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P.L.O.W. - Celebrate Earth and Exercise Outside

FitSugar — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Although April 22 was Earth Day, every day is the perfect day to celebrate the beauty and expansiveness of Mother Nature. So this weekend, instead of hitting the gym or hopping on your treadmill, enjoy an outdoor workout that requires no electricity. Get on your bike, slip on your sneaks for a trail run, or go for a walk on the beach. Enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, and the gorgeous scenery as you listen to these songs about the world and the environment.

To hear my playlist read more.

Broken Umbrellas Equal Stylish Raincoats

PetSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:45:05 -0700

Desperately grasping a broken umbrella is one of the worst feelings I can think of . . . as is the accompanying sogginess. I've definitely been caught out in the rain and slammed the wire-jutting contraption into the trash as I slosh to work.Well, no more. See these adorable raincoats? They're made from recycled umbrellas! All jackets ($10 and up) are completely customizable – hood, no hood, felt, vintage, hand-picked linings, etc. – for your lucky, weather-resisting pup. Created by product designer Taryn Zychal, her two pugs serve as models but designs can come in sizes from XS to XXL.

I already know what I'm doing next time I break an umbrella and, if this sounds like something you'd like to support, even if you don't have a dressed-up dog, she's currently offering a great plan:

To get the best variety of broken umbrellas, I am currently reimbursing shipping costs to anyone who would like to send me their broken umbrellas, so it will literally cost them nothing to ship it to me. I want to collect broken umbrellas from all over the world so hopefully people will dig the idea and start sending them my way!

Her online store, Recycling Zychal, is up now and she'll continue to add more fabrics as they come in from all of you. As if you needed yet another reason: a portion of all sales go towards the Humane Society of the United States so you won't leave the animals high and dry . . . just dry.

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4 Easy Ways to Eco-fy a Toy Box

PetSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:46:32 -0700

Earth Day may be over, but is that any reason to halt our eco-tastic efforts? Definitely not. I'm working to make my home more green for myself and North. Since my active pup loves his toys, I've jotted down four ways to make his playthings less wasteful and more playful. Get ready for some simple changes and start this slideshow.
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Fab Celebrates Spring With Saks: Win This Organic Beau Soleil Dress!

FabSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:17:41 -0700

Happy Earth Day everyone! In honor of this green day, in today's daily Saks giveaway, we present to you this Beau Soleil Organic One-Shoulder Dress ($275). Made of 100 percent bamboo, its slender shape and one-shoulder design will never go out of style - and your fashion conscience will be wiped clean.

To enter to win, log in to take our quiz. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just on taking the quiz once you are logged in. You need to be a TeamSugar member to take the quiz; if you're not already a member, register here for an account and join in all the fun on the Sugar sites! Just click on "take the quiz" below and we will do a random drawing to determine the winner. US residents eligible only (sorry!). Click here for the official rules.

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Fab's 10 Green Day Designers

FabSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:50:22 -0700

Earth Day is not over yet. . . . As you know, I have been following the green scene for some time and have opinions about who the best eco-friendly designers are. Of course, SF-loving Stella McCartney tops my list, as does the Loomstate for Target collection. Both deliver goods that are earth-friendly and super stylin'. Beau Soleil's Organic One-Shoulder Dress we're giving away is pretty hot, too. There are oodles of other eco-conscious brands that serve up stylish gear that are good to the environment. Check out my top 10.

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5 Reasons to Bike

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Biking is my favorite form of locomotion. The world moves by at the perfect pace when pedaling. You can take in the view and still feel the wind in your face. Riding a bike is a great green way to get around since you can travel a greater distance in a shorter time when compared to walking, and it can be faster than driving. depending on gridlock traffic.

Here are five reasons to bike to work, bike about town, and bike for errands:

Eco: Since it is Earth Day, let's start with the greenest reason - biking reduces your carbon footprint. Using pedal power, rather than fossil fuels, for short trips and commutes can reduce your carbon emissions by an estimated 11 percent.
Cardio: Cycling is a wonderful, joint-friendly form of exercise. Instead of burning oil, you burn calories on your bike.
Strength: Biking about town builds leg strength. Pedaling tones your quads and hamstrings as well as your calves. Mini skirts and leggings are fashion trends with staying power, and shorts of all lengths will be very popular this Spring and Summer. Tone your gams while maximizing your pedal power.

See two other reasons to hop on your bike when you read more.

Money: Commute Solutions, out of Austin, TX, has estimated that biking rather than driving can save you serious dough. Pedaling a 10-mile round-trip commute can save you up to $10 a trip when you factor in all your driving expenses.
Fun: Biking is just plain fun. Whether you're speeding down an asphalt hill, navigating your mountain bike over tree roots, or cruising the flats - cycling is a good time.

Why do you bike?

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Earth Day Quiz!

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:00:11 -0700

How well-informed and friendly are you when it comes to our dear Earth? Take this quiz to find out!

Question 1 of 5

Which Charlie's Angel wrote the foreword of a book about living an environmental lifestyle and starred in Sundance's Iconoclasts series, where she headed to New Orleans to talk about the environmental impact of Hurricane Katrina?

Do You Recycle Food Packaging?

partysugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:15:06 -0700

From egg cartons to aluminum cans, there are a lot of recyclables when it comes to food packaging. Since today is Earth Day, I want to know what you do with this excess of packaging? Do you recycle it?

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What Organic Produce Is Worth the Price?

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Since it's Earth Day, I thought it would be a fittingly green time to review our produce-buying options. Organic produce can be way more expensive than conventional produce, but some fruits and vegetables you should always try to buy organic, no matter what. Be a smart shopper by knowing when it's worth the higher price and when you can save your money and put the conventional produce in your cart. Need a refresher? Take my quiz!

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Go Green! Turn Old Wine Bottles Into Water Holders

partysugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:50:44 -0700

Plastic water bottles produce a lot of waste; one way to cut back is to use larger, refillable bottles for drinking water at home. This works well in an area like San Francisco where the tap water is drinkable and delicious.

Since I entertain a lot, I thought it would be eco-chic to make my own! Here's what I did:

Start by saving several wine bottles. I collected three clear bottles with smaller labels and screw caps.
Wash the bottles and their caps in the dishwasher.
Part of the labels will be removed. There are several ways to remove the rest of the label. You can heat them in the oven for a couple of minutes or warm with hot air from a blow dryer.
Scrub any of the label's residue off with a good sponge or a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover.
Fill with water, close the cap, and place in the fridge to chill.

A set of these also makes a thoughtful gift. Has anyone else made their own water bottles?

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Ella Moss Asymmetrical One-Shoulder Dress - $155.00	Rag & Bone One-Shoulder Sheath - $496.00
Design History One-Shoulder Top - $100.00	VPL One-Shoulder Construction Tee - $225.00
Michael Kors Draped One-Shoulder Dress - $1,395.00	Amsale Ruffle Shoulder Silk Dress - $360.00
Brian Reyes One-Shoulder Pleated Silk Dress - $1,345.00	ABS One-Shoulder Rosette Gown - $470.00
Ralph Lauren Collection Leanne Silk Top - $798.00	Robert Rodriguez Ruffled One-Shoulder Top - $275.00
Just Cavalli Silk & Satin Scarf Dress - $425.00