply by turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth morning and night.

That’s just one idea! Here are some more:

• Cut your shower by just two minutes.
• Turn off the water while washing your face or shaving.
• While you are eating out, forgo the complimentary glass of water if you don’t intend to drink it.

There are hundreds more ways to conserve. It’s just a matter of turning our attention to this precious resource and being honest about what we really need. Below are a few videos with some simple tips to help us continue to effortlessly save water each day. You can also check out What You Can Do writer Karen T. Hartline’s blog : Every Last Drip (everylastdrip.blogspot.com) for more ideas. Also, please write in and share ideas of your own. I don’t believe that we are powerless. I believe we have a tremendous capacity for success. We just have to make it a priority in our own lives, even for just one minute, to prove to ourselves and to each other what we can do.

Conserve Water in your home

http://www.whatyoucando.ontheleesh.com/waterconservation/wc01.html

Small Changes that Save Water

http://www.whatyoucando.ontheleesh.com/waterconservation/wc04.html

Save Water while Dining Out
http://www.whatyoucando.ontheleesh.com/waterconservation/wc10.html

Alicia's Eyes on a Self Portrait

Alicia's Eyes on An Awesome Self Portrait




Have you seen this?

No it's not a Pixar monkey created by really talented animators - this is a real crested black macaque monkey from a national park in Indonesia. Julie stumbled upon the photo on The Huffington Post Green. Turns out this monkey stole a photographer's camera and took some hilarious self portraits including this one which has caused Julie and I to double over in laughter for about two days now.



And it reminded me of this photo that was filling cyber space two summers ago.

Remember this one? Well this couple was on a vacation in Banff National Park in Canada and timed a self portrait when this squirrel had other plans. Brilliant. Still love this photo. (Check out Melissa Brandt's caption at National Geographic Daily Shot. Choose Week 1 August 2009.)

But they both make me think...what would the world be like without these amazing animals? And without our amazing Parks for that matter? We have to protect our wildlife and our wild spaces. There is too much wonder in this world to take for granted.

Til next time, keep our world a green and safe place for everyone.

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