Earth Day, bEARTHday celebration

Today Earth Day turns 40. I sure hope we make better progress in the next 40 years than we have in the last 40. Today is also my birthday. I honestly don't remember the first Earth Day. I was alive, just not cognizant. That doesn't mean I have ever approved of waste. Waste is something I abhor. Probably not your typical eco-friendly person, I am simply out to reduce, recycle, repurpose, and reuse waste through my art and my lifestyle.

Earth Day 1970 was a big success because it was a spontaneous movement at the grass roots level. Although over 20 million people participated in this event, that was less than 10% of the population in 1970. It took hold on major college campuses, but there was less enthusiasm and information about it in the midwest, where I've lived most of my life.

Even though I didn't participate in my first Earth Day celebration until 1990, I have always tried to keep my carbon footprint as small as possible. All my life I've tried to adhere to a few principles. The first is, use what you have. The second is, use what others throw away. In fact, I often make a game of "what if" when it comes to recyclables. The third is, never waste a single ounce of our precious natural resources. And finally, refuse to buy something that you can't recycle, when you have a choice.

Here's a good example of recycling with a choice. I use half and half in my coffee. I like my coffee nearly white. So, I use a lot of half and half. I don't care about my arteries, at least not yet. I DO care about my choice of half and half containers. I have two choices where I live. I could buy the PLASTIC ones that are round and look a bit like the old fashioned glass milk containers. Or, I can buy the wax coated paper containers. I can use the wax coated containers as fire starters in my chiminea. I can also start my seeds in them. I cannot do anything with the plastic ones. The recycling center won't take them. I even tried altering some and the project sucked. So I will go out of my way to buy the wax coated containers and boycott the plastic ones.

Now that I've ranted about the earth and leaving a very small carbon footprint behind, it's time to celebrate my birthday. I'm sure some of you have already skipped the above rant, anyway!

To make this an extra special bEARTHday, CSN Stores offered to sponsor a giveaway on my blog. CSN offers an entire line of recycled products, as well as over 200 stores with products ranging from pet supplies to furniture to housewares and even kids beds.

Since I got to pick the prizes, I thought it would be fun to pair a few items together that altered or mixed media artists might like, some that fabric artists might like, some that paper artists might like, and one that parents and grandparents might like. There is only ONE giveaway, but you have a choice of five packages. Hopefully everyone will find one giveaway package that pleases them the most. This giveaway runs through midnight (by the clock on my sidebar) May 7.

Giveaway 1

Oil pastel set with carrying case, 50 pastels per set

AND

Plastic Button Assortment, 1-lb. Pack

AND

Painting Stencil Set, 2" Gothic Style Capital Letters, Numbers, and Characters

AND

Decorative Eight Compartment Literature Sorter, Letter Size, Mocha Brown shown

AND

Sponge Paint Set, Six Colors, 2.2 Ounces Each

Giveaway 2

Trai-Tex Double Weight Yarn Cones, 2-oz., 12 Assorted Color Cones

AND

Eversharp Bent Scissors, 8in, Blue

Giveaway 3

Wobowl SoftBowl (made from recycled materials)

AND

Self-Healing Cutting Mat, Nonslip Bottom, 1 Grid, 12 x 18, Gray

Giveaway 4

or

Your choice of a 15-Sheet Paper Trimmer or a 12" Rotary Trimmer (because some prefer the guillotine cutter and some prefer the rotary cutter).

Giveaway 5

Vega 600 Telescope

I'm always grateful for comments. They are what have kept me actively blogging for the past four years. It is YOU who have given me the most awesome birthday gift I could ever have: your friendship from around the world. So to enter the giveaway, I'm pretty sure you know the drill. Please leave me a comment on THIS post letting me know which giveaway you want in the event you win. If you are a follower, you will automatically be entered. However, if you leave a comment, that will count as one, also. Followers names will be added at the end of the giveaway. The random generator will pick. Bleubeard will be busy celebrating (or sleeping), so he asked for electronic help.

You do not need to be a follower, you do not need to have a blog, you do not need to blog about this. If you spread the word, that is sweet, thoughtful, and appreciated, but not required. I only ask that if you sign in as an anonymous commenter, please be sure I have a way to contact you. And remember, this giveaway runs from today, April 22 through May 7. The winner will be announced on May 8.

So what better way to celebrate Earth Day, than at the official Earth Day web site. Or, if you want to know a bit about Earth Day history, check it out here. Now put on your party hats, get out your noisemakers, and wish the earth a happy 4oth.