What Happens when you Decide to be Green?

 

What happens when you decide to be Green, Eco-friendly, sustainable, and earth-friendly? You not only feel like part of a solution, you also learn and become aware of so many things that you once took for granted. Once you begin to do the small things that are “Green”, you then find new bigger ways to be Green.  

You begin to notice other ways of not being Green and your mindset changes. You start to create new ways to help the planet.  It turns into a passion.

Educating ourselves creates a snowball effect.

When we educate ourselves a process that snowballs happen within you.  You just naturally learn more and more. You begin to find it fascinating and fun. It’s a trend in the beginning, and then it becomes a habit, then a new way of life.  It becomes second nature. 

For me, personally,  I start feeling freer, cleaner, clearer, and healthier.  It’s a mindset, it’s a way of being.  It just can’t help but become my state of being.

Being Green is actually “Being Green” it is so true!  It isn’t a twist on words.  Again, for me, is my new way of seeing, reacting, and responding in life.  Not only in a materialistic view of ” less waste”, “less footprint” but also in how I view all of life, all of my actions, and how I view all of life’s inhabitants.  Including trees, plants, and yes, even weeds. 

It’s seeing everything as having an important role in the cycle of life here on Earth.  Watching how life has a way of sustainability that works perfectly without humans. How it has for centuries! 

 

What happens when you decide to be Green? 


You start to have a reverence for life as a whole.

You start to have a reverence for life as a whole.  It is a deep, deep sense of gratitude, of beauty, and of my reactions to such.  For instance, I used to use pesticides.  I didn’t know better at that point in my life. I was in my 20’s.  Now it makes me cringe. I don’t want mosquitoes in my yard to bite my children or myself and I also don’t want to kill the insects that keep my trees, garden growing, and eat other annoying insects to be killed. 

Nowadays, I do not use pesticides unless there is no other way. I protect bees, ladybugs, praying mantis, etc.  I even catch and release spiders, the non-poisonous ones.  I have a sense of gratitude for insects that before I just deemed them all pests to be killed. Of no real use in this world. 

You make more conscious decisions.

What happens when you decide to be Green? Now, I choose my battles and my causes. Choose my cars, the paint I use, my food, and the ways of dealing with unwanted items and I decide consciously, as before I just fell prey to marketing and commercialism. I didn’t think twice about what I used or disgarded.

Being Green is a conscious way of living.  It is being awake!  It’s working to live in harmony with all life and be a part of the natural sustainability that happens without humans.

It’s living in gratitude for this amazing planet that we have been a part of and maintaining this Earth as our home as something precious. To me, it is! Trendy, yes and so very necessary for us to begin to see being green as one of the most important ways to Be. Lisa Hawkins It’s Hip to be Green®

Being Green: Photo by Noah Buscher

Dakota Access Protesters Trashed the Land?

Dakota Access Protesters Trashed the Land?  So, they are being accused of doing so, is it true?

On February 7, the Trump Administration gave the final green light to the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, bringing an end to the efforts of thousands of water protectors gathered to protest its construction. The media coverage at Standing Rock has been divided at best, and even now, as the last of the people have been forced to evacuate, they are accused of trashing the land around them.  

People all over the world started arriving last August (and even earlier) because they want clean energy and believe it is time we fight our dependence on big oil with greener technologies, not pipelines that threaten our precious ecosystems. The thousands of protectors who gathered made their presence and voices stand in unison not only to protect the waters potentially affected by this pipeline, but to show that it truly is hip to be green. As Louise Liu pointed out in Business Insider, the protest helped reshape “the national conversation for any environmental project that would cross the Native American land,” despite ultimately losing the battle against NDAPL. We hope that the conversation will also continue at national and even global levels to stand in solidarity against companies who harm our earth.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has refused to extend the deadlines needed for the protectors to return to the land and collect the donations and their personal belongings held at the camp. Because of the winter, especially with freezing and thawing temperatures that create tremendous mud, many people cannot return to collect their items. The USACE’s refusal to work with them will cost taxpayers roughly $1 million for them to complete the cleanup. Many belongings have been bulldozed and tossed into the landfill.  

What a waste.

Depending on your point of view, you’ll find a story about the cleanup (or lack thereof) that suits your worldview. This type of relativism lends many to believe that “alternative facts” can be used to label anything that doesn’t match how we see things. But in some cases you can leave all of that behind, and just do what you know to be right. Being green can happen, no matter what facts you want to listen to. 

Being green is about small, tiny choices you can make all day long— regardless of what you believe about protecting our environment. Many people choose to bring less and less chemicals in their homes. From cleaning products to organic food to the creams we rub on our skin, there has been a strong movement to “green ourselves up” from the insides of our homes to the insides of our bodies. We want to protect our family’s health. We make these choices apparent with the products that we buy, and when you see the availability increasing you know that the demand is also raising for these types of conscious consumerism. It is Hip To Be Green! Many of us choose not to bring toxins into our personal environments, even if climate change is not something we choose to acknowledge or think about. However, you can also make small, tiny choices that help to keep our planet clean. You can be an earth protector every day.  Whether “Green” is only to protect your family’s health or to protect the Earth, It is Hip To Be Green!  

Technology is here already

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Technology is here already and it is growing at a rapid rate.  So why do so many talk dismal about Climate Change and disaster ?  Many believe that fear creates action, in many cases it does.  However, when we are speaking about the whole world being destroyed it is too overwhelming for people to take it. Fear creates stagnation. 

They just feel hopeless, it’s too painful for them to take in.  They give up before they even get started.

If we keep our focus on answers, new technology that is already here, we begin to feel less hopeless and more hopeful.  We have the technology already to make huge, huge steps in the environment and climate change.

Many countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Sweden and Iceland are already major steps ahead of us.

If the technology is already here, why don’t we see it? Most are startups, they need capital, customers, and opportunities to get their products on the market.  They are also met with violent opposition by their counterparts, the major organizations that are causing much of the issue with climate change. 

We as consumers, the ones really concerned about climate change, have to support each other, gather and decide to make this change happen.

If we continue on with the same mentality that created this massive issue, it will surely not be resolved.  It takes tenacity, it takes effort, it takes proactive-ness and commitment.  It takes courage and a passion to make a difference.

This is our mission with It’s Hip To Be Green!  Show the world that positive actions and new technology are what will bring about the change we need.  Taking the positive mentality will get us fired up and passionate about the technology that is already here and create innovative new ideas. Feeling helpless, hopeless and giving up will only cause the toxicity of this planet to continue. WE will be continuing to perpetuate the same actions that caused this issue.

Albert Einstein once said: “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” – Albert Einstein

We are here to start a new consciousness the HIP movement of change. Getting excited about what is being done and shift to focus on implementing the technology that is already here and passionate about creating more. It’s Hip To Be Green®

Pope Francis, Lack of Housing

Pope Francis’ visit to the US was nothing short of amazing, regardless of a person’s beliefs, he seemed to touch the hearts of so many. I, myself found myself crying and reading daily about his journey. What touched me is his understanding of where we are now, and his warning of ” not repeating our errors of the past”. Seems so simple and yet, so many can’t see this.

Affordable housing is another passion of mine, green affordable housing of course. While visiting the Tiny house and the Freight Container house exhibit here in Asheville. I realized how efficient and cozy, elegant and doable these homes are.

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I’ve studied tiny houses and container homes for years, I just hadn’t had an opportunity to visit them. I felt a sense of hope for our future, a sense of pride for my community, and strong sense of connection within myself to continue to follow my passions in life.

Then I read Pope Francis’ quote. “There is no justification whatsoever” for lack of housing.

He called for “the right use of natural resources and the proper application of technology” to build an inclusive, sustainable and modern economy.

I felt relief and tears of joy at the same time! I felt a sense of connection. Finally! A part of me said.

I started the It’s Hip To Be Green line phrase in 2006 to do just that. It hasn’t been easy, and I won’t give up. BEING Green is so much more than action, it is heartfelt compassion for human rights, the earth and all of it’s inhabitants, it is the future of our children’s lives. It is a healthy attitude, way of life, belief system and total commitment. Being Green is more than just buying green. It truly is a being-ness that emits from within.

I would have loved to have been there, to hear it in person, see him, thank him for his “wake up call” to our government, to hold them accountable for more than just the 1%, for the 99% on this planet. Our home, something I truly do love, from the bottom of my heart.

I’m so grateful for this opportunity to be a part of this movement!!

Pope Francis speaks on the Environment

Pope Francis speaks on the Environment. My emotions are high as I cry about how my hearts desire is possibly coming to reality! When Pope Francis comes to the USA to speak about the environment, religious or not, it brings up so much for me. Tears, finally someone with great power and compassion is speaking the truth! Finally all I’ve worked to bring to awareness about, is being spoken to the masses.

I sit here writing and tears rolling down my face, trying to put into words what I’m feeling right now. I love this planet, truly I do! It is amazing, beauty beyond words, miracles, treasures ( not oil) not yet discovered, and I cannot believe we have gotten to where we are, our planet is filthy! Indeed, very well put. Our God given home is being treated as if it is our personal dumping station.

Animal species are dying, because we humans, are so selfish we cannot see past our own egocentric desires and modern conveniences. Our need for more, our addictions to having bigger, better, newer.

That in spite of the speeches by many, we continue to be in denial of our impact on this planet. We as humans do not have the right to use this planet as we wish, as it isn’t not just ours. It is our children’s, grandchildren, the plants and animals also. We treat it like a trash can.

popefrancis

I have anger, frustration, compassion and love all at once! At times I could just SCREAM at times I want to just crawl in a ball and sob. My heart is open, and hopeful.

This trip to the USA by Pope Francis to speak on the environment is so important! So absolutely incredible, and profound. I feel like I’m stumbling over my words to write this blog entry. I hope with all my heart that this trip, these speeches will be taken in, wake up many Americans as well as our nay sayers in the government, who continue on insisting climate change is a hoax.

As I’ve written before, climate change is just one of the issues, debatable, I say not, yet it is still questioned. Regardless of climate change we still have horrible habits of how we treat our earth, our home. Even if you can’t be on board about climate change, can you see the filth the Pope is speaking of? Can you see waste, over use, and poverty?

Can you find in your heart to see how we are treating it, can you bring yourself to make changes for all the inhabitants on this planet. Can you put your instant gratification desires aside and look at the whole picture. Can you open your heart ?

Can you listen when Pope Francis speaks on the environment and take action? Open your eyes?

I hope you will join me in the effort of so many of us, including Pope Francis, to treat our amazing gift called earth, with respect, love, and gratitude. It’s Hip To Be Green, and necessary thing to do!!!

Stylin Green, Hip & Chic

Stylin Green, Hip & Chic as what we are is shown by what we exude in the world, our hair, make-up, clothing, our skin, all gives off a vision of who we are, what we stand for, and how better to BE Green than to show your inner beauty outwardly.  Wearing our signature T-shirt is Annastasia, who lives to be Green working as a Hairstylist and Make-up Artist in the TV and Film world as well as being a Yoga Teacher with Moksha Yoga which also supports and educates people in helping the earth and our environment by working to make this world a healthier place to live everyday. Annastasia enjoys bringing her yoga lifestyle in the beauty world where the two can join together and create an environment where her clients and the actors that she works with can be true to themselves and the world we live in. To be green and healthy from the inside out. Our T-shirts fit perfectly as we also support what Annatasia works to not only live a Green lifestyle,  but to educate others on how to live Green. Our inner glow comes from a peaceful, healthy inward world, and it shows in our appearance.  The same with our environment.  Taking care of our world to support it’s health and well being for all of it’s inhabitants, will show an outward clean, green and sustainable world.  Being Green is more than action, it is a state of being, a lifestyle.
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Stylin Green, Hip & Chic, Annastasia lives in Toronto, you can view more of Annastasia’s work on her website at www.hairandmakeup.ca. Her most recent projects is working on the hilarious comedy Schitts Creek and Feature Film coming soon, Goon 2.  It’s Hip To Be Green is going Global.  Buy one of our signature T-shirts! Give one for a gift.  Share the excitement of Being Green.

Black Friday can it be Green

The question comes up; Black Friday can it be Green? I think it can be more green.  Certainly it is one of the most wasteful days of the year in the USA. Millions of wasteful products are handed out, thrown away during this busiest shopping day of the year.  Not to mention the carbon dumped into the air by the massive vehicle use sitting in traffic etc.  One might ask, how can Black Friday be Green.  It can be Greener than it is.  Here are a few steps you can take the help Green your Black Friday shopping.

  • Carpool
  • Empty out your trunk ( lighten your load)
  • Take re-usable shopping bags
  • Refuse disposable or marketing materials handed out
  • Buy Eco friendly or Recycled content products
  • Recycle all the bags, paper, cardboard etc.
  • Re-use items or re-invent items you don’t use anymore
  • Donate instead of trashing
  • Shop in one area to avoid excessive driving
  • Buy products that have replacement parts
  • Buy quality made products that will last
  • Buy used if possible, it’s hip and it’s Green!
  • Buy charitable gifts such as a goat for a 3rd world family
  • Shop local and support handcrafted and local made products
  • Buy Organic, eco-friendly products as much as possible
  • Hand make your gifts

So many options when it comes to Greening your Black Friday shopping. It’s endless the small steps you can take to save money and help the environment as much as possible. Help keep the millions of tons of waste out of the landfills by taking steps to lessen your carbon footprint.  Black Friday can be Green! Shop all of our Organic products www.mypumpkindoodle.com

Forward Not Back Climate Change Vote November

Forward Not Back on Climate Change, Vote this November. In the next few months Americans have to make a important choice of who to elect as President of the United States of America.  While this isn’t a political post, it is a call to action.  President Obama tonight said in his speech that “climate change isn’t hoax” and we can make a difference in the coming election.  I’ve heard so many people say that the record heats this year has really changed their mind about climate change.  Watching the fires in Colorado was heart breaking.  Seeing a friend post on facebook a record high of 126 degrees blew my mind.  It is scary for me to think that this could get worse.  I can’t imagine how bad it might get.  Living a green lifestyle couldn’t be more important.  In this election this November it couldn’t be more important to really plug in to the important issues of each party.  Keeping in mind that we live on this planet Earth and that protecting the environment isn’t about saving the planet, it is about saving ourselves, it is however, the only planet we have.  The planet will survive, we however will have a harder time surviving.

When the heat gets much hotter (during the warm months)  our vegetables won’t grow, the cattle will have a hard time surviving. All plant life will have a hard time surviving.  Our entire lifestyle might have to change to adapt to the increasing temperatures and also the lower temperatures during the winter. The effects of Climate Change have already started to occur.  Climate change isn’t just about a hotter climate it is an imbalance in temperatures.  Erratic temperatures that will be extremes in both directions. Massive natural disasters will continue to occur.  Scientists have been preaching this for decades. The time has come for us to act.

Being green isn’t a luxury, it is a necessity.  Working together as a nation to do our part to lesson the disasters of this planet due to climate change is a positive step forward. I for one choose to go Forward not Back in the next 4 years.  I feel that our survival and our children’s survival is important.  I hope that no matter what your stance is on the election, you will educate yourself on the issues and vote this November!

College Student Going Green

It’s an exciting time of your child’s life when they go off to college for the first time.  It can be a hectic and emotional time too.  Lots of planning and a long list of supplies to buy before school even begins.  This time of the year can be expensive, overwhelming and also crazy.  In the midst of all of this chaos being green might be the least of your worries.  Besides your soon to be college student wants to have a hip room and hip clothes to wear to school.

Green doesn’t necessarily have to be dull and boring and over spending sure isn’t fun.  Cutting down on spending helps your budget and also helps the environment when you don’t over do on buying products.

You can send your college student to school with the hip and “in style” and still watch your carbon footprint and here is how.

  • Buy clothing that is sustainable and or used.  Start shopping early so that you don’t binge buy.  There are some really cool “in” clothing that is eco friendly.  The great thing about ‘vintage” is that it is Hip already.  Shopping at thrift stores can save you lots of money.  If buying used isn’t your thing, try buying Bamboo Fashion clothing.  It not only wrinkles less, it is light weight so it packs up easy and is very easy to care for, and it’s super soft!  It usually doesn’t need ironing and dries quickly, which is great for the student on the go.  It makes a great year around fabric and layers easily.

  •  Organizational supplies are a must with dorm living.  Believe it or not organization is very eco friendly.  The more organized you are, the less likely you are to buy more than you need.  When you have less space, organization is paramount.  College students need to keep track of their studies, supplies and everyday items, so it will save them time.  You can buy natural fiber and sustainable file cabinets, drawers and school supplies.  Everything you need can be eco friendly for your student’s dorm room.  Natural fiber baskets, bins and desks make your student hip and going green.
  • Room decor, what college student doesn’t want to have a hip dorm room and bathroom.  Mainstream products can be tempting, but you might find that natural products are just as appealing.  Bamboo sheets and comforters, natural fiber pillows and even blinds can be made from a more sustainable and earth friendly source. How about Bamboo Towels?  We have them along with bathroom rugs, and even robes and slippers.

What an exciting time this is for your family.  It can also be a very light footprint for the environment and an opportunity to educate your family on the importance of Going Green!  Just a little planning can make your college student’s dorm healthier and hip! Check out our full line of eco friendly products for students at www.mypumpkindoodle.com

 

 

 

 

 

Being Green on a Budget

I often have heard people say that they will go green when they can afford to.  Things are tight now and Green Products are more expensive.  That certainly can be the case, as with anything.  Luxury products do cost more.  I also know that living a green lifestyle myself, that I save money.  I re-use, and re-design and re-furbish and I save.  I use cardboard boxes in my organic garden to prevent weeds. I use my twisty ties and rubber bands that come on my fruit and veggies for all kinds of uses.  I re-use containers and brown paper bags.  My daughter loves to make cool projects from paper bags and left over tissue paper from gifts.  She make puppet stages and all kinds of inventions out of cardboard boxes.  It saves on buying new toys.  She learns creativity and I can re-cycle it when she is done.  I sell on e-bay and Craigslist.  We buy used and we trade toys… all these things add up to saving a lot of money.  I can buy green products that are quality made because I save in other ways.  We use peanut butter jars to drink out of…  it’s great, I never have to worry if one breaks…  I used my tin watering can that finally rusted out, for a new planter.  It’s decorative and unique.  I’d have to say that being green and living a green lifestyle isn’t expensive at all unless you choose for it to be.  It can be very affordable and even frugal.  Freecycle is a great way to be green.  Yard sales, thrift stores are also great and you can sometimes find some really nice finds.  There are countless ways of being green.  You don’t have to wait until the finances get better.  You can actually help your finances by being green.  Besides being green is Hip! and it connects you to a greater cause and one that makes you feel good.  You meet wonderful people and share a common goal.  Being green is fun and educational.  It becomes the new way of life and it becomes a habit.   I don’t even realize sometimes how green I am, because it’s natural for me now.   Green living is the New, consumerism is going out as people realize how wasteful life has been up to this point, and the enormous impact it is having on us all. Give it a try! One step at a time..