We Need Your Help!

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:17:54 -0400

It's been just over a year since we launched and I'm absolutely amazed at how far we've come. We couldn't have gotten here without all of your love and support... THANK YOU!!!! However, we want to help more ladies ask their questions and get the advice/answers they need. If you're a fan of us on Facebook please share our page with your friends. Our goal is to reach 150,000 fans by the end of October. I know it's a BIG goal but I'm hoping with a little support from you ladies we can make it happen. It'll only take a minute so if you want to help us here's what you do:

1. Go to our FAN PAGE (you can either click here or click on the Facebook box on the right side of this page)

2. Click on the SUGGEST TO FRIENDS link underneath our profile picture. From there you can select who to share our page with.

Thanks so much ladies for being a part of GirlsGuideTo!!!

xo Brette

Earthly Pride... Earth Day 2010

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:54:20 -0400

As I grow older, I am coming to the realization that people tend to jump right into the “heavy” conversations. It used to be considered a faux pas to bring up controversial topics such as illness, religion, politics and the declining environment. However I am seeing these topics more and more in daily conversation. Now, whether I think this is good or bad, I appreciate learning from others during an informative discussion... though I am not an arguer. I am very fortunate to have several friends who help to keep me in the know; and I am not ashamed to say, are far more educated when it comes to government and policy.

As our country changes and goes through these difficult times, I find myself attracted to press relating to our environment and searching for even the littlest ways to contribute. I have been called many things in my life... tree hugger included, but this is something that I am passionate about and hopefully will be the next issue our government addresses. Every once in a while my girlfriends and I will have a “themed lunch”. The theme generally is news related and is a safe place for us all to express our ideas and better understand our world. Just this week our theme was... you guessed it, the environment!

April 22, is a day that I look forward to very much. It is a day when I can let my “freak flag” fly high! This Earth Day my friends and I have decided that we are going to do our part with pride. Our annual tradition of using and wasting as little resources as possible will apply, with a couple of fun additions. After our work day is through and we have carpooled back home, our local/natural/organic feast begins! Due to the fact that we are all in our mid-twenties and are not exactly cash flow positive, we are also planning at home group spa sessions (I cannot tell you the last time I had a fun treatment!) I am a huge advocate for buying locally... and organically if you can get it, so we are planning to do facials & mani/pedi’s all with natural products! I have to say that I was ridiculously excited to find nail polish with natural ingredients!

It is so important to encourage as many people as possible to get involved. Even if it is as small as putting a reminder in your calendar, repeating “Earth Hour”, picking up a piece of trash or making the extra effort to recycle just for one day! This year is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day... why not do your part and feel the pride?!

Written By:

Alexandra Harder

Your question

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:50:44 -0500

I really want to start doing some type of charity work or volunteer work but don't know how to even get started doing this. Any suggestions?

Your Carbon Footprint & Why It's Important

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:11:22 -0400

Average Carbon Footprint of all people in the world: 4 tonnes...Average carbon Footprint of a homeless American: 8.5 tonnes... Average Carbon Footprint of an American Resident: 20 tonnes...These are annual rates according to ScienceDaily.com. This is scary.

What is a carbon footprint? Why is it important? These are questions you should know answers to.

A carbon footprint is, “the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by an individual, event, or product.” (Wikipedia)

The conversion of energy carriers like natural gas and crude oil are directly linked to carbon dioxide emissions into the air. For example: YOUR CAR.

So onto the next question: Why is it important to know your carbon footprint? It gives you an idea of the kind of impact you are having on the Earth just living day to day. With this knowledge you can start taking steps to reduce your footprint. We don’t want our Earth to turn into a giant, hot ball do we?!

Still not interested? Think in 20 years around the year 2030. BBC reported that:

Demand for food will increase by 50%

Demand for water will increase by 30 %

Demand for energy will increase by 50%

Think about wars over food and clean water. Wouldn’t you fight for clean drinking water? This is what could be happening in our lifetime!

(BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8213884.stm)

So we need to take action now. The biggest contributor to your carbon footprint is your car. Driving is one of the worst things you can do for the Earth. I know, I know it is essential to most if not all of our lives to drive. But cutting back, maximizing trips and carpooling are great ways to start reducing your impact. Walk places and if you have to go out, make sire you plan out what you need to do so you aren’t driving aimlessly around!

The next biggest contributor is your air conditioner. So on the next mild days turn it off! It will also help your energy bill, go figure. These are small steps you can start taking now to improve the environment. If we all start being conscious of what we are doing and conserving energy and water now it will really start to make a difference.

So what do you think?! Do we have a problem? What should we do about it?!

Your question

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:31:06 -0400

Are you worried about the Earth?! How many of you have taken steps to be more 'green'? DO you think it's an issue?!