Throw on you tie-dye, grab your Phish and Grateful Dead cds, and get those arms ready for your biggest tree hug – it’s Earth Day! It not just any Earth Day it’s the 4oth anniversary and although the concerns have changed from environmental education to sustainability and climate control, the meaning is still the same. Earth Day is a day to remind us all to celebrate and take care of our “Mother Earth.”

What are some ways to embrace your inner hippie today and everyday? It’s Simple. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Reduce

• save water & electricity by installing low flow toilets, turn off lights when not in a room, use cold water in laundry cycles, and go a little redneck by watering your grass and washing your car on the lawn at the same time (just tell your neighbors your saving the earth).
• Make a conscious effort to reduce your environmental footprint by going organic and choosing sustainable food. Learn more about sustainable food and grab a wonderful sustainable recipe by Mario Batali!

Reuse

• donate your old clothing and appliances to charities like Goodwill and Habitat For Humanity
• Grass clippings, food scraps and yard waste are all ideal materials to add to a compost pile. Here’s a cheat sheet for composting

Recycle

• By now we all know how to recycle. Continue using your curbside recycle service and if you don’t have one talk to your city council. It makes life much easier!
• Not only can you recycle plastic, aluminum and paper but did you know there are programs out there to recycle your hair, yoga mat, and surfboard? Find out more things you didn’t know you could recycle here.

Want to know more about what you can do today? Here are some of our favorite links. Nature.org, EarthDay, Earth911, and the best one yet – with lots of tips and a funny project: Find Your Inner Burt!

the greatest thing since recycled paper

Earth Day is a perfect day for everyone to make a conscious effort to create a healthy environment for our future generations to live. Which makes today a perfect day to tell all of you about one of my favorite products that encompasses all three of the Earth Day categories! My favorite reuseable tote bag. Not long ago I stopped using plastic bags and started to use tote bags. Unfortunately, I found that some would break and tear easily which totally negates the point of a reusable bag. So, it was with delight that I found a stylish, fun, environmentally friendly bag from Boards2Bags.

Boards 2 Bags has created a durable tote bag out of used billboards! You heard me, used billboards and they are fantastic. As an ex-graphic designer, I thought this was a fabulous idea and I had to have one. Once I received it I couldn’t put it down and have practically used it everyday. I have the “Bolsa Mercado” their large tote bag and have used it as a grocery bag, park bag, and even used it at an Earth Day celebration this past weekend to hold all of the plants I bought. It holds more than the average grocery tote (which is great when you have a baby on your arm), is easily cleaned, and when not in use folds up nicely! There is no comparison to the cloth bags you usually find in the grocery store. My favorite thing about this bag is that it is everything that a mom could need in a bag, a wipeable surface, durable, recycled, and cute! Not to mention the look of surprise that you get when you tell everyone that it used to be a billboard. Not only are you a mom but now you’re a trendy “Super Eco Mom.”

Boards 2 Bags is the inspiration of the Ralston family who are the founders of Ralston Advertizing in Dallas, Texas. Who with a warehouse full of  vinals started to convert their old billboards into bags to keep them out of the landfills. They make a wide variety of bags including beach bags, market bags, tote bags and wine / beverage  bags. Each one is unique, reuseable and a must have for the mom on the go!  You can find Boards2Bags online,  Twitter, and Facebook.

It’s a Giveaway!!!

Boards2Bags Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for participating!

Here’s the best part of today’s post - Boards2Bags is giving one lucky In Sock Monkey Slippers reader one of their “Everyday Bags!” You can win this great bag not 1 but 5 ways. Leave a separate comment for each.

1. Leave a comment on this post and tell us an Earth Day tip or just say hi!
2. Become a fan of In Sock Monkey Slippers on Facebook.
3. Become a fan of Boards2Bags on Facebook .
4. Follow In Sock Monkey Slippers on Twitter (@SMonkeySlippers)and retweet this post: http://wp.me/pLjUD-jz
5. Follow Boards2Bags on Twitter (@boards2bags)

That’s 5 chances! The most we’ve ever given! The contest will end Thursday, April 29, at 11pm central time. The winner will be randomly chosen from the comments and will be  notified the next morning. Sorry, entries limited to residents of Canada or the U.S. Good luck!