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It's Earth Month, Are You Doing Your Part?

April is Earth Month. Are you doing your part to make a difference? Small changes can make a big impact.


You don't have to turn your life upside down and change everything at once. Make little changes where you can! Here are a few ideas to get you started -


* Use a reusable water bottle - Choose a stainless steel variety or one that is BPA free. BPA is a toxic substance used to make clear and shatterproof plastic. BPA has been linked to cancer, interferes with fertility, and could contribute to childhood behavioral problems like hyperactivity.


* Use reusable shopping totes - Start by purchasing one or two to supplement your paper or plastic grocery bags, then build up your collection to eliminate them all together.


* Switch to CFL light bulbs
as your current ones burn out. CFL bulbs are more expensive but they last a lot longer. Switching out your old bulbs with new CFL bulbs will save on your energy bill in the long run.


* Pack your lunch in a reusable lunch box or bag - There are so many styles to choose from these days, you won't look like a nerd when bringing your lunch to work. Rather, you'll look smart and savvy!


Even the simplest things can go a long way towards making a big difference. Take small steps towards a better future by committing to be earth friendly whenever you are able.



Brought to you by our friends from TheFind!

Great 'Green' Mother's Day Gifts for the Eco-Friendly Mom

Celebrate all those eco-friendly earth mama friends of yours this Mother's Day with something recycled, reused or repurposed!


From perfumes to frying pans, indoor gardens to guide books, we have rounded up a fabulous selection of eco-conscious gift ideas. Help her save the world one recycled vinyl album at a time with artist, Jeff Davis' record album wall clocks or give her the ultimate mani/pedi with all-natural non toxic nail polish.


Sustainable living has never looked so good with all of the gifts we've discovered for the eco-conscious mother.


Take a look at our slideshow and find the perfect gift to make earth mama, and Mother Earth, healthy and happy this Mother's Day!

Limited Edition Barbie Seatbelt Bag - Show off Your Eco-Savvy Style

Show off your savvy eco-friendly style with a Limited Edition Barbie Seatbelt handbag!


This extremely durable bag is constructed out of automotive seatbelts. It's fully lined with Barbie Loves Ken polyester fabric and embellished with a retro style Barbie with a bow in her hair on the front.

The handles are 18' with a 7' drop and are adjustable and removable to suit your personal preferences.


The Barbie Seatbelt bag features three internal pockets which include one zip pocket and two slip pockets. Metal feet on the bottom of the bag help protect it from wear. Get your Harveys Seatbelt Bags Limited Edition Barbie Date Night Tote before they're gone!



Brought to you by our friends from TheFind!

Daily Obsesh - SpaRitual Vegan Nail Lacquer

You're the kind of girl who eats healthy, does yoga and volunteers during beach clean-up days because you care about the environment. You carry your own reusable water bottle and always bring canvas totes to the market. In fact, you've even started making an effort to buy organic clothing and skincare products! Being socially aware is your lifestyle €¦ being health conscious is the chicest thing about you.


Why not carry this mantra straight into the nail shop too? Next time you're in need of a mani/pedi, bring along a bottle of chemical free SpaRitual Vegan Nail Lacquer.


Free of DBP, formaldehyde and toluene, this company focuses on a philosophy steeped in color therapy. With colors like Face of Destiny and Knowledge is Power, this will surely be the most enlightening spa day you've ever had!



Where to Buy - Tenth Avenue Beauty



Price - $10.00



Who - Melimeli was the first to add the SpaRitual Vegan Nail Lacquer to the Hive.

Label Love - Vicarious by Nature

We all love to do a little something for our Mother Earth. But when it comes to fashion, so many of the eco-friendly lines, while well intentioned, leave us looking a little too much like tree-huggers. Vicarious by Nature is a line that uses all organic cotton to make their edgy layering pieces that drape so flatteringly across the body.


Basic tees, sweaters and hoodies and tanks are amped up with expert draping, zipper detailing and low cowl necks, giving the line a look of nonchalant sensuality and laid-back street chic style. Originating from sunny L.A., Vicarious by Nature embodies all that is So-Cal with chic and comfy pieces that flatter, make you look great and make you feel great about giving Mother Earth a hand. We're all for it!


Check out a few favorite pieces from their look-book by clicking on the slideshow!

Bag of the Week - Fold and Buckle Bag

Today you did your part in saving the world by first recycling your old issues of Vogue. Then you changed your light bulbs to eco-friendly, energy-efficient ones in the entire house (especially over the bathroom mirror so you can get ready each day). For lunch, you even made sure to eat only organic vegetables. Ahh. It sure feels good. The only challenge now is, how do you continue your good deeds for Mother Earth, while still remaining fashionable? Easy! Get yourself some organic, vegan clothes and accessories.


A good place to start is with this Fold and Buckle Bag. Made completely of vegan materials with a fold-over flap and multiple zip-closures, you're sure to look cute, while assuring the world is a better place to live!



Where to Buy - NeedSupply.com



Price - $89.00



Who Found It - SusanY was the first to add the 'Fold and Buckle Bag' to the Hive.

Daliy Obsesh - RuMe Cuff

There is nothing more stylish or fashionable right now than going green! It's THE color of the season (and every season after!). Whether you're wearing an organic cotton tee, re-doing your bedroom floors with reclaimed wood or bringing your own reuseable totes to Trader Joe's, going green is the way to go! Eco-conscious companies are popping up all over the map from NYC to LA and across the globe. One of these companies just so happens to be at the top of our favorite list here at the Hive. RuMe is a fair trade manufacturing company that produces reuseable bags.
RuMe stands for ReUseMe. The company started as a reaction to the growing concern about the detrimental effects that plastic bags have on our planet and believes that now, more than ever, there is a serious need for consumers to take the responsibility of environment protection into their own hands. RuMe bags offer a simple and affordable solution for consumers who are looking to be eco conscious by using less and reusing more. Their bags are considered to be high quality as well as both stylish and affordable. Two of our very favorite features. Better yet, they are designed and packaged following a no-waste philosophy.
Currently, we are totally obsessed with the RumeCuff, their newest invention. Imagine this ... you're headed out for a bike ride with your honey. He's got nothing but his bike, but you're still scrambling to find something to hold your keys and a couple of dollars for a post-ride cappuccino. You do NOT want to carry your purse, but what? RuMe has got the answer for you! The new RuMe Cuff. Designed as a reusable cuff for a coffee cup, it also includes a useful pocket that functions as an armband wallet.
Now you can kill two birds with one stone. A place to put your cash and your coffee and saving the planet in the meantime!



Where To Buy - RuMe



Price - $9.95



Who - MeliMeli was the first to add the 'RuMe Cuff' to the Hive.

Label Love: Go Boho-Chic This Summer With Snoozer Loser

NYC-based Snoozer Loser founder Sonia Tay doesn't pretend that her clothing line is 100% sustainable (which she deems "nearly impossible"), but she keeps it real by doing her best to take an eco-conscious approach to fashion, using organic cotton, peace silk, and incorporating vintage trims and fabrics. The result is a collection of dreamy, comfortable items that are effortlessly cool (nothing to "snooze" at!), from flirty crochet-trimmed tanks to breezy cotton dresses, perfect for a humid NYC summer. Developed from an artists' collective in 2005, Tay's creative background shows in every artfully dyed trim and embroidered detail. Aside from their boho-inspired frocks, the label also makes funky jewelry to accessorize with, like their earthy yet pretty amethyst and pyrite pendants. To see more of Snoozer Loser's latest collection, take a peek at the slideshow!

Label Love: Get Eco-Chic With Mr. Larkin

Being a San Francisco native, I've grown up with recycling, composting, and other Earth friendly habits that's become second nature. One aspect of eco-living I'm still having trouble with is actually fashion! I love buying vintage and second-hand clothing, but have a hard time finding organic and other eco-friendly clothing that I like. So I was pleasantly surprised to find a collection designed right here in San Francisco! Mr. Larkin is a young label designed by Casey Larkin where the entire collection uses organic and sustainable textiles and techniques such as using organic cotton, peace silks (silk harvested after the silkworms emerge from their cocoons) and dying them with maple leaves, berries, and other natural dyes. One of my favorite looks from her Spring 2010 collection is the Olivia dress which is made from a hemp/silk blend hand-dyed with local Japanese maple leaves and encrusted with rhinestones from the 1940s. Mr. Larkin can be found in boutiques around the US and online at Beklina. Take a look at my slideshow to see more of my favorites from the Spring 2010 collection.

Hot In The Hive: Source Toothbrush

Despite the fact that we just celebrated Earth Day on April 22, we should always treat Mother Nature with respect. After all, we've only got one home in the universe! Apart from bring a reusable bag when going shopping, buying vintage clothing, and repairing rather than tossing clothing, there's always more we can do. Consider the twice daily ritual of brushing your teeth. We throw away one every three months which means that over 300 toothbrushes end up in a landfill during a lifetime. The people of Radius created the Source Toothbrush as a way to combat the wastefulness. The sturdy handles of the toothbrushes are made from recycled currency, flax and wood and the brushes can be individually replaced so less is thrown away each time. Remember to treat everyday like it's Earth Day because like my kindergarten teacher always said, we should leave this place looking better than when we found it.

Price: $4-25
Who Found It: rockgeisha was the first to add the Source Toothbrush to the Hive.