Ten Simple Guidelines to Living Green

I've been a bit of a slacker lately so I really apologize for the lack of new posts. But today is Earth Day and it's my personal mission to encourage eco friendliness in any way I can.

Our society acts as if our planet is replaceable, as if we'll get a new one once we've trashed it up enough. It's saddening to see how many people just don't care about their actions.

This planet is a gift and the laws protecting her are so weak (especially in the US). We really need to stand up and change things, take action. Why have children if you're going to leave them the horrible consequences of our choices? Everyone should want to leave this Earth better than you found it.

Here are some very easy actions that you can take. Right now. Show this planet that you care.

Go Vegetarian (at least once a week!): This is hands down the best way you can help our planet. Our appetite for meat consumes an abundant amount of resources (farming, refrigeration, transportation, etc.). It's just plain wasteful. I made the choice to go vegetarian this year and I feel great. It's the best choice I've ever made. You don't even have to convert completely (Meatless Mondays, anyone?). Every little bit helps!

Break Out Those Canvas Bags: Seriously, people. Stop using plastic bags! It's just ridiculous how people still use them! From simple 99 cent ones, to chic and super cute ones, re-useable bags are everywhere. Stock up on a few."But I always forget to bring them!" Wah, wah, wah. Store them in your car! Throw them in your purse! I use Flip&Tumble bags that fold up into a portable ball (see below). Or here's an idea: how about you carry the two or three items you get from convenience store?! Just a thought...

Shorten Your Showers: Water is an extremely valuable resource and we need to start treating it like one. Hoping you don't take baths (30-50 gallons of water?! No thanks), shorten your shower to five minutes, tops. I use a timer on my iPhone so I get an annoying ringtone when my time's up. Take it a step further and install a low flow shower head. Where else can you save water? Hang your laundry and skip the dryer. Turn that damn faucet off when you're brushing your teeth! Load the dishwasher to the max and don't you dare water your lawn.

Recycle!@#$% I'm not even going to explain this. It's a no brainer. If you don't do it, you're a lazy moron.

Re-vamp Your Beauty Routine: I can't stress this enough. What you put onto your skin goes into your bloodstream. Do you have any idea what's in your shampoo? Your face wash? Your foundation? It's straight garbage. Cancer-causing garbage. Worst of all, these chemicals run right down the drain in your shower and into your water system. Not so pretty, huh?

Afraid to fully commit? Take it one step at a time. Finish what you've got and vow to buy better from now on. Swap out the stuff you use the most and take it from there. Opt for samples to see what works for you. Spirt Beauty Lounge, an amazing natural beauty boutique, offers 12 deluxe samples of your choice for $25 (plus a 10% coupon for next purchase).

Click here for Spirt Beauty Lounge's customized sample kit.

Clean Green: This is similar to re-vamping your beauty routine. Conventional cleaning products are filled with awful chemicals that we breathe in and run down the drain on a daily basis. Switch to brands like Seventh Generation or Mrs. Meyers. If you must use paper towels, choose recycled paper (same for toilet paper). And please, pretty please, stop using those air fresheners. They are not as safe as you think they are.

Bring Your Own Container: If you're a take-out kind of person, stop supporting styrofoam and plastic. Ask to get food in your own re-useable container. It may seem dorky, but you'll be surprised at how many people do it (I work at a restaurant). Plus, it'll cut back on your garbage tremendously. Who likes taking that out?

Step Away From The Vehicle: Gas prices are flat out robbing us blind. It should be obvious that we need to limit our car usage for financial and environmental reasons. Walk or bike whenever you can. Stop being lazy! If you can't, look into public transportation. Want to do more? Invest in a hybrid car or better yet, an electric one. There are other fuel options out there. Definitely look into them!

Cancel That Gym Membership: You don't need a treadmill to stay fit. Gyms are energy guzzlers. Hundreds of machines are always plugged in, sucking up electricity. People fail to realize how bad they really are for our environment. Look into yoga or Pilates. Walk, run, or bike outside (it's a much better view than a TV). There are tons of ways to exercise sustainably.

Think About Your Purchases: It sounds easy enough, but it's an important action to take. Think about what goes into making something. Where does it come from? What is it made out of? Where will it go? Most importantly: Do I really need it? If every person truly understood the impact of their purchases, we'd have a much cleaner Earth.