I made this some time back! It's a Slideshow of MY HERO!!!!!! ♥ & a little bit of Old school me, Lol! It use to play, "Because of you"- BY: Reba but it constantly playing it gets annoying, so I removed it! Hope you ALL enjoy! ♥

Al Qaeda Now is threatening the United States & our Allies

& the US tells Pakistan to name agents who aided bin Laden

& the Suspicion grows that someone knew Al-Qaeda leader's location, & shielded him! Watch the video below then click on the link above to read a very interesting article on all of this. All posted in the New York Times. :) 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

An aerial view shows the residential area of Abbottabad, Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden was found and killed by U.S. commandos. (Asif Hassan / AFP - Getty Images)

Are you a Victim of Bullying? If so please read this post! You do have hope & help available as well as tons of people who care!! You just have to let them!! ♥

Helpful Contacts

Anyone who is suffering online harassment who feels they are in danger should ring the police.

If you are worried about someone's behaviour towards a child online, you can report this to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). CEOP's Thinkuknow program  provides more detailed information for parents, teachers and young people about staying safe on the internet – visit  the website.

For anyone who is being cyber-bullied or cyber-stalked, the expert advice is to seek help immediately. Here are some useful starting points:

The Beat-bullying charity runs Cybermentors, an online youngster-to-youngster advice service to support young people who are being bullied. Beat-bullying is also organizing a 'Big March' - an online protest march against bullying. You can join by going to the Big March website to lobby the government on bullying. Useful advice is also available on the Beat Bullying website.

ChildLine is the free helpline and online service for children and young people in the UK. Children and young people can call 0800 1111 or visit the website to talk to a trained counselor about any problem, or talk to other young people on the message boards.

The Network for Surviving Stalking is conducting a study to find out the scale of cyber harassment. There's also practical advice at their website. The National Stalking Helpline is 0300 636 0300.

The UK National Bullying Helpline is available for adults and children Monday to Thursday 10am-4pm on 0845 22 55 787. Useful advice can be found on their website.

Kidscape operates an anti-bullying helpline for parents of bullied children on 08451 205204 Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm.

Parentline Plus on 0808 800 2222 or email parentsupport@parentlineplus.org.uk offers parents a free anti-bullying pack or visit the website for further support.
I was invited to join a great page on Myspace! Below is their banner feel free to click it and Add them! I am sure you won't regret it! *Smiles* (;
 
Also check out these other Anti-Bully post listed just below! Just click the pictures and it will take you to the post,.........☻

W/All the controversy over Bristol Palin's face & whether or not she has just lost weight OR had plastic surgery I've done my own research & well CLICK Below, ... ♥ UPDATED: Bristol ADMITS to having surgery!

             Well at first I wasn't going to give this much thought nor did ANY of the pictures ANY of the post that spoke on this have a DECENT picture! Mostly it looked as if she just lost some weight and her face was a bit more defined & just maybe the stress of being a Teen Mom *Rolls Eyes* (That was clearly sarcasm, lmbo! BUT, no I did my OWN research and got my hands on some UNTOUCHED nor were they watermarked pictures, meaning they have 0 copyright and are free share, well were. Lol,

BUT......Seriously LOOK at the picture of Bristol on the left, & I did choose a much nicer one! They're so MANY way worse photos of her, all you have to do to see them is just GOOGLE her name and a TON pop up! x)~ Especially now w/the controversy!But Seriously BACK to the point LOOK at those pictures the picture on the LEFT is NOT the same as the girl on the right! She TOTALLY TOOK AWAY ALL her natural features WHICH MADE HER who she was! She'll no longer have people wonder if she's twins w/her younger sister (because they definitely are Irish Twins though that's for sure, lol!) but yeah, I have NO doubt that she has had work done to her face which is so so very sad because she's a TEENAGER even up to 30 women still are developing and changing and most grow more and more beautiful thru the years! :)
IF she JUST would have waited!!!! Her face would have developed and face it I do NOT like her but SHE IS NOT AN UGLY girl, neither is her mother, honestly. But she would have grown in to a NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL woman if she just would've LEFT HER FACE ALONE! :( BUTCHERING your face at any age younger then 40 in my opinion you're making the BIGGEST MISTAKES OF YOUR LIFE!!!! You have NO WRINKLES and peoples FLAWS are what make you beautiful!!

People seriously NEED to wake up and REALLY REALIZE not just say it!!! BUT TRULY BELIEVE IN IT that BEAUTY is INSIDE NOT on the OUTSIDE! If you're the most beautiful and kindest person on the inside it WILL SHINE through you and it WILL show!! BUT, if you're incredibly ugly and self-centered then it WILL show and PEOPLE will find you an UGLY human being! So be WISE and always remember....

  

UPDATE: Bristol has now admitted to having Corrective Jaw Surgery! Which other sources, friends of hers and Professionals say she had it done soley for looks NOT to correct her TEETH (they were fine!) Lol, she also has been CALLED out for having ALLOT more done by Professionals pointing it out! :) 
SO YES she did have surgery & that is just SAD!!!!!!! :( What an example this will be for ALL young girls! How many more times is she gonna prove how she is a BAD role model for teens!And NOW she has a Reality show in which sounds TERRIBLE! Just google it, it's everywhere. Or take my word on it! It's not even worth linking. Period. Sad. Sad. Sad. 

16 Secrets the Restaurants don't want you to know,

What does the restaurant industry have to hide? A lot, apparently. A hidden force behind America's obesity epidemic is the fact that many chain restaurants—which provide one-third of all restaurant meals, according to the New York Department of Health—obfuscate the fat and calorie counts of their menu items, and fight any attempt to shed light on what, exactly, is going on between their buns and inside their taco shells. 


Not That were shocked by how far restaurants were willing to go to hide their nutritional info from our prying eyes. So when David Zinczenko & coauthor Matt Goulding conducted their own scientific testing, consulted with nutrition experts, and they did some good old-fashioned snooping. In the end, they uncovered countless secrets these mega-restaurateurs had been keeping. The 16 most mind-blowing are below, but they just scratch the surface, really.

Since then they have published a book called Eat This, Not That hit the bookstores in December 2007, and it's become a bestseller. And, in one city anyway, the hide-the-calories game has gotten a bit tougher—a new law in New York City compels restaurants to list calorie data. (Similar legislation was first passed in 2006, but only took effect in June because it had to survive several legal challenges from—you guessed it—the restaurant industry.) But, for the most part, little has changed. 

Outback Steakhouse doesn't want you to know:
That the only nutritional information it provides is for its Tangy Tomato Dressing. When we contacted the company, a spokesperson claimed, "Ninety percent of our meals are prepared by hand...Any analysis would be difficult to measure consistently." Yet no fewer than 45 national chain restaurants do just that. (Hey, in case you were wondering, an order of Outback's Aussie Cheese Fries has 2,900 calories, and its Ayers Rock Strip has 60 grams of fat.)

Applebee's doesn't want you to know:
That many of its "low-fat" items have more than 500 calories. (In fact, its low-fat chicken quesadillas have 742 calories and 90 grams of carbohydrates per order.)

IHOP doesn't want you to know:
That its Omelet Feast has 1,335 calories and 35 grams of saturated fat. (By the time you finish eating this behemoth breakfast, you'll have consumed 150 percent of your daily fat requirement and 300 percent of your suggested cholesterol intake.) Said IHOP's director of communications, "We do not maintain nutritional data on our menu items, so I am unable to assist you."

Red Robin doesn't want you to know:
The nutritional impact of its gourmet burgers. "A gourmet burger starts by being an honest burger," Red Robin's Web site declares — but not, apparently, a burger that will come clean about its nutrition facts. When contacted, Red Robin's senior vice president responded that nutritional information for the menu would be available in October 2007. As of December, however, nutrition facts were still not posted on the site. Another public-relations representative e-mailed us to request this: "As this information is not yet public, can you please confirm that this will not be leaked?" Uh, no.

Hooters doesn't want you to know:
Anything about what's in its food. Although chains such as Chili's and Uno Chicago Grill divulge the thousands of calories in their chicken wings, Hooters blames its nutritional-disclosure negligence on its expansive menu, which contains about 25 entrees: "Because of the millions of combinations available and our desire to frequently give you new menu options, it is impossible to provide accurate nutritional data," responded a PR representative. Our own investigation revealed that the chain's wing sauce (which consists primarily of butter, sweet cream, and partially hydrogenated margarine) also contains such unappetizing additives as maltodextrin, propylene glycol alginate, xanthan gum, calcium disodium EDTA, and potassium sorbate. (Not being able to tell what's natural and what's enhanced has always been a problem for us at Hooters.)  

Arby's doesn't want you to know:
That the FDA has no definition of "all natural." Thus, chains like Arby's can say they serve "100 percent all-natural chicken," despite using artificial flavoring. Even worse, the "all-natural" smoothies at chains across the country may contain high-fructose corn syrup.

Fuddruckers doesn't want you to know:
The fat content of its 1-pound burgers. We contacted our local Fuddruckers restaurant and were told that the nutritional information was available on the chain's Web site (it's not). The corporate office later responded that providing such information would be "very extensive [sic] and timely."

Dunkin' Donuts doesn't want you to know:
That each of its medium-size fruit-and-yogurt smoothies packs at least 60 grams of sugar—more than four times the sugar in a chocolate-frosted cake doughnut. The fruit purees used in the smoothies are mixed with liberal doses of sugar and/or high-fructose corn syrup.

Papa John's doesn't want you to know:
That unlike rival chains such as Domino's, it has made little effort to introduce healthier options. A Papa John's representative admitted, "At this time, we have no additional regular menu items that are targeted toward eating lighter."

Burger King doesn't want you to know:
That its French toast sticks (which deliver more than 4 grams of fat per stick) share a deep fryer with the pork sausage, pork fritters, Chicken Tenders, chicken fries, Big Fish patties, hash browns, onion rings, and Cheesy Tots—and that all of those items contain harmful trans fats. But there is hope: After the company was sued by the Center for Science in the Public Interest for moving too slowly to remove trans fats from its menu, Burger King promised to phase them out by the end of 2008.

Panera Bread doesn't want you to know:
That the synthetic food colorings in its pastries have been linked to irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbance in children. And British researchers found that artificial food colorings and preservatives in the diets of 3-year-old's caused an increase in hyperactive behavior. (The same ingredients appear in fast-food items such as mayonnaise, M&M Blizzards, and McDonald's shakes.) To its credit, Chipotle uses no artificial colorings or flavorings.

Baskin Robbins doesn't want you to know:
That, unlike Jamba Juice's all-fruit smoothies, the top four ingredients in its Blue Raspberry Fruit Blast are Sierra Mist soda, water, sugar, and corn syrup.

Maggiano's Little Italy doesn't want you to know:
Just how many calories and carbs you're consuming in those massive pasta portions. (As the menu puts it, "Family-style service or individual entrees are available...Whichever you choose, you'll have plenty to share or take home.") In Italy, a standard pasta serving means 4 ounces of noodles with a few tablespoons of sauce. At Maggiano's, a large order of pasta translates into 2 pounds of noodles piled high on a hubcap-size dinner plate (15 1/2 inches in diameter). A Maggiano's PR rep responded to our request for nutritional information a week later: "Sorry for the delay. I had to wait for corporates approval. Unfortunately, they have declined to participate."

Chevy's Fresh Mex doesn't want you to know:
How its tortillas stack up nutritionally. The chain says it provides "nutritional information regarding calories, fat, protein & carbohydrates for some of our most popular items"—the chicken, steak, and shrimp fajitas, for example—on its Web site. But the numbers provided don't include an essential component: the tortilla.

T.G.I. Friday's doesn't want you to know:
How little nutritional info it provides. A Friday's PR rep told us that the chain makes the data available for only its "low-fat" dishes—those coming in under 500 calories and 10 grams of fat. There are just three such dishes on the entire Friday's menu.

Sit-down chains don't want you to know: 
That their food is actually considerably worse for you than the often-maligned fast-food fare. In fact, our menu analysis of 24 national chains revealed that the average entree at a sit-down restaurant contains 867 calories, compared with 522 calories in the average fast-food entree. And that's before appetizers, sides, or desserts—selections that can easily double your total calorie intake.

July 2008 Update: It's still diner beware out there. The good news is that a handful of other municipalities are considering legislation similar to New York City's. We won't be satisfied until there's complete transparency in the restaurant industry. That day will come, we're sure of it. Why? Because we won't stop snooping until it does.

So to purchase this book you may purchase it on Amazon. I only listed the 16 Secrets available to learn the rest of the secrets you must buy a copy for yourself. And truthfully after all the personal studies and researching I have done I found it best to just cook at home w/ONLY fresh grown veggies and fruit as well as ONLY fresh but Butcher meat (from a farm that I KNOW uses NO Chemicals or Steroids on their animals!) BUT, if you still enjoy to eat out I highly suggest you grab a copy of this book, you can follow my Amazon link below, thanks... and enjoy a new and healthier lifestyle.♥

 

Osama Bin Laden HAS been KILLED by the US Military!! & President Obama addresses the Nation 'Live', watch below! ♥

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The best hair care tips & how to prevent split ends & end up w/strong healthy hair! I should know my hair has been rump length for quite some time now, Lol! Enjoy! ☺

Did you know that shampooing is one of the worst culprits of hair damage? It’s not a surprise that bloggers are talking about saying good-bye to shampoo altogether. The fact of the matter is that if you feel your shampoo is damaging your hair, it might be because you’re using the wrong shampoo.

It is important to cleanse the hair periodically, because hair attracts dust and pollution, and their presence can dull and clump the hair. So, shampooing is an important step, both hygienically and aesthetically.

When hair is wet, it is at its weakest and most vulnerable. Unfortunately, many of today’s shampoos use a harsh surfactant system to over-cleanse or “strip” each hair fiber — not exactly what you want interacting with your already weakened hair.

Furthermore, the act of shampooing forces the fibers to abrade each other, which gets even worse during rinsing. So, not only have you lost the minor amount of lubrication provided by the shampoo’s suds, but you are scrubbing your hair to remove the foam.

Hair Care Tips – Hair Washing – Hair Cleaning

Years ago, weekly or fortnightly hair shampooing was very much the norm. today, few women wash their hair less than twice a week, and there are many who prefer to hair shampoo every day.

Regular hair washing is essential today, due partly to the increase in dust, dirt and grime, and also because of the various products we use to dress our hair. Together these contribute to produce a surface film on the hair which must be removed if the hair is to stay clean, fresh and shiny.

Hair product manufacturers have been quick to develop new-style, mild shampoos that can be used on a daily basis. There is constant innovation in the hair care market, and the newer the product the more likely it is to find an audience.

Most mass-market ranges offer formulations suited to individual hair types dry hair, normal hair and greasy hair, and for those categories in between. These natural shampoos are balanced to meet the requirements for each hair type.

A product designed for greasy hair might be too harsh and astringent for fine dry hair; a dry hair variant might be to rich for those with a surplus oil problem. Use the natural shampoo designed for your specific hair type.

If you wake up each morning with tousled, can’t do-anything-with-it hair, you don’t necessarily need to run for the hair shampoo bottle. If your hair is clean and grease-free, spray it lightly with water and dry it in the usual way. If you prefer to natural shampoo with great frequency, always use a mild shampoo and make just one application. If you suffer from dandruff or any type of scalp disorder, us a special shampoo designed for that purpose, and leaves the fragranced ones well alone.

Don’t use a lot of shampoo every time you wash your hair. Many shampoos are highly concentrated, and a small amount will be sufficient to clean hair properly. Massage the shampoo in with your fingertips-not your fingernails. Always rinse hair thoroughly so that every last trace of shampoo is removed. The hair should squeak when it is clean and shampoo-free. A final vinegar-and water rinse will rid the hair of any residual shampoo, and help encourage a clean healthy shine. Dry shampoos, which are in powder or spray form, may be used in between washing sessions. They are particularly useful for those with greasy hair. Dry shampoos soak up grease and dirt after a few minutes and should then be thoroughly brushed out.

The most important tips for shampooing are:

•Use the tips of your fingers to manipulate your hair
•Choose a mild shampoo

•Only lather once
•Rinse thoroughly

Okay now let's get to brushing your hair w/so many new types of brushes online and on store shelves today, how do you know which brush does what? One way is to ask your hairstylist for tips, so that's just what we did! Here are the types of brushes that belong in your collection -- depending on your hair length and styling needs.

1) For daily brushing

The must have brush for all hair types is the oval, paddle-shaped natural boar and nylon bristle brush responsible for the adage, “100 strokes a day.” This combination of bristles polishes hair perfectly. Nylon bristles won’t stretch or break hair as it slides past, while boar bristles easily slide through to stimulate blood circulation under the scalp and distribute the natural sebum from the scalp throughout hair length for shiny, healthy tresses. (More info)

2) For blow-drying to straighten and to de-frizz

An hourglass-shaped round natural bristle brush gathers hair toward the brush center and holds taut for greater styling control. The largest ones are for longer hair, while the smallest straighten shorter hair. Your basic daily paddle brush works to straighten hair while blow-drying, too: The longer nylon bristles penetrate the hair to detangle unruly, knotty tresses while the boar bristles grasp the hair shaft to straighten hair, creating frizz-free looks, says Nick Arrojo of Arrojo Salon in New York City. (More info)

3) For blow-drying to curl

Look for the newest metal and ceramic barrel round brushes in many different diameters, some as small as tiny rollers or as large as three inches across. The metal or ceramic center retains the heat and works like a curling iron when used with the heat of your blow-dryer. (More info)

4) For adding volume at roots

A basic round natural bristle brush pushes the hair away from the scalp. Just brush your roots up, away from scalp while pointing your dryer toward the roots, following the path set out by the brush. Use anywhere you want to see fullness, says Arrojo. (More info)

5) For wet hair brushing

A flat, wide, cushioned square paddle brush will straighten, smooth and de-tangle wet hair every day because the cushioned base creates ‘give’ for hair to slide through without grabbing or tearing, Arrojo says. If your hair is overly curly or prone to tangling, use a wide tooth comb to untangle wet hair first, suggests Elizabeth Alvillar of Isvara Beauty & Wellness Center. (More info)

6) For basic, quick blow-drying

The rectangular vent brush, with its large-spaced bristles and open vents, is ideal for basic blow drying quickly because the vents let air throughout the hair adding body. You can also use this brush for gel-sculpting wet hair, Arrojo says, but not for curling or straightening, because this brush does not hold hair well. (More info)

7) For distributing product, separating curls

Actually fingers are the greatest "brush" for both uses. For distributing product, apply to palms and fingertips, then use fingers to gently distribute to roots through hair lengths. Better than a brush or comb, use fingers to separate curls that have been styled, scrunched or set. Gently shake and tousle with fingers so they look more natural, Arrojo suggests.


High-quality hair brush must-haves

Quality boar or other natural bristles
 
Nylon, not plastic bristles

Ergonomically-designed foam-wrapped or wood handles for best grip and control when styling

Cushioning under bristles on all paddle brushes, whether round or square

Look for ball tips on nylon bristles that are molded, not glued Good quality brushes are an investment item that can serve you years and years of use. So buy the best you can afford and take care to clean brushes by removing hair and swishing in soapy warm water about once a month!

You'll look well-groomed if you brush your hair, and brushing also distributes oils and helps keep your hair shiny. Follow these tips to choose the right hairbrush for your hair type and style.

1. • 1
     
     

     Choose a round, bristle brush if you have curly or wavy hair that you blow dry. Remember that the wider the brush, the straighter your hair will be when it dries.
   • 2
     Use a boar-bristle, round brush if you blow dry your straight hair. This brush will shape and smooth your hair. Choose a brush with a smaller diameter for added volume.
   • 3
     
     

     Select a flat, paddle brush for everyday brushing of straight or wavy hair.
   • 4
     
     

     Use a pick on curly hair to separate curls without causing too much frizz.

Also EVERY night before you go to bed ALWAYS braid your hair. It is very simple to do yourself just take your hair and pull it all to one side making a nice and tight braid on just one side or you could simply part if and make two. :)) See the Examples below.... (Me, Lol) ♥

Hope you all enjoyed my post! If anyone has any tips you'd like to share,feel free to leave them in the comments below, Thanks♥!

So here it is! The Royal Wedding was today and Kate Middleton's Dress was FINALLY Revealed!

Royal wedding day! Kate Middleton‘s wedding dress — excuse me, Princess Catherine’s wedding dress — is by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. It’s a fitted white v-neck gown with “a long-sleeved lace overlay” with a “a two-meter, 70-centimeter train,”

 “The dress was made by hand, using French Chantilly lace and English Cluny lace throughout the bodice, skirt and underskirt. The skirt, made of ivory and white satin gazar, was designed to emulate an opening flower: padded at the hips, it flowed out to the floor. The back of the dress was finished with 58 gazar and organza covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops.”

Princess Catherine also wore an “ivory silk tulle veil, which was trimmed with hand-embroidered flowers” and “held in place by a Cartier ‘halo’ tiara, lent to Kate by the Queen.” Her diamond drop earrings are by Robinson Pelham and a gift from her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. Her sister, Pippa Middleton, also wore McQueen.

Justin Bieber has a GIRLFRIEND??!!?? UhOh Girls everywhere will be going haywire! Lol, Meet Justin Bieber's Girlfriend below♥,

Ahahaha, No Really! All jokes aside, Justin Bieber doesn't actually have a girlfriend -- at least not that we know of -- but 14-year-old Michaela Wallace is going to try to sing her way into his heart.

The young singer released her debut single, "Justin Bieber's Girlfriend," via YouTube and iTunes on Friday, and has already stacked up around 300,000 hits. With the Biebs in the song title and a frighteningly catchy chorus, we're sure it won't stop there.

The chorus, which goes "Gonna be Justin Bieber's girlfriend tonight," isn't exactly literal, but it's sure to rile a few feathers with the notoriously jealous Bieber Fever crowd.

Sadly, the song comes a bit too late, since "South Park" killed Bieber off in its last episode. If only she released the song a little sooner...

Happy Easter All! ♥

Happy Birthday Mother Earth♥, but truthfully every day should be Earth Day ! So I have compiled a list of 50 things 'You' can do to help save THIS planet! Thanks, & Enjoy, ♥

DO NOT PRE-HEAT THE OVEN
Unless you are making bread or pastries of some sort, don't pre-heat the oven. Just turn it on when you put the dish in. Also, when checking on your food, look through the oven window instead of opening the door.

TURN OFF COMPUTERS AT NIGHT
By turning off your computer instead of leaving it in sleep mode, you can save 40 watt-hours per day. That adds up to 4 cents a day, or $14 per year. If you don't want to wait for your computer to start up, set it to turn on automatically a few minutes before you get to work, or boot up while you're pouring your morning cup 'o joe.

CHANGE YOUR LIGHT
If every household in the United State replaced one regular lightbulb with one of those new compact fluorescent bulbs, the pollution reduction would be equivalent to removing one million cars from the road.
Don't like the color of light? Use these bulbs for closets, laundry rooms and other places where it won't irk you as much.

PLANT A NOTION
"Going green" doesn't have to be a daunting task that means sweeping life changes. Simple things can make a difference.
The contents of this list might not be new, but they bear repeating. Sometimes it takes a few reminders for things take root.

DON'T RINSE
Skip rinsing dishes before using your dishwasher and save up to 20 gallons of water each load. Plus, you're saving time and the energy used to heat the additional water.

 

RECYCLE GLASS
Recycled glass reduces related air pollution by 20 percent and related water pollution by 50 percent. If it isn't recycled it can take a million years to decompose.

DIAPER WITH A CONSCIENCE
By the time a child is toilet trained, a parent will change between 5,000 and 8,000 diapers, adding up to approximately 3.5 million tons of waste in U.S. landfills each year. Whether you choose cloth or a more environmentally-friendly disposable, you're making a choice that has a much gentler impact on our planet.

HANG DRY
Get a clothesline or rack to dry your clothes by the air. Your wardrobe will maintain color and fit, and you'll save money.
Your favorite t-shirt will last longer too.

GO VEGETARIAN ONCE A WEEK
One less meat-based meal a week helps the planet and your diet. For example: It requires 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. You will also also save some trees. For each hamburger that originated from animals raised on rainforest land, approximately 55 square feet of forest have been destroyed.

WASH IN COLD OR WARM
If all the households in the U.S. switched from hot-hot cycle to warm-cold, we could save the energy comparable to 100,000 barrels of oil a day.
Only launder when you have a full load.

USE ONE LESS PAPER NAPKIN
During an average year, an American uses approximately 2,200 napkins—around six each day. If everyone in the U.S. used one less napkin a day, more than a billion pounds of napkins could be saved from landfills each year.

USE BOTH SIDES OF PAPER
American businesses throw away 21 million tons of paper every year, equal to 175 pounds per office worker. For a quick and easy way to halve this, set your printer's default option to print double-sided (duplex printing). And when you're finished with your documents, don't forget to take them to the recycling bin.

RECYCLE NEWSPAPER
There are 63 million newspapers printed each day in the U.S. Of these, 44 million, or about 69%, of them will be thrown away. Recycling just the Sunday papers would save more than half a million trees every week.

WRAP CREATIVELY
You can reuse gift bags, bows and event paper, but you can also make something unique by using old maps, cloth or even newspaper. Flip a paper grocery bag inside out and give your child stamps or markers to create their own wrapping paper that's environmentally friendly and extra special for the recipient.
More ideas: HGTV, Martha, DIY Network

RETHINK BOTTLED WATER
Nearly 90% of plastic water bottles are not recycled, instead taking thousands of years to decompose. Buy a reusable container and fill it with tap water, a great choice for the environment, your wallet, and possibly your health. The EPA's standards for tap water are more stringent than the FDA's standards for bottled water.

BAN BATHTIME!
Have a no-bath week, and take showers instead. Baths require almost twice as much water. Not only will you reduce water consumption, but the energy costs associated with heating the water.

BRUSH WITHOUT RUNNING
You've heard this one before, but maybe you still do it. You'll conserve up to five gallons per day if you stop. Daily savings in the U.S. alone could add up to 1.5 billion gallons--more water than folks use in the Big Apple.

SHOWER WITH YOUR PARTNER
Sneak in a shower with your loved one to start the day with some zest that doesn't come in a bar. Not only have you made a wise choice for the environment, but you may notice some other added...um...benefits.

TAKE A SHORTER SHOWER
Every two minutes you save on your shower can conserve more than ten gallons of water. If everyone in the country saved just one gallon from their daily shower, over the course of the year it would equal twice the amount of freshwater withdrawn from the Great Lakes every day.

PLANT A TREE
It's good for the air, the land, can shade your house and save on cooling (plant on the west side of your home), and they can also improve the value of your property.
Make it meaningful for the whole family and plant a tree every year for each member.

USE YOUR CRUISE CONTROL
You paid for those extra buttons in your car, so put them to work! When using cruise control your vehicle could get up to 15% better mileage. Considering today's gasoline prices, this is a boon not only for the environment but your budget as well.

SECOND-HAND DOESN'T MEAN SECOND-BEST
Consider buying items from a second-hand store. Toys, bicycles, roller blades, and other age and size-specific items are quickly outgrown. Second hand stores often sell these items in excellent condition since they are used for such a short period of time, and will generally buy them back when you no longer need them.

BUY LOCAL
Consider the amount of pollution created to get your food from the farm to your table. Whenever possible, buy from local farmers or farmers' markets, supporting your local economy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gas created when products are flown or trucked in.

ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT
Adjust your thermostat one degree higher in the summer and one degree cooler in the winter. Each degree celsius less will save about 10% on your energy use! In addition, invest in a programmable thermostat which allows you to regulate temperature based on the times you are at home or away.

INVEST IN YOUR OWN COFFEE CUP
If you start every morning with a steamy cup, a quick tabulation can show you that the waste is piling up. Invest in a reusable cup, which not only cuts down on waste, but keeps your beverage hot for a much longer time. Most coffee shops will happily fill your own cup, and many even offer you a discount in exchange!

BATCH ERRANDS
Feel like you spend your whole week trying to catch up with the errands? Take a few moments once a week to make a list of all the errands that need to get done, and see if you can batch them into one trip. Not only will you be saving gasoline, but you might find yourself with much better time-management skills.

TURN OFF LIGHTS
Always turn off incandescent bulbs when you leave a room. Fluorescent bulbs are more affected by the number of times it is switched on and off, so turn them off when you leave a room for 15 minutes or more. You'll save energy on the bulb itself, but also on cooling costs, as lights contribute heat to a room.

GREENER LAWN CARE
If you must water your lawn, do it early in the morning before any moisture is lost to evaporation. Have a few weeds? Spot treat them with vinegar. Not sure if you should rake? Normal clippings act as a natural fertilizer, let them be. If you've waited too long, rake by hand — it's excellent exercise.

PICNIC WITH A MARKER
Some time in between the artichoke dip and the coleslaw, you lost track of your cup, and now there are a sea of matching cups on the table, one of which might be yours. The next time you picnic, set out permanent marker next to disposable dinnerware so guests can mark their cup and everyone will only use one.

RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES
The average cell phone lasts around 18 months, which means 130 million phones will be retired each year. If they go into landfills, the phones and their batteries introduce toxic substances into our environment. There are plenty of reputable programs where you can recycle your phone, many which benefit noble causes.

MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE
Not only are you extending the life of your vehicle, but you are creating less pollution and saving gas. A properly maintained vehicle, clean air filters, and inflated tires can greatly improve your vehicle's performance. And it might not hurt to clean out the trunk—all that extra weight could be costing you at the pump.

RECYCLE UNWANTED WIRE HANGERS
Wire hangers are generally made of steel, which is often not accepted by some recycling programs. So what do you do with them? Most dry cleaners will accept them back to reuse or recycle. (Cue Joan Crawford.)

RECYCLE ALUMINUM AND GLASS
Twenty recycled aluminium cans can be made with the energy it takes to manufacture one brand new one.Every ton of glass recycled saves the equivalent of nine gallons of fuel oil needed to make glass from virgin materials.

TELECOMMUTE
See if you can work out an arrangement with your employer that you work from home for some portion of the week. Not only will you save money and gasoline, and you get to work in your pajamas!

KEEP YOUR FIREPLACE DAMPER CLOSED
Keeping the damper open (when you're not using your fireplace) is like keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney. This can add up to hundreds of dollars each winter in energy loss.

CUT DOWN ON JUNK MAIL
Feel like you need to lose a few pounds? It might be your junk mail that's weighing you down. The average American receives 40 pounds of junk mail each year, destroying 100 millions trees. There are many services that can help reduce the clutter in your mailbox, saving trees and the precious space on your countertops.

CHOOSE MATCHES OVER LIGHTERS
Most lighters are made out of plastic and filled with butane fuel, both petroleum products. Since most lighters are considered "disposable," over 1.5 billion end up in landfills each year. When choosing matches, pick cardboard over wood. Wood matches come from trees, whereas most cardboard matches are made from recycled paper.

LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE WALKING—ONLINE
Consider if you really need a paper phone book. If not, call to stop phone book delivery and use an online directory instead. Some estimate that telephone books make up almost ten percent of waste at dump sites. And if you still receive the book, don't forget to recycle your old volumes.

GIVE IT AWAY
Before you throw something away, think about if someone else might need it. Either donate to a charitable organization or post it on a web site designed to connect people and things, such as Freecycle.org.

GO TO A CAR WASH
Professional car washes are often more efficient with water consumption. If everyone in the U.S. who washes their car themselves took just one visit to the car wash we could save nearly 8.7 billion gallons of water.

PLASTIC BAGS SUCK
Each year the U.S. uses 84 billion plastic bags, a significant portion of the 500 billion used worldwide. They are not biodegradable, and are making their way into our oceans, and subsequently, the food chain. Stronger, reusable bags are an inexpensive and readily available option.

FLY WITH AN E-TICKET
The cost of processing a paper ticket is approximately $10, while processing an e-ticket costs only $1. In the near future, e-tickets will be the only option, saving the airline industry $3 billion a year. In addition to financial savings, the sheer amount of paper eliminated by this process is commendable.

DOWNLOAD YOUR SOFTWARE
Most software comes on a compact disc, and more than thirty billion compact discs of all types are sold annually. That's a huge amount of waste, not to mention the associated packaging. Another bonus to downloading your software is that it's often available for download at a later date when you upgrade to a new computer or are attempting to recover from a crash.

STOP YOUR ANSWERING MACHINE
Answering machines use energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And when they break, they're just one more thing that goes into the landfill. If all answering machines in U.S. homes were eventually replaced by voice mail services, the annual energy savings would total nearly two billion kilowatt-hours.

SKIP THE COFFEE STIRRER
Each year, Americans throw away 138 billion straws and stirrers. But skipping the stirrer doesn't mean drinking your coffee black. Simply put your sugar and cream in first, and then pour in the coffee, and it should be well mixed.
Determined to stir? Break off a piece of pasta from the cupboard. You can nibble after using it, compost, or throw away with less guilt.

FIND A BETTER WAY TO BREAK THE ICE
When a big winter storm heads our way, most of us use some sort of ice melter to treat steps and sidewalks. While this makes the sidewalks safer for people, it may pose a hazard for pets who might ingest these products. Rock salt and salt-based ice-melting products can cause health problems as well as contaminate wells and drinking water. Look for a pet-safe deicer, readily available in many stores.

USE COTTON SWABS WITH A PAPERBOARD SPINDLE
Some brands of cotton swabs have a paperboard spindle while others are made of plastic. If 10% of U.S. households switched to a paperboard spindle, the petroleum energy saved per year would be equivalent to over 150,000 gallons of gasoline.

PAY BILLS ONLINE
By some estimates, if all households in the U.S. paid their bills online and received electronic statements instead of paper, we'd save 18.5 million trees every year, 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and 1.7 billion pounds of solid waste.

STOP PAPER BANK STATEMENTS
Some banks will pay you a dollar or donate money on your behalf when you cancel the monthly paper statements you get in the mail. If every household took advantage of online bank statements, the money saved could send more than seventeen thousand recent high school graduates to a public university for a year.

USE RECHARGABLE BATTERIES
Each year 15 billion batteries produced and sold and most of them are disposable alkaline batteries. Only a fraction of those are recycled. Buy a charger and a few sets of rechargeable batteries. Although it requires an upfront investment, it is one that should pay off in no time. And on Christmas morning when all the stores are closed? You'll be fully stocked.

SHARE!♥
Take what you've learned, and pass the knowledge on to others. If every person you know could take one small step toward being greener, the collective effort could be phenomenal.