Walmart gives us moms a lot to do around the holidays, but this assignment is easily my favorite. We each get a $50 gift card that we can use to shop for food or toys to donate to charity. At Walmart, $50 goes a long way. Here’s what I was able to get for the money:

Are you planning to do any giving for the holidays? I’d love to hear about it!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation for sharing my FoodSaver experience with you. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

I am a huge fan of TOMS Shoes. If you’ve never heard of them, they are a shoe maker that gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every single pair purchased. So what does that have to do with organic bedding, right?

Well, The Company Store, a 100-year-old manufacturer of bedding and other household textiles, has developed a similar program.

They teamed up with regional non-profit organizations all across the country for their Buy One, Give One program, which donates a comforter to a homeless child for every one sold. And for anyone who doubts the impact this could have, consider these facts:

• Each year, 1 in 50 children in the U.S. are homeless.
• Families with children make up 34% of the homeless population.

This program could help up to 1.5 million children. So if you’re in need of new bedding, grab one of their comforters and rest assured that you’re helping a child who needs a little warmth and comfort.

While none of the comforters are made from a specifically sustainable material, the cause is worthy. And the company store does have an awesome selection of organic sheets, duvet covers and other bedding. Among my favorites is the reversible Tile/Fretwork pattern duvet cover and matching sheets shown below. It is available in brown/red and green/blue.

Why It’s Green:

• Buy One, Give One program helps homeless children
• Bedding made of GOTS-certified organic cotton

Price: Comforters, $48.99-1950; Bedding, $22-129

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

I shared with you a few weeks ago that I am an ambassador for the Macy’s Heart of Haiti campaign.  In case you missed that post, Heart of Haiti is a collection of art, housewares and accessories handmade by Haitian artisans in an attempt to help them get back on their feet after the historic earthquake that shook the island nation in January. When you buy one of these pieces, it directly benefits the Haitian artisans who created them. They receive 22% of the retail price for each item in the collection.

Well, in addition to the good this project is doing directly in Haiti, all the ambassadors were given the opportunity to do some good for a fellow blogger. We were asked to think about a blogger who is “doing great things to raise awareness, empower and/or inspire others, and is all out passionate about making positive changes in her life, her community (online and/or offline), or maybe even the world!”

A lot of bloggers came to mind, but there is one woman in particular who I wanted to recognize: Amy Clark of MomAdvice.com.

Amy is one of those rare people who truly does seem to care more for others than she does herself. I have seen her do so much good for so many people — helping them in ways that are big and small. She personally helped me a few months ago, knitting a few caps for my daughter, who had lost her hair due to chemo. It may have seemed like a small gesture to her, but it was a huge gesture to my family, and we appreciate it more than we could ever say.

But we’re not the only ones Amy has helped. Watching her giving spirit over the last few years of knowing her has made me want to be a better person and a bigger giver, and this is the least I can do to show my appreciation to her.

So because of the beautiful woman she is, Amy Clark is my choice as the Heart of Social Good!  She will receive the Open Heart of the Goddess Pendant (shown above) from the Heart of Haiti Collection (no longer available online). More than that, I just hope it puts a smile on her face.

• Follow Amy & Mom Advice on Twitter and Facebook

(Disclosure): I am a Heart of Haiti Ambassador. While we are not compensated for our participation, we will receive free products so we can see these artisans’ work in person.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Today is Green Gift Monday, a day established to help frenzied Cyber Monday shoppers divert their spending toward greener products and causes. I can’t think of a better time to introduce you to the Macy’s Heart of Haiti product line.

Heart of Haiti is a collection of art, housewares and accessories handmade by Haitian artisans in an attempt to help them get back on their feet after the historic earthquake that shook the island nation in January. The earthquake made it virtually impossible for Haitians to make a living. When you buy one of these pieces, it directly benefits the Haitian artisans who created them. They receive 22% of the retail price for each item in the collection. This sustainable income will allow these artisans to repair homes, pay for their children’s schooling, and feed and clothe their families.

Here are some of the artists this campaign is helping:

When the Blogrollers reached out to me and asked if I wanted to be a part of the team of bloggers working to promote Heart of Haiti, I jumped at the chance. While for the most part, I recommend buying products that are made in the U.S., the biggest exception to that is Fair Trade products that help the artisans who create them have a better life. This is also a special opportunity to shine a light on people who are in dire need of help, and whose plight has been long forgotten by many because Haiti is no longer in the headlines daily.

In this collection, you’ll find beautiful artwork (all of which reminds me of my own upbringing in the Caribbean), stunning mirrors and wall art, tableware, jewelry, and more. There’s something for everyone. Heart of Haiti is featured in my Green Gift Guide, and any of these items would make a great, meaningful gift that gives back. To learn more about Heart of Haiti, click here.

Why it’s Green:

• Handmade by Haitian artisans in cooperation with Fair Winds, a Fair Trade partner, and Macy’s
• Many items are made of recycled materials, including recycled oil drums, newspaper and more
• Your purchase will help Haiti recover in a way that is meaningful. There’s something to be said about helping others by giving them the means to help themselves.

Price: $10-275

(Disclosure): I am a Heart of Haiti Ambassador. While we are not compensated for our participation, we will receive free products so we can see these artisans’ work in person. Given that I would gladly tell you about this for free, I plan to give away the products I receive to my readers to encourage you to support Haiti in its recovery.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

My husband and I are a little bit addicted to watching survival shows on the Discovery Channel. We’ll sit for hours watching marathons of “Man Woman Wild,” “Man vs. Wild” and our favorite, “Dual Survival.” So what the heck does this have to do with water, right?

Well, if you’ve ever watched one of these shows, you’ll know that the idea is that cast members are left in the middle of nowhere with little, if any, gear to help them survive. And in very nearly every episode, the biggest struggle the survivors face is finding clean water to drink.

There was one episode of “Dual Survival” in which the two castmates were stranded in the desert. They were very, very low on water and were forced to choose between drinking water that may have been contaminated or not drinking water at all. One of the men, a survivalist who lives completely off the grid in the desert climate of Arizona, literally broke into tears as he talked about how wasteful people in the modern world tend to be when it comes to water.

I understand that this is an extreme depiction of the struggle for water and that the show is set up for the purpose of edu-tainment (educational entertainment). However, these shows, this episode in particular, never fail to remind me of a stark truth: That there are millions of people all over the world who face this struggle daily. There are millions of people who have to choose between drinking dirty, contaminated water or drinking none at all. There are millions who have no water to drink at all.

It’s easy for us to turn a blind eye to their plight, because we are fortunate enough to be able to turn on our faucets for 15 minute showers whenever we choose. But these people are real. They do exist. And their plight is one that any one of us could be forced to face before we know it. Imagine what would happen if a major metropolitan area had to ration water because the supply was running low (it happened to us here in the Atlanta metro area a few years ago). Imagine what would happen if a water supply wound up contaminated by some unknown source (it happens all the time throughout the world).

All that to say that the next time you turn on a faucet in your home, take a dip in a pool, water your lawn or wash your car, remember those people, and don’t take your fortune for granted.

Changing your water habits doesn’t have to be hard at all. Remember this video I made a few weeks ago about conserving water in your home? If you didn’t see it then, please watch it now:

You can read many more perspectives on water and find tips for conserving it at BlogActionDay.org. Thousands of blogs have written posts on the topic, and many of them will open your eyes. Here are some of my favorites, though there are tons of great ones:

• “Blog Action Day” Makes Waves for Clean Water {Bay Daily}
• Why It’s Clear There is a Worldwide Water Crisis {Sen. John Kerry for Change.org}
• 21 Easy Ways to Conserve Water {Bleeding Espresso}
• Not Just a Drop in the Bucket {American Rivers}
• Take action: Clean water saves lives in Haiti {Gadling}

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

The last post here at Green Your Decor wasn’t exactly the happiest one I’ve ever written. However, it was something I felt I had to write. This post isn’t all rose petals and rainbows either, but I feel equally as compelled to ask for your support for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

It’s hard to imagine what they are going through. One 7.0 earthquake was enough to literally shatter their world to pieces, but a second tipping the scales at 6.1 has rocked them to the core. An earthquake of this magnitude is life-changing no matter where it happens, but the abject poverty that existed in Haiti even before this disaster has certainly amplified its effect.

I want to feel hopeful for Haiti, but it’s terribly difficult to do so in the face of photos and news coverage from ground zero. It is tough for me to watch, particularly when I see children who have lost everything that they have ever held dear. Knowing that there are hundreds of thousands of people just like them makes me turn the TV off. But the knowledge that I’m sitting here watching it unfold from the comfort of my sofa is a reminder that we are better off than so many. So no matter what we are going through as a family, we can’t afford not to help.

So today, I am asking all of my readers to help them in some way — any way — if you haven’t already. Below, you’ll find a list of organizations and campaigns that are delivering aid in Haiti. Please, donate through one of these, or any organization you see fit, but just donate.

Donate money

• Red Cross: You can make an online donation (minimum amount: $10) directly to Haiti Relief & Development or you can donate $10 via their text message campaign by texting “Haiti” to 90999. The $10 donation will appear on your next mobile phone bill.
• Salvation Army: Make a donation online, or donate $10 by texting “HAITI” to 52000.
• International Medical Corps: They are providing medical care for crush injuries, trauma and more. Donate online or via text message by texting “haiti” to 85944.
• UNICEF: Make a secure online donation directly to their relief efforts for children in Haiti. 100% of these donations will be used for this purpose.
• Oxfam: This organization has been in Haiti for years, long before the earthquake. The have sent more people there to respond, and they are on the ground providing clean water, shelter and sanitation. Make a secure online donation in any amount to do directly to their efforts.
• World Vision: Their efforts are varied, providing everything from food and care, to PUR water packets and family survival kits to the citizens of Haiti. Pick your preferred type of support and make a secure online donation.
• Care: They are planning a five-year response to the disaster, which will help Haiti both in the immediate future and in the long-term. Make a donation online now.
• Clinton Bush Haiti Fund: Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have come together to provide support via the Clinton Foundation. Make a donation online.
• Habitat for Humanity: Habitat has worked with Haiti for more than 25 years and will continue to serve the people there by helping to rebuild. Make a donation to their efforts.
• Music For Relief: The group is offering an album of unreleased music, available for free download. The site encourages donations, which will be divided equally among the United Nations Foundation, Habitat For Humanity, and Dave Matthews Band’s BAMA Works Haitian relief program.

Donate Stuff

While most organizations are asking for cash donations, some are accepting in-kind donations of clothing and other items. Even if you can’t give money right now, maybe you can go through your closets and cupboards for items to give.

• K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations): Fill out their online form to begin the product donation process. They are accepting items like clothing, shoes, accessories, toys, books and more.
• Aéropostale: Drop off your gently worn jeans at any Aéropostale store now through February 14th and the first 100,000 pairs will go to homeless teens in Haiti. The retailer has agreed to match the number of jeans going to Haiti, so with your help they can send 200,000 pairs of jeans to teens who need them via the Teens for Jeans initiative.
• Phones for Haiti: Donate your old cell phones to this organization, which will refurbish and sell the phones in developing countries as an alternative to new models. The full value of each donated phone is then contributed to the American Red Cross. Non-functional phones, batteries, and chargers are also accepted, and shipping of your phones is free.
• Swagbucks: Donate your Swagbucks, which the company will then convert to a cash donation to go directly to relief efforts in Haiti. If you are not a member of Swagbucks, click here to sign up. Swagbucks allows you to earn points for doing things like searching online, shopping, referring friends and more. The points can be redeemed for items like gift cards, video games and more. This is a much better use for them, and it costs you nothing. I just donated all of my points. The deadline for donations is 12 p.m. PST on Friday, Jan. 22, 2010.

Give while you shop

Some retailers are setting aside a portion of their profits to go directly to Haiti as well. I wouldn’t recommend shopping just for this purpose, as your funds could be better spent directly donated to a charity helping in Haiti. But if you are shopping anyone, support retailers who are giving back. I’ve only found a few thus far, but I’ll add more as I find them:

• 2Modern: 10% of their profits through Jan. 31 will do directly to UNICEF and Care.
• Threadless: They have created a t-shirt design for Haiti relief. 100% off the proceeds from the sale of this shirt up to $100,000 will go to the Red Cross. The shirt says “Men anpil chay pa lou” (Translation: “Many Hands Make the Load Lighter”) and costs $10.
• Mountains of the Moon: They are donating 20% of their profits through Jan. 22 to the Red Cross.
• Celebrate Green book: Authors Lynn and Corey are donating $12 of the $17.95 purchase price of their book to the relief efforts in Haiti if you buy it directly from their site.

We can’t afford to help now, only to forget about the Haitian plight next week, or next month, or even next year. Haiti will need our support for years to come if they are ever to rebuild, hopefully better than before. You can find a more comprehensive list of ways you can donate from the Huffington Post.

NOTE: The posting schedule — and topics — will start returning to normal now that I am past the initial shock of my daughter’s diagnosis and have a better idea of what my schedule will look like. I can’t promise I’ll post daily, but I’ll do my best to continue bringing you fresh green content and home decor inspiration, so stay tuned!

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

The potentially monumental climate talks in Copenhagen are upcoming, and it’s important to have a real person there to represent the interests of those of us “regular” people who care about the environment.

My friend, author, green blogger, fellow Green Moms Carnival member, and environmental activist Diane MacEachern is taking part in the Huffington Post’s contest to send one citizen ambassador to Copenhagen, and I am happy to give her my personal endorsement.

If the name seems familiar, it is because Diane is the best-selling author of “Big Green Purse,” a manual all of us should have on our shelves to refer to while navigating the often confusing world of green issues and green business.  As a mother, she is particularly commited to the health of children, and she is a tireless activist and fantastic writer.  Her interest in climate change comes from a deep sense of compassion and commitment to social justice. It would be so great to have one of our own representing the interests of real people among the politicians and “experts” meeting together this month to determine the fate of the Earth.

For more information about Diane, take a look at the following links:

• http://greenwoman.typepad.com/biggreenpurse/
• http://www.biggreenpurse.com/
• http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/personal-changes-do-make-difference/

To vote for Diane:

1. Go to the contest page.
2. You will need to login to the Huffington Post web site or register if you are not already a member.  You can also login using your Twitter or Facebook account.
3. Please rate Diane’s entry with 10 stars.

As you will see, Diane also needs blogger endorsers.  If you feel moved to write a post in support of Diane on your blog, please email the link to submissions+copenhagen@huffingtonpost.com, saying “Here is the link from xxxx blog endorsing Diane MacEachern for the citizen ambassador to Copenhagen”, along with the link to your post.

FACEBOOK? If you have a Facebook page or fan page, it would be great if you could mention the contest and provide the link so your friends and fans can vote as well.

TWITTER? If you’re on twitter, please tweet about the contest using #votehope and @huffpostgreen.

Voting ends in just two short days, on December 4, so Diane needs as much support from you, your friends and your readers right now as possible. Please help us send this deserving green mom to Copenhagen by voting now and spreading the word!

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

I write about green living every day, so it’s not a big stretch for me to write about climate change for Blog Action Day 2009. What warms my heart, though, is to see thousands of other bloggers — about 10,000, to be more specific — writing about the issue that I believe will have the greatest impact on the future of this planet.

For anyone who believes the small changes we’re all encouraged to make won’t add up, think about the power in this day. Ten thousand bloggers and their collective audiences are focusing on climate change today. And it all started with the founders of Blog Action Day just trying to do something to make a difference in the world. That’s what I call power.

I’m the first to admit I don’t know much about the science behind climate change. I know that the polar ice caps are melting and polar bears are losing their habitat and starving as a result, and I know that the change that has begun in those regions is trickling down through the ecosystem. So while those signs may seem far off now, the snowball effect — no pun intended — will soon bring the effects of climate change right to our doorsteps.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can slow its progression, and all it takes is literally being conscious of our actions. I’m not perfect. I do things in my everyday life that really aren’t sustainable. Each time I do one of those things though, my conscience kicks in, because I know I can do better. A part of me longs for a more sustainable alternative, and eventually, my nagging conscience makes me change. Because it’s really that easy. All we have to do is shift our perspective — about consumerism, about the way we eat, about transportation and the way we communicate and do business — and it will make a difference. A big difference.

Start taking steps to a more sustainable lifestyle today. Even if all you do is turn off a light when you walk out of a room or remember to shut off your computer and surge protector when you go to bed for the night, start there. You can browse through the Green Your Decor archives for tips and information on having a greener home, or you can head over to my second blog, Green & Gorgeous, for information on making your entire lifestyle greener. This article is cross-posted there.

If you’re looking for completely new information, check out the Blog Action Day site for thousands of posts from other bloggers. Learn something today. I know I have.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Greening Your Rental series will return tomorrow with one final list of tips on what you can do to make life as a tenant as eco-friendly as possible — by greening your decor. Don’t miss it!

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.