Valentine’s Day is almost here, so that means you need the perfect gift for your sweetheart. We’ve scoured far and wide for some of the best eco-friendly presents that not only benefit the environment, but also your partner will love. Also, no worries if you’re single, these options are great for friends and yourself. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones you give yourself right? Well, whoever you decide is your Valentine on Feb. 14, be sure to browse our green gift ideas!

-Alexandra Gyarfas

Photo Credit: Flickr/Barb Steinacker

As Punxsutawney Phil said, there are six more weeks of winter . . . brr! If you’re out of ideas on how to keep up with the winter chill, here are some great tips to keep you warm and help you stay green all at once.

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-Alexandra Gyarfas

Photo Credit: Flickr/Jon Ross

Sometimes celebrities get a bad rap for speaking their minds, and even for just being who they are, instead of what everyone else wants them to be. However, more often than not, celebrities are committed to helping the environment and the people around them. With that in mind we are taking a look at what they are tweeting in relation to their fellow man and the planet. Below, are some select tweets by celebrities who are reaching out to their fans, followers and Mother Earth!

1. Lea Michele

“Glee” starlet Lea Michele is not shy when it comes to sharing her love for the animal community. An avid supporter against horse drawn carriages, the actress gave a shout out through Twitter for her friend and animal sanctuary.

“Everyone please help support my dear friend @southbaygirl with her new organization Fur & Feather Animal Sanctuary…”

2. Ben McKenzie

The handsome Ben McKenzie, who is widely known for his role on “Southland,” tweeted this great picture of him and his dog who is taking quite nicely to the Hollywood life!

“Hollywood dog. From the set of “Southland”. http://t.co/NbSDOUAf”

3. Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio is a huge supporter of our planet, so huge that his environmental foundation partnered with La Colombe Torrefaction to sell a high-end coffee line with all proceeds benefitting eco-charities. The “J. Edgar” actor recognized the great cause through Twitter.

“RT: @LaColombeCoffee On Rainforest Alliance Certified farms farm workers have access to clean water, medical care & education #Lyon”

4. Maggie Q

When actress Maggie Q isn’t kicking ass on “Nikita,” she’s showing love to animals. Always tweeting pictures of her own dogs, this week she posted this video about rescue dogs.

“Um, if you’ve ever rescued a dog, or are thinking about it, please watch this video. It’s so beautiful. http://t.co/2ZJpgipu”

Be sure to check back weekly for these feel good celebrity tweets and what they have to offer in only 140 characters!

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Twitter, Flickr/JJ Duncan, Twitter, Flickr/Colin Chau, Flickr/vernieman

Since it’s a new year, we’ve decided to tweak our Eco-Celeb of the Week series. Instead of focusing on just one green celeb, we’re going to post about our favorite eco-friendly celebrity couples for the next month or so. Many famous couples out there contribute all the time to Mother Earth, so we want to honor them and plus you’ll get double the goodness! This week, we focus on Jessica Alba and Cash Warren.

An award-winning actress, Jessica and handsome hubby/producer Cash don’t take a back seat when standing up for they believe in. Proud parents to their two little girls Honor and Haven, they ensure their daughters have a clean, healthy and safe life.

For example, the 30-year-old actress doesn’t stand down when it comes to taking toxins out of the environment. Recently, Jessica cofounded Honest.com with Christopher Gavigan, former CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World and husband to actress Jessica Capshaw.

At Honest.com, Jessica and Chris provide parents tips on how to transform their world into a toxic-free one for themselves and their children. Non-toxic diapers, natural bath products and safe laundry detergent, to name a few, are offered.

Being a parent is a major part of Jessica’s life, so developing The Honest Company is just one more way to she can benefit herself, other parents and the planet.

“When I became a mom, I finally became the person I am, that I always should have been. It’s the most satisfying job in the world,” she revealed. “But, it can also be overwhelming and confusing. I created The Honest Company to help moms and to give all children a better, safer start.”

Parents can order these great eco-friendly products and have them delivered right to their front door. This is great, since we know how busy moms and dads get!

Another great aspect is every time a product is purchased, a donation is made to Baby2Baby providing for families in need. Be sure to watch Jessica speak about the company and how important it is to take care of your children in a safe, clean atmosphere.

In addition to their children, Cash, 33, and Jessica also go eco-friendly when it comes to their Los Angeles, that they’ve reportedly sold, but that doesn’t matter.

Whether sold or not, the couple uses recycled furniture inside their LA canyon home. In addition, the home includes low VOC paint, artificial grass lawn and a saltwater swimming pool. They even worked closely with eco-designer Kari Whitman, to ensure they had the best green features. Jessica even went as far to find used things on Craigslist! Talk about commitment.

To see pictures click here, and look how the couple doesn’t skimp when it comes to luxury or going green! Their home proves you can be eco-conscious and stylish in one.

It definitely seems as if Cash and Jessica truly respect the environment, themselves and their children to ensure they live the best, healthy life possible.

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Flickr/Mark Sebastian, Twitter, Honest.com

Super Bowl XLVI is almost here! The football championship game on Sunday, Feb. 5 will draw millions of viewers to watch the New York Giants and the New England Patriots go head-to-head. To get all you fans pumped up for one of the biggest sports games, we’ve researched how this year’s Super Bowl is going green and found the teams will be playing in an eco-friendly stadium.

This year’s Super Bowl will be held at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium marking the 19th year of incorporating green initiatives. So, here are the top five ways the big event will give back to the planet!

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle are three words that can truly make a difference. Nearly 60 tons of aluminum cans, plastic bottles, cardboard and glass were recycled at the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium in 2010. That’s just one year! The stadium also implements “The Enhanced Sports Stadium Recycling Program,” increasing recycling and improving the good deed at all Indianapolis sports stadiums. So, if you’re attending the Super Bowl, be sure to stick with the recycling program, and if you’re at home do so as well!

2. Water Conservation
Another great factor at the Colts stadium is instead of handing out individual plastic water bottles, water stations are provided. How great is that? You can quench your thirst be green. Faucets also contain sensors to help with water conservation, toilets have low flow valves and instead of spraying down parking lots after fans have left, they are swept clean. Yes, it seems like more work, but you have to work for a cleaner environment.

3. Food Freshness & Rescue
The stadium has established partnerships with local farmers, so attendees can enjoy only the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and poultry when it comes to eating. Now, what happens to all the food that isn’t consumed? Well, the food rescue program Second Helpings reclaims all the food after an event is finished and takes it to their kitchen. Local residents can learn from trained chefs how to prepare food, which is then given to homeless shelters and missions throughout Indianapolis.

4. Lighting & Energy Use
The Convention Center does all it can to reduce energy use. A high-efficiency exterior Visionwall® glass is installed to keep energy use low. Another great factor is natural light is used versus electricity in lobby areas; after all isn’t that what the sun should be used for? Exterior lighting is also placed on low-levels when a game, concert or an event isn’t occurring. Many other items are incorporated throughout the center for minimal energy consumption including a retractable roof.

5. Biodegradable Serviceware
Rather than using china and silverware, which is obviously very popular at sporting events, the Lucas Oil Stadium provides an entire line of biodegradable and disposable serviceware products. No need to worry about toxic substances when using the bathroom, as the stadium cleans with Green Seal Certified products. In addition, when eating and washing your hands you get to be close with Mother Earth once again, since paper towel and tissue products are made from 100 percent recycled material.

It’s great to see sports stadiums taking care of the planet, especially when it’s the Super Bowl. Championship games can be extravagant, fun and exciting, all while showing love to the environment.

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Super Bowl Host Committee, Flickr/Just_Bryan

Sometimes celebrities get a bad rap for speaking their minds, and even for just being who they are, instead of what everyone else wants them to be. However, more often than not, celebrities are committed to helping the environment and the people around them. With that in mind we are taking a look at what they are tweeting in relation to their fellow man and the planet. Below, are some select tweets by celebrities who are reaching out to their fans, followers and Mother Earth!

1. Kellie Pickler

Country singer and “American Idol” alum Kellie Pickler tweeted her love for animals in need, especially now that she’s partnered with ASPCA to help these innocent creatures.

“Spent all morning at the ASPCA! So many sweet Cats & Dogs need homes! Go see my friends at the ASPCA and adopt one! Or two! ”

2. Eric Christian Olsen

Whether he’s on the big or small screen, Eric Christian Olsen is known as the funny guy, but he doesn’t seem to joke when it comes to the environment. The actor retweeted the following tweet showing the creator of his hit series “NCIS: Los Angeles” being eco-savvy.

“NCIS:LA Showrunner (a.k.a. Fearless Leader) Shane Brennan plugging in his brand-new electric car. A Fisker Karma. http://t.co/MIAzHU1D”

3. Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson may be known for her wild side and certain assets, but there’s more to the blonde bombshell than meets the eye. She is an advocate for animals, no matter how small the cause.

“Did you know that glue traps are inhumane and indiscriminate, capturing not just rats and mice but also birds,… http://fb.me/1cWBXVLhT”

4. Edward Norton

Known for his love of the environment, actor Edward Norton tweeted this great link in support of Dr. Seuss and his important environmental message from “The Lorax.”

“Kids rally behind Dr Seuss’s message from “The Lorax”. I think anybody can get behind this one http://t.co/XrHvu3A8”

Be sure to check back weekly for these feel good celebrity tweets and what they have to offer in only 140 characters!

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Kellie (Wikimedia Commons/minds-eye), Eric (Twitter), Pamela (Wikimedia Commons/Darren Stone), Edward (Wikimedia Commons/David Shankbone)

Since it’s a new year, we’ve decided to tweak our Eco-Celeb of the Week series. Instead of focusing on just one green celeb, we’re going to post about our favorite eco-friendly celebrity couples for the next month or so. Many famous couples out there contribute all the time to Mother Earth, so we want to honor them and plus you’ll get double the goodness! This week, we focus on Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr.

The two are huge supporters of the environment and show their love through rescuing animals, raising global warming awareness and creating an organic skincare line, to name a few of their green initiatives.

Orlando and Miranda love their animals. To begin, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Lord of the Rings” actor is popular for his rescue dog, Sidi. The black Saluki mix was adopted by Orlando in Morocco while filming “Kingdom of Heaven.”

“I rescued this man in Morocco about seven years ago now. He has been everywhere with me,” the 35-year-old actor revealed. He even gave his pooch a Moroccan name meaning “lord.”

Miranda also has a passion for animals and even posed nude in support of koalas! She stripped down to nothing on the cover of Australian Rolling Stone for these wonderful creatures, which isn’t hard to believe since she is the face of Australia’s Koala Foundation “No Tree, No Me” campaign.

“I feel strongly about the need to protect our natural environment because it supports our life – it really is that simple,” she told the magazine. “I believe every effort we make now has a reaction – if we’re making positive changes, if we’re all doing the simple, small things we can do to help the environment, it makes a big difference.”

The 28-year-old supermodel is no stranger when it comes to basically wearing nothing, since she is usually seen wearing lingerie as a Victoria’s Secret model. As a model, she needs to make sure her skin looks fresh, especially when wearing makeup. Maybe that’s why she created her own organic skincare line?

The Australian beauty’s KORA Organic Skincare line offers 100 percent natural and organic products, all while raising awareness for the koala population. Taking care of skin and the environment all at once!

Back to her lovely hubby, Orlando does he all can for the planet as well. In 2009, he built a green home in London.

“It’s as green as I can make it. It’s got solar panels on the roof, energy efficient light bulbs – newer technology basically that is environmentally friendly. It might not be possible for everyone to live a completely green lifestyle, but we can do little things to help slow global warming,” he revealed.

He’s right; it’s the little things that count. In September, Orlando along with fellow celebs Mark Ruffalo, Adrian Grenier, James Cameron and several others he starred in a PSA for Global Green USA promoting awareness for climate change.

Orlando even served as a UNICEF ambassador in Nepal and told InStyle in 2008, “The water is not clean, so in these environments an intestinal problem can be a killer for kids. A simple tap, which costs about $20, can provide water to the whole community—for life.”

Orlando and Miranda’s support for the environment and others doesn’t come as a surprise. They appear like loving people, especially to their adorable one-year-old son, Flynn. It seems they will continue to set the right example.

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Orlando (Wikimedia Commons/Hengist Decius), Miranda (Flickr/Eva Rinaldi)

1. Katherine Heigl

Besides being known for speaking her mind and starring in romantic comedies like “27 Dresses,” Katherine Heigl is well known for her love of animals, which she continuously supports through Twitter.

“To help reduce the number of animals killed in shelters each year @realKeithK why do u have a website called http://ihateballs.com?”

2. Shannon Elizabeth

Shannon Elizabeth hasn’t been in the limelight lately, but she will always be recognized for her role in “American Pie” and when she danced on “Dancing With The Stars.” However, the actress isn’t putting her time to waste, as she raises awareness for the environment and animals.

“I have never seen a menu that looks more disgusting than this one!!! http://www.animalrestaurant.com/”

3. Ian Harding

Mr. Ezra Fitz. That one name can get girls to scream and cry all at once. Ian Harding, who plays the swoon worthy teacher on “Pretty Little Liars” is a lover of the environment, and showed his support by posting this link.

“Keystone XL Pipeline: Obama Administration Announcing It Will Not Go Forward With Controversial Plan
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/18/keystone-pipeline-obama-administration_n_1213136.html”

4. Brian Dietzen

Brian Dietzen stars on the no. 1 drama on TV, “NCIS,” as the adorable and hilarious Jimmy Palmer. This week, he and his family rescued a sweet pup, which will surely add happiness to their family.

“Got a few new pictures! First up: Our family’s newest addition, and 11week old rescue named Ruby! http://t.co/eKj9o59e Ruby is a cockapoo. She and her brothers and sisters were rescued in November, and we just got her yesterday!”

Be sure to check back weekly for these feel good celebrity tweets and what they have to offer in only 140 characters!

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Twitter Icon (Twitter), Katherine (Twitter), Shannon (Twitter), Ian (Twitter), Brian (Twitter)

Since it’s a new year, we’ve decided to tweak our Eco-Celeb of the Week series. Instead of focusing on just one green celeb, we’re going to post about our favorite eco-friendly celebrity couples for the next month or so. Many famous couples out there contribute all the time to Mother Earth, so we want to honor them and plus you’ll get double the goodness! This week, we focus on Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi.

If you could name one couple who had an immense passion for veganism and animals, who would it be? Well, for us it is Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi.

They’ve made their mark in the film and television business, from Ellen hosting her own talk show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and lending her voice as the hilarious, yet forgetful Dory in “Finding Nemo” to Portia starring in hit shows such as “Arrested Development” and “Nip/Tuck,” these two continue to inspire people worldwide, especially when it comes to animal activism and maintaining a vegan diet.

Even though Ellen is an advocate for the vegan lifestyle, she wasn’t always keen on eating healthy and cruelty-free. However, in 2008 she took the plunge and became a full-fledged vegan.

She is truly committed to this lifestyle that she recently launched her own website Going Vegan With Ellen. Ellen provides delicious vegan recipes, helpful vegan tips and information on other famous vegans. It’s a great way to become educated. You may be asking yourself, “Why go vegan?” Well, Ellen has the answer: do it for the planet, do it for the animals and do it for yourself. It’s as easy as that!

Ellen’s wife Portia is also an adamant vegan, but sometimes it’s not easy for the blonde beauty.

In an interview with VegNews, the 38-year-old revealed it’s harder to be vegan than gay. “Listen, I think it’s more difficult to be vegan than gay. I think people have a harder time accepting it; people feel more uncomfortable with a vegan at their dinner table than they do a lesbian. It’s confronting. It’s kind of suggesting that what someone else is doing is bad or wrong, and it hits them on a more personal level.”

Just like she fights for equal rights, Portia hasn’t let this stereotype set her back. She and Ellen, 54, are reportedly opening a vegan restaurant based in Los Angeles. Allegedly, it will be located in the San Fernando Valley, on Ventura Boulevard. The two will have some help from musician and former lead singer of The Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde and producer Steve Bing. Also, the food is said to be cooked by top vegan chef Tal Ronnen, who made the couple’s wedding cake when they tied the knot in 2008.

Besides veganism, Ellen and Portia both have a love for animals. Ellen has her own wholesome, holistic and natural pet care line called HALO and is said to be creating a vegan pet food line, as well.

The two are huge animal activists and support the rescue of every animal. Just one of many animal-friendly organizations they love is The Gentle Barn, which Ellen talks about in depth on her website.

“Portia and I recently learned about an incredible organization called The Gentle Barn. It’s located in Santa Clarita, California and it’s home to 120 farm animals that have been rescued from abusive situations. At The Gentle Barn, these animals are loved, cared for and rehabilitated,” she wrote on her website.

Be sure to watch the clip below, to see them in action!

To see all of the organizations the two support including animals, anti-bullying, the environment and just plain helping others, click here.

These two are a remarkable couple. Both have revealed some of their darkest times to the world, in order to help others and that says a lot. Together, they’ve shown its okay to be gay, it’s okay to have your struggles and of course it’s okay to love the environment and animals.

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Ellen (Flickr/ronpaulrevolt2008), Portia (Flickr/Pulicciano)

 
-Allyson Koerner