Giving Up Our Goods for Good

Once in awhile we have a few extras from the giveaways we do here at The Tyra Show. Sometimes we can gift them to special people who help out on the show; sometimes we have enough to do an extra giveaway; sometimes, none of that works and they sit here, lonely and unused.

That was the case with a box of teeny tiny size 4 Havaianas flip flops that have been taking up space here for months! After probing around, and wasting a few Post-It notes, the choice became clear: These flip flops had to go to a stellar charity that could really work some magic.

That's when a friend suggested Goods For Good.

Al B: Get Green

My buddy Kermit D. Frog says "it's not east being green." And though I feel for my little friend, it's not as hard as it may seem to be green.

President Obama recently spoke at the G8 Summit about the importance of nations and their leaders to take steps to prevent further climate change and environmental decay around the globe, while insuring healthier, longer lives for all of us. He also acknowledged that there will be obstacles to global action, due to the political complexities and national concerns of individual countries.

What the hell does that mean? Well, it means that if we wait solely for governments of the world to act, we risk living in a world where WALL-E will have to come to our rescue! So as we await bold action by leaders around the world, the responsibility falls to us. If we are going begin to live with greater respect for the world given to us and improve our own day-to-day living conditions, we can't just wait for politicians to fix the problem.

Here are actions we can all take that may seem small but can really make a difference!

We Heart Green Girls

Going green is easy -- and stylish.

Want a simple way to do your part for the environment and the green initiative? Well, multitask and do something sweet for your wardrobe too! Stars like Selena Gomez and Ashley Tisdale are big fans of Eco-ga'nik clothing, which is made from 100% sustainable fabrics. The styles are cute and the cause is good so check it out at tobi.com.

Green Queen: Get UNplugged!

Tips for saving money and energy.

No cash for all-organic groceries, fancy-schmancy 'Not A Plastic Bag' totes, or 'go green' electronics? Forget about it! Our Green Queen can get you green TODAY and help you save some moula along the way.

Need a Gas Mask to Go with Your Newly Painted Walls?

No kidding. No Biter's above getting woozy from fumes caused by conventional paint, and even when you can't smell it anymore, chems continue to set off gas. Avoid seeing spots by opting for naturally vibrant paints for your next home makeover.

The Benefits
• The shade you're into. Eco-paint's available in every color under the sun - you can even bring a standard paint swatch, and most hardware stores will

T-minus What to Sunburn Protection?

45...30...15... Our SPF countdown to summer is on. But even when it's overcast, the sun still wreaks havoc on your face. Count on eco-facial moisturizers with sunscreen to count wrinkles and questionable chems out.

The Benefits
• Lightening up. A lot of sunscreens are heavy and thick. Not

Hey Sweet Thang

Try some organic sugar. Whether you bake or not, when the alternative sweeteners like agave don't quite fit the recipe, organic versions of a sweet tooth's fave drug taste way better than artificial sweeteners, and fewer pesticides help sweeten the deal.

The Benefits
• Fighting our pesticide addiction. As little as 1 tsp of the common herbicide paraquat, which is used on sugarcane crops, is a known toxin.

Craving Some Fuzzy Love Without the Long-term Commitment?

Say "cluck you" to euthanasia. Moo-ve your butt and volunteer at a farm sanctuary - a safe haven where homeless animals are protected and treated like the good, earthly neigh-bors they are.

The Benefits
• It's good for you. We already know that being around animals helps us live longer, and helping out at a farm for a day can be kinda fun, anyway.

Wanna Talk Office Politics?

You could start a rainforest rally next to the coffee stirrers, or you could just post our Ideal Bite's Top 10 Ways to Green Your Office in the break room bulletin board. Either way, it'll be a nice change from just talking smack on the guy in the cubicle down the hall (fun as that is).

Can Sleeping Save You Money?

When it comes to your computer, it can. Just change your PC's energy settings or install an energy-saving application so that it automatically sleeps when you're not using it, and remember to turn it off at night. Then count the cash you've saved while your computer counts sheep.

All of us turn off our computers at night instead of just setting them to sleep. But during the day, we like the CO2 Saver 'cuz it keeps track of how much CO2 we've averted and gives us something new to brag about.