12 DAYS of CHRISTMAS at EARTH CREATIONS – win $25 Gift Card

Ho! Ho! Ho! Green Santa wants to bring you 12 days of cheer with the help of earth creations. Our contest is a great way to get in the holiday spirit and have a chance to win at the same time!

Starts: December 02 2011 at 12:00am
Ends:
December 13 2011 at 11:59pm

This contest runs from 12/2/11 to 12/13/11. Participants must be 18 years or older and reside in the United States. Limited to one entry per day per participant, but you may enter every day of the contest.

Enter daily and tell Green Santa what your favorite earth creations piece of clothing is and why you love it.  There will be only one winner per day. Daily winners will be chosen at random from the previous day’s entrants, and will be announced the following day on our website. The daily winner will also be posted on Facebook. If you are a winner, we will send you an email with your $25 gift certificate information.

earth creations reserves the right to share your first name and comment as we see fit in our communications (website, Facebook, Twitter, emails). We reserve the right to correct your testimony for grammar or improper language.

New Ideas for Your Old Phone Book

The staple way to recycle your old phone book is to toss it into the paper bin. While this is a great way to reduce waste, there are a few other options for that old phone book that are much more interesting.

1. Cover them in fabric remnants to use as booster seats for children at the dinner table.

2. Use them to press flowers or dry leaves.

3. The pages are great for cleaning windows and mirrors using a solution of water and vinegar.

4. Use the pages as a fire starter for the fireplace or grill.

5. Tear the pages into shreds and use for a paper mache’ project.

These ideas will help you take your paper recycling to the next level! These are great ways to get kids involved and interested in recycling as well. If you have any ideas for recycling old phone books, we would love to hear from you!

http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/save-money/recycle-phone-books-460509

www.earthcreations.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Earth-Creations/127994117276894

Eco Friendly Tips for a Greener Summer

Summer is such a more laid-back time of year. With vacations, events, and weather that encourages us to be outdoors, there are many opportunities to get greener! Take advantage of this time of year by using these tips to have fun and be more green.

1. Get a clothesline! Why use energy to dry your clothes when Mr. Sun will do it for free? I have said it before, but hanging clothes out to dry gives them a smell that is unmatched by any dryer sheet. Also, clotheslines are relatively inexpensive, stringing a sturdy line between two trees will do the trick.  Most of the year it is too cold to be out hanging clothes up, so take advantage of the warm temperatures by getting a clothesline.

2. Stay hydrated!…..Just not with bottled water. Invest in a purifying pitcher or faucet attachment and fill your own bottles with some H2O. With so many different choices on the market today, you can express your individuality with a snazzy water bottle instead of a boring, disposable bottle.

3. Give camping a try! In today’s economy, the cost of a family vacation seems to be more than it used to. Instead of heading to a resort, try taking the family on a camping trip. With no TV or internet, energy will be reduced and quality family time will be gained. Also, before you leave be sure to turn down your air conditioner and unplug all electronics and appliances.

4. Cool down your summer wardrobe! When shopping for summer duds,  remember that organic cotton and hemp make great choices for hot temperatures because they breathe better than standard cotton or polyester materials. Earth Creations www.earthcreations.net has everything you need to “cool down” your summer wardrobe!

5. Bring out the green thumb! Let’s face it, not all of us were born to garden, but what better time of the year to give gardening a try? There are many veggies and fruits that require little work to grow. A window herb box is a great place to start. Growing your own foods means that you know they are fresh, and it also saves money!

We would like to hear any eco friendly summer tips that you can think of!

www.earthcreations.net

www.facebook.com/earthcreations

EC’s Best Fan Contest

EC is on the search for our best fan! What does it take to be EC’s best fan? Our best fan is someone who is interested in our products and cause, engages in discussions on our Facebook page and blog OFTEN, and loves to share earth creations with their friends. We are kicking off our first ever Fan of the Month contest July 5th, and awarding our July winner a $100 EC gift card! Are you the next earth creations Fan of the Month?

Expectations for our Fan of the Month

1. Visit our website at www.earthcreations.net and engage in discussion on our blog

2. Share ideas for new blogs on our Facebook wall

3. “Suggest” the earth creations page to your Facebook friends

4. Discuss EC on other blogs such as environmental, fashion, outdoor, or any other type of relevant blog that you may read and then post those links on our Facebook wall

5. Share ideas or suggestions that you may have about our clothing line

6. Post on our Facebook wall regularly with comments or interesting relevant links

*The contest will run from July 5-22. Happy Posting!

4 Green Tips for your 4th of July Party

There is something about the 4th of July that marks the official start of summer. The smell of the barbecue grill,  the hot sun, and cool water are perfect for family fun. However, just because it is a holiday does not mean we should forget to stay green. Here are 4 tips for making your 4th celebration red, white and GREEN

1. Instead of cooking all the food yourself, have your guests bring something. Not only will this reduce stress on you, it will also save energy by not having to use your oven or stove as much. If you don’t want it to turn into a potluck feast, then you and your guests can coordinate your dishes for a yummy Independence Day dinner!

2. In order to keep air conditioning costs low, plan your party for a cooler time of day, such as dusk so that you can set up your gathering outside and your guests will still be comfortable. Also, having your party outside allows for more space and fun decorations.

3. While using actual dishes and washing them after the party IS the greenest way to go, being outdoors and not wanting to take time away from your guests to have to wash dishes makes you want to use paper goods. If you do decide to go with paper, try to find some that are made from recycled paper. Just check the label!

4. Encourage your guest to carpool! Not only will this help cut down on gas and pollution, it will also save parking space, which will allow for more room to party!

Let me know if any of these tips were helpful! Also, I would love to hear what YOUR plans are to make your 4th celebration red, white, and GREEN! Post your comments here or on our Facebook page.

www.earthcreations.net

www.facebook.com/earthcreations

The Top 5 Foods That Contain the Most Pesticides

While we would all love to buy and eat organic all the time, with today’s economy it is near impossible for families to eat ONLY organic. These are the top five foods that typically contain the most pesticides. If you cannot buy all organic, these foods should be top priority on the organic shopping list.

The reason for buying organic produce, is that these foods typically go from farm to store. Also, organic farmers use little to no pesticides on their produce, which is better for the health of the consumer. Organic farming also means the farm workers are exposed to less chemicals, and the soil remains natural for future generations. Check out these five foods that surprisingly contain the most pesticides.

5. Spinach is the leader of the leafy green family as far as pesticides go. It contains 50 different chemicals on average. While the frozen variety was not any better off, the canned variety contained less pesticides. However, by purchasing organic spinach, you can still maintain the fresh flavor without compromising safety.

4. Coming in at number four on our list is the peach. Peaches contain at least 60% of known pesticides on average. While canned varieties contain less pesticides, they are still not chemical-free. Since peaches are only in season for a few months, it may be a good idea to buy them organic.

3. Strawberries are our next food that is better if purchased organically. Since strawberries are prone to fungus, they often get sprayed more than other fruits. Also, the spaces which hold the seeds, unfortunately also hold the chemicals from the pesticides.

2. Celery makes number two on the list. A study by the USDA found at least 60% of pesticides on celery. If you are unable to find organic celery, other alternatives include radishes or broccoli.

1. The food that contains the most pesticides is the apple. Apples are often threatened by fungus or insects which prompts farmers to spray them. You can reduce chemicals by peeling the apples, however, this makes them lose valuable nutrition. A study by the USDA shows that apple products such as juice and apple sauce contain the chemicals as well. This makes it a smart idea to buy all apple products organic if possible.

www.wholefoods.com

www.earthcreations.com

www.facebook.com/earthcreations

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods#fbIndex2

Natural Stress Relief

Whether it is from work, relationships, or simply a busy schedule, everyone experiences stress in some form. Even the happiest people suffer from stress sometimes. Fortunately, stress is something that can be reduced naturally using a few simple techniques.

Everyone deals with stress differently, for example, some may reduce stress by spending time alone while others relax by spending time with friends or family. While each person deals with stress in their own way, there are a few ideas that one may try to aid in the process. Exercise and diet change are great for reducing stress. Other practices such as yoga and meditation are very helpful as well. These steps may require taking time from a busy day, however, in the long run they lead to a more productive, less stressful lifestyle.

Check out these links for more ideas for reducing stress

www.stressfocus.com

www.healthline.com/stressrelief

www.facebook.com/earthcreations

Green Ideas for Father’s Day Gifts

Father’s day is this weekend! Try these ideas for gifts for dad that are more eco-friendly and sure to please!

These unique and eco-friendly gift will not only please dad, but the environment as well. It will also keep dad from having to “recycle” that tie you got him last year! Happy Shopping!

www.facebook.com/earthcreations

www.earthcreations.net

Rain Rain, Here to Stay

Sometimes rain can be frustrating, it flattens our fresh hair-do, causes us to slip, and leads to mud which is then tracked onto our clean floors. However, rain is an essential gift from Mother Nature that not only sustains us but also helps us grow lush, green foliage that keeps our world beautiful. Even with spring coming to a close, you can still take advantage of this natural resource when growing your own garden or lawn. There are many advanced products on the market today for collecting rain water for recycling purposes, however you can do this on a smaller scale in your own back yard. Collecting rain water is great for watering your plants and garden. Rain water contains less chemicals than tap water and it will also save gallons of water that you would normally use from your outdoor hose. Use buckets or barrels to collect the water and later, use watering cans to give your plants a drink. Be careful to not let the water stand for too many days, especially in high temperatures. Standing water will attract mosquitoes and other insects. This small step gives an entirely new meaning to the term “green thumb”. Happy gardening!

Have you visited our Facebook page? We would love to hear from you! www.facebook.com/earthcreations

www.earthcreations.net

Appalachian Trail

With our T- shirt design contest in full swing, I wanted to share some facts about the Appalachian Trail. It is such a beautiful gift from  Mother Earth and it is right in earth creation’s back door. The Appalachian Trail would be a great summer adventure to embark on with your own family.

The Appalachian Trail stretches over 14 states including: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. It is a fun adventure for the advanced or amateur hiker. “Thru hiking” is a term for hiking the entire trail in one trip. Hikers start from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain in Georgia and end at the northern terminus in Mount Katahdin in Maine. It has been found that only an estimated 3 out of 20 hikers that attempt “thru hiking” actually make it the entire way.

Look for more info about the Appalachian Trail in future posts!

www.earthcreations.net

www.facebook.com/earthcreations