Congratulations Mackenzie!/The Nature of Competitions

Congratulations Mackenzie

Mackenzie Green, a student at the University of Miami, won the Miss District of Columbia USA pageant held in Washington, DC on November 29, 2009.

Green, along with 25 other contestants, strutted their stuff for a panel of judges competing in evening gown, and swimwear. She took special awards in both categories as well.

The pageant conducted interviews on the previous day.

I would like to acknowledge the outstanding Miss District of Columbia Teen USA 2010, Jennifer "JLo" Lopez. Lopez also swept both evening and swimwear categories.

Congratulations to both of you young ladies. Please remember to represent our Nation's Capital with grace and integrity at nationals.

XO
Tia

The Nature of Competitions

I feel compelled to address this topic based on what was and is being said about our winner and the judges' selection for this year.

First, I'll give the disclaimer that I have been a judge of a pageant before, so I know how difficult it is when the results are announced and the sadness of non-winners fills the room. As is known and often said, "There can only be one winner."

This is dedicated to those young ladies who felt cheated, who wondered if they were not beautiful enough, if they should have worn their hair a different way, done their makeup differently, or could have worked out a little more. I bet the winners have the same thoughts as well.

On my profile sheet for the pageant, I answered the following about winning the title:

Why should the judges choose you as the winner?

The judges should choose me as the titleholder because Miss District of Columbia USA is more than a title to me. It is the opportunity to represent the District of Columbia while continuing to enrich the lives of others. Besides, every one of the girls in this competition is a winner.

Ladies, I meant this from the bottom of my heart. It may not have been the best answer, but it was honest. Maybe now you all know why I didn't win... lol... Three minutes is hardly enough time to show your true colors. Don't I know.

Granted, we were perplexed by some of the choices that were or were not made that night, but ultimately, that title now belongs to Mackenzie. As queens, we all know how hard it is when you get bashed on blogs and such and how it can take a toll on one's self-esteem, so we need to rally around our queen in support.

At the end of the day and in any competition, it comes down to what the judges score. You may have been a favorite on someone's ballot. So all of your hard work and beauty did not go unnoticed. Believe me, I know from having judged a pageant before.

We all still love one another because we liked one anther before the pageant, right? Well, newsflash: we are all the same women, even Mackenzie.

My point is that we are all winners, with or without that crown and sash. I know personally that I am a leader, mentor, volunteer, student, etc. even without the title and you are still the same leader that you were before the pageant.

So my beautiful surgeon (cardiovascular perfusionist), cheerleader ambassador, attorney at law, and reporter, just to name a few; you all know who you are. Stay positive and stay beautiful!

XO
Tia

Abandoned...

So, it seems that I have abandoned my blog. Fear not, environmentalists; I have not ended my love and passion for the environment. I've just been wrapped up with school.

In other news, I have began writing for my school's newspaper and editing for the magazine! I'm very excited about both ventures as they will help with my journalism experience, pre-journalism curricula.

I have been volunteering for those less fortunate and not so much for environmental causes right now.

My current volunteer schedule includes:

21 November: I will be helping Victory Christian Ministries International distribute food at a homeless shelter.

26 November (Thanksgiving): I will be helping with the Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger, in the a.m.

I will update you soon!

XO
Tia

Flashback!

This interview I did during an Earth Day clean up was just sent to me. I love it! The icing on the cake is my coined quote at the end of it!



http://www.ecopop.tv/Ecopop/Entries/2009/10/2_Episode_2__Down_n_Dirty.html

XO
Tia

I Made the Deadline!

Please go check out project green search and vote for your favorite "it girl." (I'm hoping that will be me!)

Enjoy!

http://projectgreensearch.com/tia-holmes/1579

Project Green Search!

So, I entered an environmental model search; however, I'm not sure if I made the deadline. We shall see. Please go to the Website to check out the entries; and if you come across my photo, I pray that you vote for me.

May the "it girl" win!

www.projectgreensearch.com

XO
Tia

"Moments" Movie Screening and Panel Discussion

Today I went to Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC to speak to some of the students. I was excited to see the turnout of students who came to listen to me and the rest of the panel. The student were from the literary, drama and production departments mostly. I told them some of my stories from the dark and pleasant sides of the entertainment world. Since I love children and providing guidance, this was a golden opportunity for me!

Thinking of what to say as a student reads my introduction.

The screening was the same evening in the theater. This was my first time seeing myself on a big screen. How exciting. The best part of all was receiving compliments once it was over. I was blessed to work with such a good director, producers and cast mates. I only hope that I will have more opportunities like this in the future!

Special thanks to Checkmate Studios and IME Films for helping me give birth to a new career!


XO
Tia

Nature Watching

So, I know I've been missing from my blog for a while:-( Please charge that to my life being busy and not me giving up on my blog. I've been busy with school and work as of late. I did not however stop loving our fellow earthlings, so I want to share some random photos that I capture occasionally. These photos also display some of the reasons why we should be conscious of our actions in terms of how they affect our fellow earthlings. I love to capture birds and deer.

Enjoy!

Birds enjoying some leftovers at Chipotle.
*Please always watch what you leave behind.

Deer being forced into the streets in my neighborhood due to overdeveloped land.
*Please don't use poisonous chemicals to keep them away from your yards.

Birds bathing in our contaminated runoff (water contaminated with chemicals).
*Please be mindful of the types of products you use when washing your vehicles.

XO
Tia

Camping for the First Time!

So I was surprised with a camping trip this weekend that I wasn't completely prepared for. Although I have never been camping, this was a pleasant surprise. It was actually very tranquil to wake up to birds chirping right above you with the sun beaming into the tent. The smell of the fresh air was the icing on the cake.

Now although I was not out in the wilderness but on a private property that was very beautiful, I still was able to enjoy the nature that was around me. We were on the water where there were fresh crabs and such.



I will get back to you on how I feel about camping once I experience the real wilderness... lol

XO
Tia

Going Wild for Mother Earth!

So, the pageant experience wasn't all bad because it allowed me a trip to the West coast and even better, a road trip from Arizona to Nevada and back with my mom, aunt and sister. I saw so many beautiful sights and animals during our trips, but I just wanted to highlight one of the most daring things that I, and probably my aunt too, has ever done.

On the way back from Nevada, we expected to see wild animals along the way, but we didn't expect to get close to them. We road past some wild horses in the desert and as you can see from the photos, there's not much to separate you from the wild there. These horses touched our hearts because they were trying to reach the puddle of water on the other side of the fence but they couldn't get to it. We were so sad to see them dehydrated, so we thought it would be a bright idea to feed them the water that we had for our road trip.

This shows that my platform still stands and that our actions are indirectly affecting our wildlife and marine life.

In Conclusion...

Congratulations to Amy Diaz, our Miss Earth United States 2009!

Amy performed very well at all points of the competition and I'm sure she will be a great representative for the United States at Miss Earth.

Now for my performance review...

Shame on me for thinking that my knowledge, passion and beauty would qualify me for the title of Miss Earth United States; I was sadly mistaken. To those of you who follow this blog, you all know that I like the "earthly" part of being Miss Earth Maryland far more than wearing the crown and sash.

During pageant weekend, I lost myself because I was not prepared for what I was about to endure. If you have never done a pageant before where you had to spend days and long hours with other "pageant girls," let me give you a brief description. I went there energized and ready to meet everyone, do photoshoots and activities but by the day of the pageant, I was crying on my best friend's shoulder. I came to the conclusion that I am not cut out for pageants, personality wise. I noticed that I was far more selfless, confident and less superficial than most of the women who surrounded me. I felt like I was in a barrel full of cats and I just kept getting clawed, pulled down and stepped over.

Although I was confident and knowledgeable about environmental issues and prepared for the stage, none of that mattered once my personality faltered. The worst part was my undying need to always be honest and follow rules--one of the reasons I don't have photos; none of that mattered either. (Next time, I'll scribble "Mickey Mouse" on the signature line, get it notarized and see if it goes unnoticed.) I felt like an empty shell fighting to bring myself back. After crying and venting to my best friend, I felt re-energized and ready for the stage. I felt that I had performed so badly that I had to leave it all on the stage that night and I am proud that I did!

I learned a valuable lesson from that experience and from watching some of the more seasoned girls of note, Amy Diaz, Anastagia Pierre and Dani Reeves (all who won titles that night and in the USA system). I must develop tough skin in order to be successful at the pageant "game."

After sour-graping, I realized that it was destined for Amy Diaz to become Miss Earth United States and that something for me is in waiting. I would like my readers to know that I always strive to set examples in everything that I do so that others may learn from my mistakes and successes; so I live each day with no regrets, only lessons learned. I will continue to shoot for the moon and reach more stars.

Pageant photos coming soon (hopefully)...

Thank you Earth Pageant Productions for an eye-opening pageant experience.

Pageant Results...
2009 Miss Earth United States titleholders:

Amy Diaz -Rhode Island - Miss Earth United States
Danielle Bounds - Mid-America - United States Miss Air
Anatasgia Pierre - Florida Sunshine - United States Miss Water
Dani Reeves - Central U.S. - United States Miss Fire

Today Is the Big Day!

Tonight, I will compete to be Miss Earth United States. Everything that I have done up to this point and on will determine if the judges think that I will be the best representative for the title. My passion and confidence says that I am the winner!

The road to this pageant and all of the preparation that I have done have made me a better me and I hope that the judges will see that. I do not regret anything that I have done in regard to this pageant.

I will update you with results later.

Stay tuned...

XO

Tia

Today Begins Pageant Weekend...

I am on the road with my family today heading from Arizona to the pageant in Nevada. For some reason, I love this road trip. I'm no stranger to the journey across these state lines and it never gets old!

Today we're in for registration, photoshoots and rehearsals. Fun, right! The best part is that I will finally meet the best pageant director ever! The man behind the United States Earth Pageant.

I will update with photos later...

Wish me truth (not luck) :) I believe in this cause with my whole heart so I don't need luck, I need the wisdom and confidence to let the judges see the real me.

XO
Tia

My Future Beauty Queen!

This is my niece wearing my crown and heels. She's a a-diva!


XO
Tia

My Regards to Miss and Teen District of Columbia International

Dear Queens,

It is with great regret that I inform you that I will not be able to attend your sendoff party, because I am currently en route to compete in a nationally competition myself. Though I know that you will make me and every judge who helped select you proud at nationals, I wish I could be there to support you. I still remember that day judging and I recount it in my head frequently as I prepare for my national pageant. Judging experience is invaluable and I appreciated and took in every moment of it. I regarded myself the "nice judge" that day because I believed I was asking easy questions to make you all feel comfortable and to treat you all as I would like to be treated as a contestant. The things that I learned from watching each judge and contestant that day will help me be the best that I can be at my national pageant.

Enough about me and my experiences...

Juliana: You are a phenomenal young women; I only wish that I was as focused on a goal as you are on your platform. If you show that same confidence to those judges at nationals, I'm sure you will blow them away as well. Remember to always let your inner beauty shine on-stage and in interview! At the risk of sounding strange: I will never forget those piercing blue eyes.

Amanda: Your inner beauty shined, shined, shined brighter than any light in that interview room. Not only was I impressed when I looked at your photos and platform statement, but meeting you was the icing on the cake! You exemplified the meaning of true beauty and showed me what every beauty pageant should be based on. I learned so much from watching you that day. Please show them the same Amanda at nationals.

I'm looking forward to having tea and toasting to your (our) national titles!

Cheers,

Tia

Five Days Before I Meet My Pageant Sisters...

I am looking forward to the pageant and festivities! I will update you on the happenings when I get there!

XO
Tia

Noteworthy: RIP MJ!

See, even the late great Michael Jackson cared about Mother Earth.

What a great man he was. Will this inspire you to change your habits?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOnL5c8LMqM

Michael Jackson's Earth Song

Enjoy!
Tia

Ecosystem Farm Volunteering

I had the opportunity to volunteer for the Accokeek Foundation's Ecosystem Farm. My experience was personalized because I was the only volunteer there, so I embarked on four hours of work with some of the employees. The project in mind for the day was wheat harvesting. I had never harvested wheat or even seen wheat in it's natural form ever! This experience was definitely a memorable one as I learned new things and saw some of the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer. (Anyone ever wonder why Nature is a woman? I guess I'll ask Captain Planet... lol)

On the way to the farm, I road down a long "back road" that featured farms and other ecological centers. I came upon a wetland, which I will work on better identifying. I couldn't believe it since the only wetlands I get to see are polluted and sometimes dried up. If only the world could enjoy all the benefits that the people who live and farm on this "back road" get to experience daily.

Seeing all of the beauty of this secluded area made me think: "When did convenience begin to trump Nature's needs?" Everyone who knows me knows that I love the animals, so I often think of the impact our actions are having on our fellow earthlings. How often do you consider sacrificing something for an animal. Here's a clue: If you no longer use plastic grocery bags and have converted to a canvas market bag, you've just contributed in some way to an animal's preservation. Go you! "Plastic is bad, umkay???!!!"

If you would like to explore or volunteer at the ecosystem farm, visit http://www.accokeek.org/

XO

Tia

Sponsors Update!

I'm so excited that I have people who believe in my success and my cause. I am taking this time out to give thanks to all of my sponsors with a brief spotlight on my newest.

Today I rejoined a boot camp designed by MD-native, Corey Belin. Corey began Belin Sport and Fitness back in 2007 and the company has quickly grown through quality training. He is a personal trainer but his most popular service is the Belin Sport and Fitness Boot Camp that has gained much recognition in such publications as Washington City Paper's 2009 "Best of DC" list. I began working out with the boot camp back in 2008 and had stopped due to my schedule irregularities. BS&F has since added mutiple times and locations to fit any schedule, in addition to expanding in New York City and supporting co-ed camps. I would recommend this camp to anyone who would like to work out in a friendly environment and gain amazing results all while having fun. BS&F is now on board to help me prepare for the national pageant. I will update you with results periodically.

My current company sponsors:

• Events Forever
• BP1 Management
• InGenius Press (www.ingeniuspress.com)
• Belin Sport and Fitness (www.bsandf.net)

I did not forget my individual sponsors. *wink*

I am looking forward to assisting more positive companies who would like to support my cause.

Thanks again for all of your support. I am even grateful for those of you who have helped me with preparing for the pageant! Where would I be without any of you?

With Love,
Tia

Cast Your Vote for Emily and Lamar!

These days, it always seems that I have another friend appearing on a television show for any odd reason. Well ladies and gentleman, once again I am asking you to aid me in pushing Emily and Lamar to the finish line for the 'Today Show Throws a Wedding' contest.

I met Emily and Lamar on New Year's Eve and have admired their relationship ever since. I truly would love to see them win such a huge gift because they deserve it.

To learn more about Lamar and Emily follow these links.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/31082248#31082248

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31063909/

To cast your vote: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30370935 or text "3" t0 46833.

Good Luck Lamar and Emily!

*Now back to my regular environmental topics... lol*

Happy WED!

To stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and to enhance political attention and action, World Environment Day (WED) was established in 1972 by the UN General Assembly. It is commemorated yearly on 5 June.

This years' theme is 'Your Planet Needs You—UNite to Combat Climate Change.' It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.

So, for the environment today we should all band together and do something.

Here's a tip: Unplugging all unnecessary electronics when they're not in use can save energy and your money.

XO
Tia

M.I.A.

Okay, so I've been MIA lately. Well, at least not updating my blog. I do apologize for leaving you for weeks without updating you on my new found environmental knowledge... lol

Well, since I last made a post, I've...

• ...judged a pageant.
• ...acted in a movie.
• ...worked three-days before [the stage play].
• ...acted in a stage play.
• ...worked another three days after [the stage play].
• ...attended a class.

In other words, I don't rest. I did get a chance to watch some shows on PBS.org that helped me further my environmental knowledge and gain more insight into how our bad habits effect the ecosystem.

The quote on the header of my blog is so true. All things ARE connected my friends. For example, where do you think those harsh chemicals that we use everyday are going? They come right back to us through our water from our personal care products to the chemicals in our cleaning products. All of this waste water filters right back to us or contaminates our watersheds, which too eventually gets back to us.

In our waste water:

• New products that include new chemicals are outpacing our filtration systems. Our filtration systems have the capability to filter foreseeable chemicals; however, they cannot filter the chemicals they don't yet know how to counter; these are the same chemicals that cause sickness in our marine life.

In our rain runoff:

• Where do I begin with this one? Just imagine consuming a bottle of fertilizer. Essentially, we are poisoning ourselves by poisoning our waters. We are losing fish, crabs and are unknowingly potentially causing sickness to ourselves when we consume seafood from the waters we contaminate.

You all know I don't like to preach, but I just want to emphasize that the world is our home. I always use the analogy of someone coming into your home and dropping trash where ever they are, spilling anything anywhere, drinking all of your water, bashing in your walls, and for non-smokers, filling your home with smoke. All of this is the equivalent of the damage that we are doing to OUR environment: the system that makes life and some luxuries possible for us.

I hope that you can come away with some insight from this post. To learn more about nature and our environment, you can watch some useful videos at PBS.org.

Regards,
Tia

P.S. Being a vegetarian feels great! (More on that later.)

A Scholarship for KJ!

Today was a great day for one of my close friends on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. She made an unexpected appearance on the show today and was awarded a $15,000 scholarship! Who is she? She is my definition of a hard-working, independent, driven woman. Her name is Keren Johnson.

Keren is one of the most admirable and hard-working persons I know. She works multiple jobs to fulfill her payments for students loans, as she plans to continue her education and pursue a career in politics. I had already admired KJ when I met her after learning she had worked on one of the front-runner's campaigns in this past Presidential election. After getting to know more about her, I understood why she had done such great things and received so many blessings in her life.

During my time knowing KJ, I've been inspired to continue my college education and pursue my dreams. I have been more successful with her as a friend and a model to follow, and a person who is also willing to assist me with anything.

Cheers to you KJ! I'm proud to know you and call you a friend.

With Love,
Tia

Miss District of Columbia International

So during the weekend, I had the opportunity to serve on the panel of judges for the Miss and Teen DC International Pageant. As you can imagine, this was a great experience for me.

I offered nothing but smiles to keep each of the contestants feeling confident.

The best and nicest judging panel ever. I wished I could be judged by us. We were definitely fair, honest and realistic.

Focused: Someone's dream is in my hands.

And the crowns and sashes are placed on Amanda Lewis and Juliana McKee. Congratulations on a job well done!

Litterers Anonymous

So I randomly see people litter sometimes and I usually confront them about it. Pretty courageous of me, huh? I would like to call this part of my blog "Litterers Anonymous." People usually do feel bad about littering when they are caught in the act and confronted about it. I would like to use these entries to give you insight into some people's thoughts on why they litter and what I tell them that gives them a reason to change their habit.

"The Drinker"

I was enjoying a walk along the Georgetown waterfront with some of my friends this past weekend when one of my friends stopped to talk to her friend who was on one of the boats. I had noticed some guys enjoying beer on their personal boat. For some, stopping along the waterfront dock is a great way to relax and unwind. For me, it is annoying to watch some carelessly discard their empty bottles into the water. I noticed "The Drinker" kick a bottle off the dock and then I confronted him about it.

Me: Did you just kick that bottle into the water?
The Drinker: What are you, one of those Earth lovers or something?
Me: Yes. Actually, I'm Miss Earth Maryland.
The Drinker: I didn't meant to kick the bottle in the water; that was an accident. Me: Why would you want to throw bottles into the water anyway?
The Drinker: Look at the water, it's dirty already.
Me: I just participated in a watershed cleanup and you would not believe what type of things I found. An oxygen machine, cell phone, crime scene tape and pretty much anything else you could think of.

He looked at me in amazement. It was as if he thought he was the only person guilty of littering. I saved him the lecture on our ecosystems and how important they are to our survival, but I think I got my point across based on the look of guilt in his eyes. So as to not mess up his moment of leisure, I moved on.

"The Confessor"

After one of my friends overheard me talking to the drinker, they decided to tell me about their view on littering and why they do it.

The Confessor: I am not going to lie. I litter sometimes too.
Me: (Sigh) Why?
The Confessor: Because I don't want the stuff sitting in my car and I know someone will clean it up.
Me: You can get excessive fines for littering and that is the purpose of the public trash cans. You don't usually have to drive too far to find a trash can. Or why can't you dump it at your next destination?
The Confessor: Well, that makes sense.
Me: The people who usually clean those things up are usually volunteers like me. I've put on a neon vest and cleaned up a few places before.
The Confessor: Really, I thought that inmates and people who do community service did that. I didn't know people volunteer for that. Thanks for letting me know that. I will do my best not to litter again.

I do realize that there will always be someone to clean up our land; however, we could work on not purposely contributing to that task. These jobs exist for the betterment of our environment, not for the convenience of people.

So in closing, let's take ownership of our environment and treat it as we would a treasure. The environment and the Earth is our treasure and a gift. It takes care of us in many ways, so it is our duty to in turn take care of it and continue the circle of life and love.

XO

Tia

Sponsorship Opportunities!

Your opportunity to be an official sponsor of Miss Earth Maryland has arrived. Please send an e-mail to missearthmd@gmail.com to receive a sponsorship brochure.

With Love,
Tia

Vegetarianized!

So as Miss Earth Maryland, it is my duty to do whatever I can to protect Mother Earth and reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible. I recently made a pledge to PETA to become a vegetarian for 30 days; however, I think I should make it a permanent lifestyle. PETA will be sending me recipes for those 30 days, so I think that will get me on the right track to adjusting to this new eating habit.

If you're wondering how becoming a vegetarian can reduce my carbon footprint, then pay close attention. While improving my health and lowering my risk of heart disease, cancers, stroke and diabetes, I'll also be helping to improve the efficiency of food production. According to Dr. Pimentel on letsactnow.org, animal protein production requires more than 11 times as much fossil-fuel energy than production of plant protein.

I regret saying this, but the only food I will miss is the Daytona Wings from Hooters that I love so much, or any Buffalo wings for that matter. I had a fond love for bacon for a while but I've managed to wean myself off of that a while ago. Honestly, I've made attempts at trying to avoid meats in the past, but I never stuck to it because I didn't make a pledge for the change and I didn't believe in my reasoning enough to commit. I tried to use my love for animals as the reason for my change, but that didn't seem to be enough; as my friend always says: you can get my attention if you involve Mother Earth.

For more information on how you can join the movement, visit http://www.letsactnow.org/. There are vegetarian starter kits available for download on the site.

If Time Could Stand Still...

I've been really busy this past week following the Earth Day events, audition and rehearsals. On Wednesday, Earth Day, I got a chance to speak with Michael and George of the Michael Baisden radio show. I was driving along and I heard that they were talking about eco-products in dedication to Earth Day, so I called in and I actually got through. I told them some useful information about water conservation before they got goofy on me.

On Thursday, I attended the movie premiere for Jazz in the Diamond District. I give the movie two thumbs up! It was great to see and mingle with some old friends and meet new people.

http://www.jazzinthediamonddistrict.com/

I kicked off Saturday with an audition call back, then off to meet with a director for a movie I'll be filming in May. After all of this acting, I had to go to a rehearsal for the play I'll also be in, in May. As you can imagine, by this time I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be. LOL

Sunday I went to Federalsburg, MD to participate with my friend and his mom in the March of Dimes 5-mile walk. I had never done a walk like this before. I couldn't believe how quickly the miles flew by. Once we were done walking, they rewarded us with some great refreshments and goodies; I was a fan of the funnel cake.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: How You Can Make a Difference

You can make a significant difference toward climate change by implementing the three Rs. But more importantly, you should focus on the first two before implementing the final R.

Reducing refers to lessening the amount of items or resources that are consumed, using only the amount that is needed and looking for alternatives that will lessen our use.

Reusing is extending the life or re-purposing an item rather than discarding or throwing it away.

Recycling is processing old used items in order that the material can be used to make new products.

A fourth R has been suggested by the EPA: Respond! By responding, you would implement the changes in your life to be more environmentally conscious and become helpful in spreading the awareness.

Tips for implementing these changes in your life:

Reduce:

• Buy permanent items instead of disposables.
• Buy and use only what you need.
• Buy products with less packaging.
• Buy products that use less toxic chemicals.

Reuse:

• Repair items as much as possible.
• Use durable coffee mugs.
• Use cloth napkins or towels.
• Clean out juice bottles and use them for water.
• Use empty jars to hold leftover food.
• Reuse boxes.
• Purchase refillable pens and pencils.
• Participate in a paint collection and reuse program.
• Donate extras to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away.
• Reuse grocery bags as trash bags.

Recycle:

Recycle paper (printer paper, newspaper, mail, etc.), plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community doesn't collect at the curb, take them to a collection center.

*Purchase some cool post-consumer products at www.uncommongoods.com.

Sources: www.42explore.com/recycle.htm; www.epa.gov/epahome/home.htm#recycle; www.cheasepeakebay.net/atschool.aspx?menuitem=16885

Recycling 101

Your local government is the key to your recyling success. Contact your local government and/or recycling coordinator to learn about how you my obtain a recyling bin/receptacle and to learn what items are accepted in your county/area and how to dispose of additional materials, such as hazardous waste, properly. Generally, plastic items 1-7 (including plastic bags), glass, aluminum, paper items, and steel are acceptable. Research is constantly being conducted on how to recycle additional and new types of plastics. Proper recyling consists of adhering to your area's accepted items list, removing tops from plastic bottles and cleaning the items to be recycled before placing them in the receptacle.