lori hill event productions

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-02-13T10:08:00.001-05:00

Gift Idea#14
Don't Have a Valentine? Find Your Future Mate Today!
If you are dreading Valentine's Day because you don't have a valentine, then meet your future mate today! If you care about the earth, the environment, animal rights and healthy living, GreenSingles is a great way to meet someone who shares your similar beliefs and values.

Full disclosure: I met my Love through GreenSingles. What we both enjoyed about the site is that you can communicate with prospective dates with the same technology and options you would on the mega dating sites. The difference is that while your selection of singles is more narrow, the people who are listed hold the same beliefs and lead the same type of lifestyle you lead which really saves you time and energy when searching for a mate!

Cost
Free to register, free to search, free to contact.

There are a variety of memberships. Free memberships allow you to place your profile and post 7 photos, view ads and enable other members to contact you. You can also let other members know you are interested in them by sending them smiles. You cannot send personal messages unless you have a Full or Credit membership. Those vary in price from a low of $24 for 3 months or a high of $72 for 24 months for a Full membership or $30 to $75 for a Credit membership.

So don't mope on Valentine's Day. Meet your new mate!

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-02-12T21:19:00.001-05:00

Gift Idea#13
Treats for the Bedroom
Treat your mate to a variety of love products including body candy, lubricant and oil from Good Clean Love.

$30 (normally $55) includes:

Spicy Orange Body Candy
Love That Works book by Wendy Strgar, the founder of Good Clean Love
Lubricant (available in lavender rose or cinnamon vanilla)
Indian Spice Love Oil

Good Clean Love is a certified Green America Green Company (just like lori hill event productions!) and sells only the finest all natural and organic green products for your health and sexual enhancement. ALL of their love products are free of petrochemicals and parabens, both of which have been identified as potentially carcinogenic and identified in breast cancer tissues. The company works to educate women, physicians and retails stores about the importance of clean and healthy ingredients in love products.

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-02-11T18:31:00.003-05:00

Gift Idea#12

Mexican Eco Getaway

Playa Viva Sustainable Boutique Hotel, located in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, not only has eco-friendlyfeatures, but a great deal on a 7-night getaway that is good for just 9 more days!

$1,195(valued at $2,000) – available on Green Deals for 9 more days.

- Choosefrom 7 nights during low season or 5 nights during high season

Goodfor 2 rooms types

o Deluxe Suite (2 adults and 2 kids) orEcoCasita (2 adults only)

Priceincludes:

Airportground transportation to and from hotel (just 30 minutes fromZihuatanejo/Ixtapa International Airport)
All meals,snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
Yogaevery day except Sunday
Wi-Fiin common area and in some guest rooms (but don’t you want to unplug anyway?)

Otherfeatures:

200acre resort with pristine beaches
Organicfood
Turtlesanctuary
Activitiessuch as surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, spear fishing, kayaking, horsebackriding and other excursions

Andfor you die-hard greenies, you’ll love these other features:

-         100%off-the-grid solar energy
-         On-sitegrey and black water treatment
-         Constructionmaterials use locally sustainable woods, hand hewn faucets from nearby towns
-         Handmadewood blankets and organic towels and sheets

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-02-10T14:24:00.000-05:00

Gift Idea#11

Dine Green
I know, I KNOW! Going out for dinner on Valentine's Day is SO unoriginal. But how about taking your Love to an eco-friendly restaurant that serves organic, vegan and/or vegetarian food? Imagine that?! How do you find one of these Earth-friendly eating places? The Green Restaurant Association can yelp you out. It is a national non-profit organization that provides a convenient and cost-effective way for restaurants, manufacturers, distributors and consumer to become more environmentally responsible. They help a restaurant operate more sustainably and then provide them with a rating. The general public benefits because GRA provides a database of green restaurants in your area. It also lists caterers in your area that have been certified by the association which might come in handy in case your Valentine's dinner turns into an engagement of the long term type! You can then turn to this site when planning your nuptials and find yourself a green caterer!

Another useful vegetarian guide is Happy Cow which is a service to help travelers and people everywhere to find vegetarian, vegan and healthy food choices. No matter where you live in the world, you can browse their global resource directory to find a vegan and/or vegetarian restaurant near you! I'm heading to the Caribbean next month and found 124 listings!

Add caption

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-02-09T20:57:00.000-05:00

Gift Idea#10

Enjoy a Night -- or More -- of Robe-Mance

Treat yourself and your sweetheart to a night alone at a luxurious -- and eco-friendly -- hotel. Now through February 29th, all Kimpton Hotels are giving away their leopard and zebra-print robes when you book their special robe-mance package which includes:

- deluxe accommodations at one of their participating hotels (rates start at $269/night and vary based on location and availability)

- two new signature Kimpton bathrobes ($180 value) made of 100% Turkish ring-spun cotton.

- a $25 dining and beverage credit to use for a nightcap at their adjacent Kimpton restaurant OR breakfast in bed

Reservations can be made at www.KimptonHotels.com or at individual hotel Websites by entering "ROBES" in the rate box or by calling 1-800-KIMPTON and requesting the Robe-mance package.

Kimpton is my favorite hotel line. They lead the hospitality industry in ecological practices through their innovative EarthCare program that spans all hotels and restaurants. Heck, they were green long before green was popular and they truly get it! Also, they have over 100 hotels and restaurants, so check one out in your area or the next time you are traveling.

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-02-07T15:07:00.004-05:00

Gift Idea#9

Fair Trade Foods Gift Sampler

I'm always game for gifts of food, and this one is great because all the items are organic and fair trade! This gift idea is perfect for your Love OR you can send one -- or ten - to your favorite clients or colleagues to let them know how much you appreciate them. Gift sampler includes:

One 1 lb. bag of organic Peace Coffee
Two 3.5 oz. organic chocolate bars
One box of organic tea
One 12 oz. can of organic hot cocoa
Equal Exchange brochure on fair trade products
Customized "from and to" card on recycled paper

$39.95 at GreenLine Paper Company. Basket not included.

Shipping included to anywhere in the continental United States (UPS ground). Please allow one week for delivery from time of order if West Coast destination. Rush shipping available for extra charge.

Special Offer for New Customers

GreenLine Paper Company is an awesome source for office supplies (full disclosure: I use them all the time!). Help them celebrate their 20-year anniversary in 2012with a partnership in living green. If you are not already a GreenLine customer, give them a try and receive $5 off your $50 minimum order during the months of February and March. Or you may request a FREE Sample Pack of recycled paper products just by giving them a call at 800.641.1117. New customers use promo code EMAG2OY on your internet or phone order to receive your discount.

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-02-06T21:27:00.003-05:00

Gift Idea#8

Bamboo and Organic Cotton Bathrobes

Bamboo and organic feel so good, so your valentine will appreciate a bathrobe made of one of these luxurious fabrics. And they are Earth friendly, too!

Available via The Ultimate Green Store, prices range from $60 to $176. Free shipping for orders over $50.

Why are these products Earth friendly? Bamboo is like a weed -- it grows and spreads quickly. In some cases, it can grow 3 or 4 feet per day without the need for fertilizers, pesticides or much water. Organic cotton contains no toxins or synthetic fertilizers and is produced without the use of harsh chemical bleaches or dyes, and is allergy free. Also, organic cotton tends to use less water and with organic farming, soil is rotated, which is much better on the environment. Conversely, traditional cotton is hard on the environment because it is the most pesticide dependent crop in the world. According to eartheasy,every t-shirt made of conventional cotton requires 1/4 pound of harmful chemicals! According to the USDA, in one year alone over 50 million pounds of pesticides were used on U.S. cotton fields.

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-02-03T09:01:00.002-05:00

Gift Idea#7

Valentine's Cards and Fair Trade Chocolate

From Equal Exchange, the people who bring you high-quality organic coffees, teas, chocolates, bananas and snacks from all over the world, the My Fair Valentine Cards & Candy set includes fairly traded organic dark chocolate minis and colorful cards with illustrated animals and cute messages. For kids, or an adult who is a kid-at-heart, each set comes with a fun and informative bookmark exploring where fairly traded chocolate comes from.

Each box includes:

24 Valentine’s Day Cards
24 fairly traded organic Dark Chocolate Minis (55%)

You get to support a good company AND educate others about fair trade chocolate.

Normally, $9.99, special Valentine's Day price $7.99.

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-02-02T09:16:00.000-05:00

Gift Idea#6

Boudoir Photos

Ladies, have you ever tried to take asexy photo of yourself to give your valentine, but failed miserably? Leave it to the experts to come to yourrescue. Café Boudoir (formerly balanceboudoir) can make you look magazine gorgeous from head to toe with sultry,classic images that you can give your Love as a special gift on youranniversary, wedding night or other special occasion.

The all-female team includes photographerRissa Miller of balance photography and hair and make-up artists from Up Do’s for I Do’s led by Ashley Riddle. Themake-up used will give you the best possible image in front of the camera soyou can relax and have fun!

You can choose from a variety ofpackages which include 1 or 2 looks, 20 to 40 final images and either an 8 x 10photo, a 12-image calendar made of recycled paper, or a vegan folio which isleather-free. Upgrade options include abook that is made with 100% recycled paper with soy ink and a la carte printsmade with soy ink on recycled cotton rag paper.

Standard delivery time after yourphoto shoot is 2 weeks, so while you may not be able to give this gift in timefor Valentine’s Day, you can always treat your Love to a little gift now(perhaps a sultry poem or even a lacygarter wrapped in a gift box) as a hint of things to come.

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-02-01T11:19:00.001-05:00

Gift Idea#5
Local Flowers (and we ain't talkin' roses!)

The other day, Iwas talking to my friend Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore. As a florist, she loves Valentine’s Day, but believeit or not, she doesn’t advocate buying roses on Valentine’s Day. Is she crazy??!!! Not so much. For those of you living in a Mid-Atlanticstate like me, you should know that roses aren’t grown in our area and have tobe shipped in from distant locales (which is not so good is you are trying tominimize CO2 emissions!).

So what to useinstead? Locally grown tulips! According to Ellen, they come in beautiful shadesof red, pink and white and say, “I love you! I care about the environment! Isupport local growers and communities!”

Local ColorFlowers will deliver to the Annapolis-Baltimore-Washington, DC area. If you are outside this area, but want to support farms in your area, find a local grower near you.

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-01-31T20:13:00.003-05:00

Gift Idea#4
Eco Getaway

I grew up in Lancaster,Pennsylvania – land of the Amish. Rolling farmland surrounded my neighborhood and was a part of daily life. Sadly, as more and more people visitLancaster, more and more hotels and outlet stores are built on the veryfarmland that the people came to see. Further,as Lancaster’s population booms, more and more farmland is being cleared tomake room for all of the people who want to live by the farmland which is beingcleared to make room for all the people who are moving there to live near the farmland…

Whyam I writing about Lancaster when I should be discussing a romantic getawaygift for Valentine’sDay? I want to talk about sustainabletourism – an industry committed to making a low impact on the environment andlocal culture while helping to generate income and employment for local people. It doesn’t seem to be happening in Lancasterand it is definitely not happening in many exotic locales, but there aredestinations out there that care and therefore, you should support them! With sustainable tourism, the socio-culturaland environmental impacts are neither permanent nor irreversible. So before you pick your getaway, you might wantto find out if the creation of that very getaway impacted the local environmentand community.

Samasati Nature Retreatin Costa Rica is just this type of place. Their mission is “…to provide an unforgettable destination for responsible travel while improvingthe well being of the local population”. They “seek to demonstrate that personal well-being and health can besuccessfully combined with high standards in sustainability.” Guestrooms have all the modern amenities and have spacious verandas that overlook thejungle and the sea. Food isvegetarian . Fruits comes from Samasati's land and chocolate comes from nearbycacao plantations. The Retreat wasbuilt without heavy machinery or any major land movement such as clearing ofland or cutting of trees. The different buildings have beenpositioned so that they carry the minimal impact to the environment takingadvantage of the existing clearings in the property, therefore preserving theprimary and secondary rainforest in its totality. Read more. Some of the many activities you can participatein are a rain forest canopytour, surfing, bird watching, waterfall trekking, sea and river kayaking and horsebackriding at the beach. Sign me up!

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-01-30T18:50:00.000-05:00

Gift Idea#3
Ethically Sourced Jewelry

Before you purchase your valentine a nifty new bauble, you might want to check from where it was sourced. The movie Blood Diamond documented how diamonds are mined in African war zones and sold to finance conflicts and thereby profit warlords and diamond companies across the world (hence the name). But that is not the only issue. According to Green America, gemstone mining can be hazardous to the health of workers and communities alike. Diamond miners often work in cramped and unsafe conditions in tunnels, and dust from the mines can cause respiratory diseases in workers and residents of nearby communities. Because mining involves moving large amounts of earth, it can also alter local ecosystems and damage watersheds. And, although many of the countries where gems are mined have laws setting a minimum age for workers in hazardous occupations, the International Labour Organization has also documented child labor in mines.

So how can you be sure you won't feel guilty about your purchase? Choose a jeweler that cares. Bario-Neal is a woman-owned company in Philadelphia that handcrafts its jewelry from reclaimed precious metals, ethically-sourced stones, andlow-impact, environmentally conscious practices. They use 100% reclaimed precious metals whenever possible,derived from recycled jewelry or industrial materials. In addition, they offer conflict-free diamonds as well as recycled diamonds that had initiallybeen introduced into the jewelry supply chain for sale to the consumer and werethen re-sold to a jeweler, refiner or other agent. In addition, you can select from ethically sourced gemstones that areclosely tracked from mine to market. This ensures that every gem has beenhandled according to strict environmental, labor, health, and safety protocols,and has been handled in a tight chain of custody which eliminates thepossibility for treated or synthetic gems to be introduced into the supplychain.

Even though they are in Philadelphia, they work with clients all over the world. In addition, boutiques in Canada, Japan, California and Illinois and Oregon stock their jewelry.

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-01-27T13:14:00.000-05:00

Gift Idea #2
Fair Trade Certified Flowers

In addition to fair wages and labor practices, a Fair Trade flower certification ensures that farms comply with rigorous environmental standards governing the use of pesticides, conservation of water, treatment of wastewater, protection of ecosystems and more. There is an extensive list of agrochemicals that are completely prohibited on Fair Trade farms, and others that must be phased out over time.

So this year, instead of giving your valuable cash to a big box florist conglomerate that sources from farms that don't care about their workers or the environment, support one that does! Ask your florist where their flowers are sourced from and if they are fair trade. If they don't give you a decent answer, try One World Flowers. They are running lots of specials on a variety of roses for Valentine's Day. Once you read about them, you'll be proud to support them!

14 Days of Green Valentines

2012-01-26T11:52:00.001-05:00

Gift Idea #1
Fair Trade Chocolate

I grew up 45 minutes from Hershey, Pennsylvania and the land of chocolate bars. Every summer, I'd visit Hershey Park and year-round I'd indulge in assorted types of Hershey's candy. No surprise, they are the largest US manufacturer of chocolate and candy, but Hershey has been criticized for sourcing cocoa from plantations thatemploy slave labor and trafficked child labor. Read more.

I'd rather support a company that uses healthy ingredients, takes care of the environment when growing cacao, and ensures its workers have safe working conditions and receive a fair wage. Unfortunately, the big chocolate companies don't work this way.

So when purchasing chocolate for your Love this year, consider
Endangered Species Chocolate. They donate 10% of net profits to charitable organizations supporting species and habitat conservation efforts. In addition, they empower communities in cacao growing regions. Employees are encouraged to commit a portion of their paid time to volunteerism and in-kind donations of chocolate are given to a variety of non-profit groups who positively support species, habitat and humanity. They use all-natural and organic ingredients, leaving out those evil artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. All of their chocolate is shade-grown, which supports lush forests and the species that thrive there to promote biodiversity. Finally, the cacao is grown on farm co-ops that foster responsible labor practices, community enrichment and sustainable farming.

7th Annual CCAN Polar Bear Plunge

2012-01-23T17:15:00.001-05:00


Coming OUT of the Potomac. SUCCESS!

Why I Plunge in the Potomac Every January
In the summer of 2006, I went to see the movie "An Inconvenient Truth" and was truly disturbed. As the credits were playing, I stood up from my seat, I thought, "This is RIDICULOUS! I want to DO something!" As I walked out of the theatre complex into the daylight, I was approached by representatives of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) who asked me if I wanted to help fight climate charge. "Of course!" I answered. When they asked me if I wanted to join their e-mail list, I didn't hesitate to add my name. A few weeks later, I received an invitation from CCAN to attend a Clean Energy Open House at the home of Mike Tidwell, CCAN's founder and executive director. I attended and my life was changed forever; I went from light green to dark green. I saw Mike's solar panels, his laundry drying outside in the sun and his native plants growing in his yard. I went inside his house and saw a video he made about all the energy efficient actions he has taken in his house including using a corn-fired stove, Energy Star appliances and compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). I left that day with my first CFLs (they weren't easy to find in stores back then) and went home an unplugged my appliances (Mike taught me about phantom energy and how even though appliances are turned off, they are still using energy, running up your electricity bill and putting CO2 in the air). As time went on and I read more and became more active in the green community, I realized I wanted to choose only the most sustainable options for home and work life.

So when CCAN has their annual Keep Winter Cold Polar Bear Plunge, I don't hesitate to get cold for about a minute each January. Two days ago, I participated in my 5th Plunge, which was CCAN's 7th. The first year I plunged, I noticed that the event wasn't very green. This shocked me since CCAN was an environmental organization, but I've learned over the years that even environmental groups don't know how to green events, so for my second year Plunge, I volunteered to help make this annual event GREEN and have continued to help make it green ever since.

How We Greened This Year's Plunge
Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company, a local roaster out of Crofton, Maryland, provided attendees with fair trade, organic coffee (and they also generously provided organic tea while lori hill event productions provided fair trade, organic hot chocolate). You can buy CBRC's coffee in stores. The cups and stirrers were compostable and did I mention how delicious the coffee is?

CBRC provided a variety of fair trade, organic coffee.

Perfect Settings, an event rental company out of Landover, Maryland, donated our table linens and also provided table and chairs. They get it when it comes to going green. Some of their services include taking back linen hangers, bailing and recycling plastic linen covers, renting recycling containers and then picking up the recycling at the conclusion of the event.

Waste Neutral Group out of Baltimore ensured that our waste was disposed of properly. They provided bins for recycling, composting and landfill. We barely created any waste and the majority of it was compostable (coffee cups and food waste) or recyclable.


Waste Neutral's waste free area. From left to right: composting, landfill and recycling.

Mark's Kitchen out of Takoma Park also gave us a great deal on vegan and traditional cookies. Vegan and vegetarian diets are better for the environment for many, many reasons. Look for future blogs about this topic!

Other Details
We plunged into the Potomac River by National Harbor which is right by the Woodrow Wilson Bridge at the Maryland-Virginia border outside of Alexandria, Virginia. The air temperature was in the low to mid 30s and the water temperature was 38. We had about 100 or so plungers and about 100 more supporters (who will hopefully join us next year). VIPs included Congresswoman Donna Edwards from Maryland (it was her second year plunging!) and James Hansen, world-renowned NASA climatologist (his first year plunging).

My Fundraising
Thanks to my generous donors (47 and counting), I exceeded my goal of $2,000 and raised a total of $2,098 (and money is STILL coming in!). As of Saturday morning, I was the top donor who wasn't a CCAN employee! As of today, Lise Van Susteran (a CCAN board member and sister of Fox News' Greta Van Susteran) has me beat by 82 bucks! For more photos by John Robinette, visit my Facebook page.


Warm hat, kids' beach towel, mens' bathrobe, ratty sneakers = one glamorous gal!


Ready, set, plunge! (All photos courtesy of John Robinette)

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #22

2011-12-16T07:05:00.000-05:00

Offset This Year's Reindeer Games

Reduce the carbon footprint of someone you care about. By making a donation through Carbon Fund, your donation supports projects such as renewable energy and reforestation that help the climate by reducing carbon emissions.

The projects Carbonfund supports are third-party certified to meet the same high standards that thousands of companies, organizations, and governments rely on to ensure quality environmental protection.

Options include:

Plant 10 trees - $10
Make Santa's trip to your house carbon neutral - $25
Offset this year's reindeer games - $50
Make your holiday office party carbon neutral - $75
Carbon neutral holiday lights - $100

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #21

2011-12-15T07:30:00.000-05:00

Personalized Sigg Water Bottles

From Greensender, personalized Sigg reusable aluminum water bottles! Inscribe with a person's name, company logo, or other design. How about a holiday gift for your employees? You can put an individual name on every bottle!

Bottles are BPA-free and phthalate-free.

Orders must be received by Friday, December16th to guarantee delivery by December 25th.

$20 - 13 oz aluminum bottles
$22 - 20 oz aluminum bottles
$18 - 28 oz steel bottles
$25 - 34 oz aluminum bottles
Add $3.00 for engraving a name
Add $3 for engraving an image

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #20

2011-12-14T08:09:00.000-05:00

Gift Set of Organic Men's Grooming Products

From Herban Lifestyle, makers of natural and organic bath and body products, comes this set of all-natural men's grooming products. Scented subtly with organic and pesticide-free herbs, spices and essential oils, this set of facial soap, shaving oil, after shave and facial lotion are free from chemical preservatives, artificial colors, and artificial fragrances. The set comes packaged with an earth-friendly sinamay bag.

$55.00 at Herban Lifestyle

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #19

2011-12-12T12:23:00.000-05:00

Gift Basket of Eco Goodies
Global Baskets provides customized earth-friendly gift baskets loaded with a huge variety of eco-products to create a gift that meets your green standards and budget. Your eco-gift automatically includes a basket made by Ghana women who receive fair trade wages, so your gift basket helps an entire village! Every basket also includes The Complete Guide to Energy Conservation for Smarties guidebook.

Browse their catalog and add your favorite energy efficient products to your basket. Choose from themes such as:

automotive
bath
energy efficiency
garden
kitchen

Each gift basket collection base price begins at $33.50.

Special Offer!

If you are in the Annapolis/Baltimore, Maryland or Washington, DC area and would like to host a home party before December 25th, contact Global Baskets. You'll receive a FREE Ghana basket, recycled rug or any other $25 item.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #18

2011-12-12T11:05:00.000-05:00

Creative Uses for Vinyl Records

Recycled Record Cuff Bracelet
Available in red or black, these eco-friendly bracelets are handmade by Jeff Davis from an unplayable 33 rpm vintage vinyl record, you can actually feel the grooves and tracks of the record in the vinyl's high sheen. The used record is bonded to a stylish rhodium-plated brass cuff. Sized for small-medium wrists. The size can be carefully adjusted by placing the cuff in hot tap water for a minute and then slowly bending. A high style gift for fashionistas, music lovers and vintage vinyl record collectors.

$30 at eco-artware

Vintage Vinyl Record Bracelet
Also available from eco-artware, these bracelets are crafted from authentic rock vinyl records from the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s. Fits any size wrist.

$26

Vinyl Record Coasters
Yet another great gift from eco-artware, Jeff Davis' LP coasters are made from original, unplayable records. Coasters are laminated to protect the label from moisture and to seal the spindle hole. Each set is composed of 6 different labels and comes in a clear, round box for easy storage.

$20 for a set of 6.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #17

2011-12-11T08:33:00.000-05:00

Coyuchi Organic Flannel and Cotton Pajamas -- for Men, Women and Kids

Available in assorted sizes and colors.
Made from 100% organic flannel cotton or organic cotton.
Fair Trade Certified

$32 - $90 via the Ultimate Green Store

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #16

2011-12-10T15:21:00.001-05:00

Green Office Must-Haves

These two great paper products are available from Green Paper Studio -- online and in-store.

Password Reminder Notebook
An alphabetical organizer to help you remember the important passwords and user names you've created to log into your most-used websites. If you'd rather not print all this valuable information in a single location, you can write yourself a hint to jog your memory of your password. Notebook printed on paper derived from responsibly managed forests.

$14.10

100% Paper Paper Clips

Made from 100% sustainable wood pulp, these paper clips are 100% renewable, recyclable and reusable. They hold up to 20 sheets of paper and will not damage paper shredders. With no sharp edges, they also won't damage the paper you're trying to contain. Photo shows them in a large bag, but Green Paper Studio is selling them in a smaller package of 50 clips.

$7.05.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #15

2011-12-08T10:04:00.001-05:00

Fair Trade/Organic Foods Gift Sampler

One 1 lb. bag organic Peace Coffee
Two 3.5 oz. organic chocolate bars
One box organic tea
One 12 oz. can of organic hot cocoa
Equal Exchange brochure on Fair Trade products
Customized "from and to" card on recycled paper

$39.95 (basket not included)

Free shipping to anywhere in the continental United States (UPS ground). Allow one week for delivery from time of order if West Coastdestination. Rush shipping available for extra charge.

From Greenline Paper Company. Order item #930.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #14

2011-12-08T09:20:00.001-05:00

Organic, Locally Roasted Coffee

Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company Coffee offers 5 varieties of coffee -- all of which taste amazing! From beginning to end, their entire process is top notch and good for the Earth. They source only the best coffee beans and then produce all of their great coffees with one of the most eco-friendly roasters in the world which has nearly 80% reduced emissions.

But the best part is that 2% of gross sales on every product they sell goes back in support of community organizations and groups that are helping make a measurable impact to the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

$12 to $13 each

Available for purchase online or through retailers in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #13

2011-12-07T09:44:00.001-05:00

Recycled Tire Basket

Whether you are hauling firewood orfresh-picked fruits and veggies, this tough and roomy industrial tote ishand-sculpted from scraps of recycled tires. Baskets have a 50 pound capacity and are handmade in a job skillworkshop by people with disabilities or limiting conditions in Milwaukee,Wisconsin.

$25 at Uncommon Goods

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #12

2011-12-06T10:19:00.001-05:00

LunchBots Duo

Do away with those evil plasticcontainers for your lunches and snacks and switch to LunchBots -- stainlesssteel lunch and snack containers that are healthier than plastic and better forthe environment. Both the container and the lid are made from the highestquality, 18/8 stainless steel and are dishwasher safe. They are safe,eco-friendly, and durable and the ideal container for snacks. It has a handydivider for crackers and cheese, fruit and nuts, and more.

$17.99 each

Other sizes and varieties available.

Also available in stores.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #11

2011-12-05T09:51:00.001-05:00

Eco-Dough

For the kid -- or playful adult -- on your list. This all-natural sculpting dough is handmade in Portland, Maine and is colored with dyes made from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, blueberries and tomatoes instead of your typical toxins!

$24 at Uncommon Goods

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #10

2011-12-04T07:50:00.001-05:00

Green Bride Guide Deluxe Green Wedding Starter Kit

For the couple with nuptials on the horizon, this kit has everything you need to start planning an eco-friendly wedding including:

an autographed copy of The Green Bride Guide book
exclusive samples from approved green wedding vendors
a ton of information
a $50 gift card to the Green Bride Guide Gift Shop & Registry

It all comes packaged in a 100% organic cotton reusable Green Bride Guide tote.

$49.95 each, including free carbon neutral shipping

Note from Lori:
I love the Green Bride Guide! It is the resource for any couple planning an eco-friendly wedding. Not only do they provide helpful tips on how to green your wedding, they have an extensive list of vendors who have been carefully screened and now, they have an amazing gift shop & registry!

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #9

2011-12-03T10:26:00.001-05:00

Holiday Honey Bear

FromBanner Bee Company, a great stocking stuffer – all natural honey! These tiny honey bears are filled with MarylandWildflower Honey from this year's harvest. 2 ounces of goodness decorated in a Santa hat and a ribbonscarf for the season!

Prices range from $2.25 - $3.00 each, depending on quantities.

Other products include: hand salve, lip balm,hand wash, soap, bug repellant, beeswax candles and more! You can even adopt your own hive!

Banner Bee’sproducts are 100% biodegradable, cruelty free, and do not contain harmfulphlatates, parabens, petroleum products, synthetic fragrance oils,preservatives, FD&C colorants or dyes, or other toxic chemicals.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #8

2011-12-02T10:34:00.000-05:00

Eco-Friendly Dog Beds

For the dog -- or dog lover -- on your list, these eco-friendly dog beds with sophisticated designs are as soft and firm as their favorite sofa cushion - which makes for a good sleep. Island Dog Design dog beds are like a 'natural tempur-pedic' mattress, but aren't made with chemicals and fire retardants. So, its a healthier alternative. Made with premium quality natural latex foam, which is eco-friendly and a plant based material, it is also:

Therapeutic for your dog - comfortable and supportive, and keeps its shape
Naturally antimicrobial - warding off dust-mites, mold and bacteria
Easy to keep clean, and wash — (and doesn't take on the smell of your dog!)
Chemical free, and biodegradable in a landfill
Responsibly harvested
Made in the USA

$185 - $265
Available in assorted sizes, designs and colors.

Free shipping through December 10th for viewers of this blog! Enter code: GREEEN2011.

I discovered this company at the Green Festival last year in Washington, DC and purchased a bed for my dog Dolly. You can see she likes it! I sometimes use it for a meditation mat!

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #7

2011-12-01T09:26:00.001-05:00

Sticky Fingers' Sweets: 100 Super Secret Vegan Recipes

Any foodie -- whether vegan or not -- will appreciate this cookbook which offers a range of recipesincluding cakes (plus helpful details on decorating, frosting, borders andcrunch), cupcakes, cookies,brownies, whoopee pies, fruit pies, cheesecakes, muffins, breads, scones andmore. I can't wait to try out Chocolate Love Cake. My mouth is watering already!

The cookbook is written by Doron Petersan, owner of Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats and a winner on the Food Network's Cupcake Wars. The book also includes a forward by Rory Freedman, co-author of Skinny Bitch, one of my all-time favorite books which I recommend to anyone who will listen!

Sticky Fingers is more than a bakery. They also offer sandwiches, sides and soups -- all of which will win over any die-hard carnivore (I've seen it happen!). In addition, they support great causes such as Compassion Over Killing and Pinups for Pitbulls.

$17.24 via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Indiebound and iTunes

$12.99 for your Kindle

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #6

2011-11-30T09:35:00.001-05:00

God is Green

From the author of the award-winning children's book Easy To Be Green, God is Green uses verses from the Bible to explain howbeing green is part of God's plan for taking care of the earth and all ofcreation. Although written for new and early readers through the thirdgrade, the messages in this book are timely and relevant for allages. Expected available date is December 15 - just in time for theholidays!

Pre-order for only $12.95 and get free shipping and handlingthrough December 15th.

For additional information on this book, Easy To Be Green, and other helpful information for educators and kids, visit All For The One.

Green Tip

What to do with your old books?

1. Donate to a thrift store, Goodwill or other charity
2. Donate to your local library (check first, as some titles and subjects might not be acceptable)
3. Sell at a yard sale
4. Go to Earth911, enter "books" and your zip code and you'll get even more suggestions of places to take your old books.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #5

2011-11-29T10:18:00.001-05:00

Hydros Filtering Water Bottle

$21.35 each

$1 from each purchase helps fund sustainable water infastructure projects. By purchasing your Hydros Bottle, you are joining Operation Hydros, the fight against the global water crisis. Not only does your bottle provide you with great tasting water on the go, each purchase helps fund sustainable water projects. Through these water projects, the proceeds of a single Hydros Bottle sold will provide clean water for someone in need for one whole year.

This price is 31% off the regular price if you order it today, Green Tuesday, and is a special deal that is being offered through Green America. Shipping is included in the price.

Pre-order this next generation HyrosBottle v2 in Blue, Orange, Green, Pink or Charcoal. Orders will be shipped on December 15th.

Features:
- water bottle has its own filtration system
- BPA free and dishwasher safe
- made in the USA
- recycle your filter at participating retail stores OR by sending it back to Hydros

Green Tip
Did you know that 38 billion disposable plastic water bottles find their way into landfills each year? So when entertaining this holiday season, say NO to bottled water! Decades ago, we entertained just fine without bottled water. How did we do it? We used decorative pitchers or large insulated containers. Why can't we still do that?

When cleaning up, if you have glasses with leftover water, don't dump the water down the drain. Use it to water a plant inside OR outside.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #4

2011-11-28T10:33:00.001-05:00

Gift Idea #4

Solar Recycled Messenger Bag from Voltaic Systems
This bag will charge cell phones, iPads*, sat phones, PDAs, GPSs, iPods, cameras and most other hand-held electronics. The battery pack (which is included) stores power until you need it. Reinforced and padded to carry and protect a laptop, this bag is made with recycled PET and features large, zipped pockets for documents, and multiple small pockets for electronic devices.

$199 (normally $229)

Available through The Ultimate Green Store which is offering 20% off all orders with the code CYBERSAVINGS. Offer good through Tuesday, November 29th only.

The Ultimate Green Store is also offering free shipping on orders over $50 (with some restrictions).

Green Tip

Don’t give away your hard earned dollars to just any oldcompany. Instead, support businesses thatwill do something good with your money. Forexample, The Ultimate Green Store has a SAVE THE PLANET – SUSTAIN YOUR SCHOOLprogram where schools can join The Ultimate Green Store’s affiliate program anddownload customized banners providing parents with a resource for shopping forgreen products (including eco-friendly school supplies) while earning money fortheir school. 10% of all sales will goback to the school as a fundraiser.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #3

2011-11-27T09:55:00.001-05:00

Green Tip

Today’s Green Tip is courtesy of Greenline Paper Company,the official office supply store for lori hill event productions.

Opt forwrapping paper made with recycled content.

Theaverage American household increases their volume of trash by 25% during theholidays. Much of this increase is due to the heavy use of greetingcards and gift wrapping paper. Most store-bought gift wrapping papercontains absolutely no recycled content. Check out these sources forrecycled gift wrap paper.

Greenfield Paper Company

Fish Lips Paper Designs

Earth Love'n Paper Products

Gift Idea #3

Even though yesterday wasSmall Business Saturday®, I wantto highlight another small business that I love to support. earth alley, in theHampden neighborhood of Baltimore, offers gift items that are, among other things, fair trade and/or created fromartisans who take discardable material and make it better by reusing it. Many of these artisans are local to Baltimore(buying local is green, too!). Check out this eco gift item which is pictured above.

Tagua necklaces, key chains,earrings and bracelets

$9.99 – $49.99 each

Gift items are notavailable online, so come to Baltimore to see all the great giftitems earth alley has to offer.

If you are not local to earth alley support a small business by checking out Green America's National Green Pages for a local, green business near you.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #2

2011-11-26T08:17:00.001-05:00

Green Giving Tip

According to SupportLocalBusiness.org for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 goes back into thecommunity and our tax base. For every $100 spent at a chain store, only $14comes back. So support local businesses and you can do it today!

The 2nd annual SmallBusiness Saturday® is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one ofthe busiest shopping weekends of the year. Shop Small^smat your favorite local stores and help fuel the economy. When we all shopsmall, it will be huge.

Gift Idea #2

One of myfavorite small businesses is nest – natural elements selected thoughtfully –which chooses products that are:

Organic
Recycled
Environmentally friendly
Fair trade
Hand made
Supportive of a healthy lifestyle

Here is one of great gift items that nest has to offer:

Sari Scarves

$50 each

Made from recycledvintage sari material and fair-trade. Many assorted colors. The companyalso supports Trees For the Future.

This item is notavailable online, so come to Clarksville, Maryland to see all the great giftitems nest has to offer.

If you are not local tonest, support a small business by checking out Green America’s National Green Pagesfor a local, green business near you.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #1

2011-11-25T09:17:00.001-05:00

Green GivingTip

This mayseem obvious, but select your gift thoughtfully. Are you purchasing something the recipienttruly needs and can use or are you just buying something to buy something? Ialways feel better when I put a little thought into a gift and the return to me is the happiness on the face of the friend or family member because they received a useful gift!

Gift Idea #1

For the tealover on your list, consider this gift idea from eco-artware.

Carved Wood Tea Strainer

Cost $14

Handmade and carved from sustainably harvestedwild cherry wood in a no-waste Pennsylvania studio, the ovular strainer fits any tea cup and is very easy to use--its oval shape extends beyond the cup for easy lifting. The piece also covers the tea during steeping which keeps in all the heat.

United Nations Environmental Programme Finance Initiative Global Roundtable Gala Dinner

2011-11-21T16:10:00.001-05:00

Photo by Kieta Mall Skoglund

I was honored when the United Nations Environmental Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) asked me to produce their Gala Dinner on Night 1 of their international Global Roundtable. Held at the spectacular National Building Museum, I knew I'd have to bring my A-team to ensure an A-game!

In order for an event to look spectacular at the NBM, you need to have top notch lighting, so I enlisted the help of John Farr Lighting Design. Years ago, it was John who informed me about LED lighting and not only how it can transform a room because you can easily change the colors of the lights, but how it is truly green because it uses less energy than traditional lighting. It is also safer because the lights are cool to the touch.

Next up was Main Event Caterers -- the greenest caterer in town (in my mind at least)! Awarded Catering Magazine's Caterer of the Year in 2010,they recycle 95% of all glass, plastic, metal cardboard and office paper. Disposables are 100% compostable and food matter is composted vs. being thrown in the landfill. Furthermore, they are 100% wind powered and they use bio diesel fuel in their vehicles. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. When I ask them that I want food that is local and organic and seafood that is sustainably sourced, they don't flinch. When I ask for locally sourced wine and beer and organic beverages instead of sodas, they don't blink an eye because they get it. They truly get it. Read more about their green initiatives.

Instead of spending money -- and using lots of fabric -- to separate our cocktail reception in the East Court from the dinner in the Center Court, we asked Dale Harmon at Plants Alive! to select plants that could be placed between the large arches to serve as natural barriers.

And finally, Perfect Settings provided the rentals, including linens and bamboo chairs, and votives powered by battery operated LED lights. A very sustainable party rental company, they rent recycle bins and take back all the recycling from your event, reuse linen hangers and actually bale the plastic that the linens come in. Because of this, I will ALWAYS be a devoted client!

Life Pieces To Masterpieces' Strong Men...STRONGER Gala

2011-11-21T15:11:00.001-05:00

The night after the Bethesda Green Gala, the lori hill event productions team was back to work for the first Life Pieces To Masterpieces Strong Men...STRONGER Gala. Life Pieces To Masterpieces (LPTM) created the StrongMen...STRONGER Awards to honor three men who embody LPTM's core values and arerepresentative of exemplary "gentlemen, scholars, artists, andathletes."

Wendell Pierce, of HBO’sThe Wire as well as Treme, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Gala andwas a true pro and delight.

lori hill event productions partnered with Amy Harbison of Open Window Creative Strategies LLC to help LPTM with the creation of key messages for theevent as well as garnering media coverage which included a half hour segment onNBC 4's Viewpoint, coverage on NBC4 10 pm news, and placements in TheWashington Post The Root, Capital Business, WTOP Radio, and Scene Bisnow. Fabulous work, Amy!

TheStrong Men…STRONGER Gala was held at the Willard InterContinental Hotel, in theheart of Washington, DC, right on Pennsylvania Avenue near the WhiteHouse. For those of you familiar withthis very elegant, upscale venue, you may not realize that The Willard is a very green hotel! I learned years ago about their landmarkgreen initiatives and was excited that I was able to produce an event on theirproperty. Recently awarded theInternational Hotel & Restaurant Association's Environmental Award forSustainability, the Willard has embarked on a ResponsibleBusiness program. This holistic plan is comprised of numerousinterwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitalityexperience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Read more here.

LPTM is an after school programdesigned to serve young, underserved,African American males living in the nation’s capital. Each day after school, over 90 apprentices engage in a rigorous, unique and effective arts-based character building curriculumwhich guides all of their programming.

2nd Annual Bethesda Green Gala

2011-11-21T15:09:00.000-05:00

For the second year in a row, I worked with Bethesda Green to produce the 2^nd Annual Bethesda Green Gala which raises funds for Bethesda Green and presents Bethesda Magazine’s Green Awards to local businesses, organizations and individuals.

No surprise, the Gala featured numerous green initiatives, many of which are featured and pictured below. Special thanks to balance photography for serving as our event photographer that evening.


Held at Round House Theatre, the entrance was decked out with gorgeous seasonal flowering plants and trees from American Plant.

The registration consoles and bars were made with AGL recycled plastic grass provided by Perfect Settings rental company which also provided table linens and metal cocktail tables, as well as dishware, glassware and flatware so that we could avoid using disposables.

Our name badge inserts were made of 100% recycled paper, the holders were made of recycled content, and the lanyards were made of recycled soda cans. After the event, inserts were recycled and holders and lanyards were reused for future events.

Honest Tea provided bottles of their tea and Honest Ade.

Honest Tea TEO (Tea Executive Officer) Seth Goldman wore a little bling in honor of the gala.

Local winery Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyards provided red and white wine.

Travelling Bean served cappucino and espresso made with coffee beans from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company, a local roaster of organic, fair trade coffee beans.


Baklava Couture, which make baklava with local, farm fresh ingredients and nothing artificial, provided dessert.

Cast of Thousands Entertainment provided trees on stilts which thoroughly entertained the crowd.

The silent auction featured sustainable gifts and services. 77% of the auction items had an environmental component.

That's me with Nathaniel Corn of balance photography celebrating a successful evening.

Religion and Sustainability: A Very Logical Link

2011-07-21T23:44:00.011-04:00

I’ve been spending this week in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley with the Unitarian Universalists of the Mid-Atlantic Region for a sort of camp/conference kind of gathering at DeSales University – a Catholic school near Allentown, Pennsylvania. Yes, the Unitarians are hanging out where the Catholics live, learn and worship. It’s all good. Truly.

My experience with the UUs (as we call ourselves) has been that they are pretty earth-conscious folks. Regardless of your religion, if you believe in a creator, I believe that your creator would want you to take care of his/her creation (that would be Earth). So I was quite ecstatic to see that DeSales is green! The first thing I really noticed was the corn based cups in their dining hall and their willingness to serve lots of vegetarian and vegan options to our group (there are a lot of us who avoid meat and dairy). They even advertise that their dishes (they use dishware and use disposables/take out containers sparingly) are washed with eco-friendly soap!

Upon further investigation, I found out that it went beyond the dining hall. Not only do they offer single stream recycling, but they also encourage the students who live on campus (70% of their entire population) to conserve energy, water and to reduce/reuse/recycle. They even have a monthly water and energy conservation competition sponsored by Residence Life. The hall with the highest percentage of reduction in water and energy usage per occupant is awarded a prize.

Their list of green initiatives would inspire anyone. Check it out and encourage your place of worship to go green if it isn’t already.

Tasty, Healthy Snacks

2011-06-10T11:36:00.000-04:00

BKind Foods is a triple bottom line company that markets and distributes organic and natural snacks and beverages that are kind to your body and the planet.

They work with schools, businesses, hospitals, community centers, colleges and universities, caterers and hotels to provide healthy snack alternatives and can create customized menus.

I’ve tasted about a dozen of their products and not only are they healthy, but they're wonderfully delicious too! All their products meet the following criteria:

No artificial flavor
No artificial color
No preservatives
No high fructose corn syrup
Socially responsible business practices

Some of the products I’ve tried are:

- Original Multi Grain Chips

- PopCorners (popped corn chips)

- Sweet Potato Chips

- Baked Lentil Chips

- Mini Crunchy Vanilla Cookies (my favorite!)

- Organic Fruit Snacks (my boyfriend’s young sons ate this up in a heartbeat)

- Hippie Chips (baked potato chips with hemp – tasty!)

- Granola Plank (a granola bar that is chewy and tasty)

There are even more than this. You can see some of them listed on their web site.

Contact Jason Schwartz at 301.246.0146, jason@bkindvending.com.

From Banners to Bags ... and More!

2011-05-16T15:04:00.002-04:00

A leader in developing the widest range of innovative eco-friendly solutions for the graphics and signage industry, Mega Media Concepts is the only company offering a 100% recycle guarantee on all the graphics it produces They will take any graphic back and repurpose it into bags, beanbags, furniture and other products.

Vinyl products are repurposed into hand bags, tote bags, bean bag chairs, ottomans and portfolios. If you prefer, items can be prepared from full size proofs in time for your event and handed out or auctioned off to your guests. They even do fundraising programs for you.

But this isn’t all that they do. Fabric wrap used at shows are made from recycled plastic soda bottles. After the show, the wrap is recycled.

All foamcore products are reused after a show. They are donated to an organization that distributes them to schools and other civic organizations to be used in art classes, projects, etc.

They also provide signs and props made of Eco-Board which is made from 100% recycled kraft paper. It comes in 60” x 96” panels and is ½” thick. The material is indoor/outdoor and is ideal for custom furniture, signs and displays.

Mega Media Concepts has an eco option for just about any type of sign you need – whether for your event, outside your office, an art installation – you name it!

For more information, contact Amy Pink and ask for her Think Green presentation.

I Unplugged for 10 Days: Part 8

2011-05-09T11:04:00.005-04:00

Below is an account of my attempt to unplug completely from email and the internet for 10 days while on a stay-cation. For those of you who haven’t heard the term, a stay-cation is a local vacation.

The Aftermath and the First Day Back

After Tuesday, I never got back on email or the Internet. It felt great! It helped that I no longer had a really good reason to get online. I stayed busy and made a point to spend a lot of time outside.

So how did I feel after my 10 days of unplugging? I felt great! On Sunday, I was actually looking forward to going back to work. I didn’t have that dread and anxiousness that I so very often have on Sunday nights. Surprisingly, I was actually looking forward to reading all those emails. I was curious about what had happened while I was offline. On Monday, when I got on my PC for the first time over 10 days, my mouse felt funny in my hand. That seemed like a good sign.

To combat the anticipated anxiety I thought I might feel after unplugging for 10 days and coming back to a mound of work, I purposely made a point to not schedule anything big for my first day back other than to check email and to check the 125 messages I made on my digital recorder, a device I use to remember all things work related and tasks to accomplish in my personal life. Some people are addicted to their mobile phones and go to bed with it by their bed side. I go to bed with my digital recorder in my hand or place it on the pillow next to me so that if I have a work related idea or task or grocery item to pick up, I just talk into the recorder instead of turning on the light and writing it down on a bedside tablet. Perhaps I need to unplug from my digital recorder… But it helps me sleep and keeps me sane to get ideas and tasks off my brain so that I can move on to the next matter at hand.

I know I was extremely lucky that I could just concentrate on email and recorder work on the first day back in the office. I realize not everyone could pull that off. A strategy for those folks might be to publicly announce that you are back in the office the day AFTER you actually return and use that real first day to hole up in your office and catch up on email and other tasks.

I definitely did not want to overwhelm myself and in addition to NOT scheduling a lot for myself on the first day back, I made a point not to schedule any meetings the first 2 days. I also told my interns to not come into the office on the first 2 days. I just needed to catch up with life and work and figure out what was up and what was down.

Another way in which I was lucky was that I had no pressing details for any upcoming events. Those details could wait a day or two. The 10 days I took to unplug proved to be an ideal time to unplug. I realize this might not always work for every vacation.

By the way, I had 439 emails and it took me only 3 hours to schlog through all of them and respond. Most were junk since I warned clients and colleagues that I’d be out of the office. To keep the amount of emails I received down to a bare minimum, I made a point before my unplugging to unsubscribe from lots of e-newsletters and advertisements that I regularly receive and never read.

SO WHAT DID I LEARN? While I didn’t succeed in unplugging for the full 10 days, I DID unplug completely for 6 days, 5 of them consecutive days. And I pretty much DID unplug from email for 10 days since I didn’t respond to any emails and sent just one. I realized that taking regular vacations is important (even if you just stay home and plant posies) AND unplugging WHILE on vacation is extremely important. We need to give our brains a rest. To read more about this, view this New York Times article on the subject.

I also made a resolution in honor of Earth Day: respect my weekends by unplugging from email and work related calls (unless I have an event of course!). Our works days have gone from 8 hours a day, 5 days a week to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and it is taking quite a toll on our health, happiness and, quite frankly, sanity. If we just went back to the way things were before we because such a plugged in society, I think we’d all be a bit happier.

How is unplugging on the weekends green you ask? I’m not using electricity and I plan to use that time to spend outside in nature and being a steward to Mother Earth. What does it have to do with sustainability? I’m going to sustain my sanity!

I hope this blog inspired you to try to unplug more and honor your vacations. I’d love to hear back from you. Feel free to share comments here or on Face Book.

Thanks for reading.

Lori