Merry Miracles

“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes. All is a miracle.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

On behalf of free to be yoga tees®, I wanted to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years!  Enjoy the tiny miracles all around you this holiday season.

Namaste,
Julie

Free To Be Yoga Tees 2013 Holiday Gift Guide

Still looking for gift ideas? Free to be yoga tees make a great gift! Eco-friendly and proudly made in the USA, we offer a variety of styles for just about everyone on your list. Shop the collection now at freetobeyogatees.com!

Small Business Saturday

"Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Small Business Saturday is right around the corner!  Celebrated on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, it’s a day when holiday shoppers are encouraged to patronize small, local businesses.

Fun fact--for every $100 spent at local small businesses, $68 returns to the community! As a small business, we sure hope you take this to heart and shop small and local on Small Business Saturday, and throughout the holiday season.

As a gesture of gratitude, all purchases of $40 or more at freetobeyogatees.com on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30) will receive a FREE eco tote (while supplies last).  Plus, FREE SHIPPING through the end of the year! :)

Thank you for supporting free to be yoga tees®!  Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Until next time...

Namaste,
Julie

Tips For A Greener Holiday Season

“Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all, heavenly environment; of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built.”

~ James Allen

The holidays have arrived, and while it’s known as ‘the most wonderful time of the year,’ it also is the most wasteful.  In honor of America Recycles Day, free to be yoga tees® wants to remind everyone to recycle this holiday season, plus offer tips for a greener holiday season. 

America Recycles Day, celebrated on Friday, Nov. 15, is a nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States.

Did you know...

*Americans throw away 25 percent more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday period than any other time of the year.

*In the U.S., annual trash from gift-wrap and shopping bags totals 4 million tons. 

*If every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet.


*If every American family wrapped just three presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.


*The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the United States could fill a football field 10 stories high. If we each sent one less card, we'd save 50,000 cubic yards of paper.

More tips for a greener holiday season...

*Reduce the number of bags thrown out by bringing reusable cloth bags for holiday gift shopping. Tell store clerks you don't need a bag for small or oversized purchases.

*Remember to save or recycle used wrapping paper. 

*Send recycled-content greeting cards to reduce the amount of virgin paper used during the holidays. Remember to recycle any paper cards you receive. You can also try sending electronic greeting cards to reduce paper waste.

*Turn off or unplug holiday lights during the day. Doing so will not only save energy, but will also help your lights last longer.

*Approximately 33 million live Christmas trees are sold in North America every year. After the holidays, look for ways to recycle your tree instead of sending it to a landfill. Check with your community solid waste department and find out if they collect and mulch trees. Your town might be able to use chippings from mulched trees for hiking trails and beachfront erosion barriers.

*Consider the durability of a product before you buy it as a gift. Cheaper, less durable items often wear out quickly, creating waste and costing you money.

*When buying gifts, check product labels to determine an item's recyclability and whether it is made from recycled materials. Buying recycled encourages manufacturers to make more recycled-content products available.

I’d like to highlight that last tip, as I completely agree with that point!  :) As you may already know, recycling is an important part of the free to be yoga tees’ line.  Some of our styles are made from recycled materials--take for example, the unisex t-shirts and hoodies.  They are made from a blend of 50% organic cotton and 50% recycled plastic bottles. In addition to tees, free to be’s eco tote is made from a blend of 80% recycled cotton and 20% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.  Even the shipping materials are made from 100% recycled material--from the envelopes to the tissue paper.

So as we enter the hustle and bustle that comes with the holiday season, lets not forget to be kind to the earth.  While we might all want a white Christmas, a green Christmas is just as important.

Until next time...

Namaste,

Julie

Sources:  US EPA, CBS.com, RecycleWorks.org, Use Less Stuff, AmericaRecyclesDay.org

An in-depth look at the Fall line, including the newest ‘charitee’ style

“Don’t ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman, PhD

Last week I introduced some fresh new styles to the free to be yoga tees® line for Fall, and I’m excited to share an in-depth look at each of the new tees with you.

The design I am most excited about is the new women’s v-neck long sleeve elephant ‘charitee.’ Made from organic bamboo (nature’s most sustainable resource) and organic cotton, the tee features a mama and baby elephant along with the Hippocrates quote:  “The soul is the same in all living creatures, although the body of each is different."  It’s available in sizes small through x-large.

My favorite part about this tee?  Free to be yoga tees® will donate a portion of sales from each of the women’s long sleeve elephant ‘charitees’ sold to charities supporting the efforts to save elephants and prevent wildlife crime.

I recently read an article on TreeHugger.com that said:  “Every 15 minutes, an elephant dies at the hand of a poacher.  Last year alone, 36,000 African elephants were slaughtered for their tusks, to fuel the ivory trade.  Unless something is done, elephants could become wiped out in the wild within the next 12 years.”  Once that sunk in, I knew I had to make the next ‘charitee’ style all about the elephants.  Even if it just helps create awareness and to get people talking about it, then I know I’ve made a difference.

If you’d like to learn more about this ‘charitee’ style or read more on elephants and wildlife crime, click here.

Another addition to the Fall collection is a new women’s v-neck short sleeve shirt.  The tee, in purely natural, is made from organic bamboo and organic cotton, and features a tree and the word “namaste.”  Namaste is derived from Sanskrit and literally means “salutations to you.”  The gesture represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra, and is an acknowledgement of the soul in one by the soul in another.  (Source:  Wikipedia)  This style is available in small through x-large.

I’m also very excited to add to the ‘free to be baby’ line!  The new long sleeve infant one piece is made from 100% organic cotton, and comes in canary (which is great for a baby boy or girl)! The design, called “BEE the change,”  features a happy little bumble bee and is available in 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18-24 months.

And last but not least, a free to be yoga tees® favorite, the unisex ‘Peace Love Detroit’ tee, is now available in shadow (black).    Made from an organic cotton/RPET blend (RPET is recycled polyester made from recycled plastic bottles), this style has won over the hearts of many since it’s inception last fall.  The ‘Peace Love Detroit’ tee ranges in size, from x-small to xx-large.

To check out the Fall line, visit freetobeyogatees.com!  The entire collection is also on sale now at all three Metro-Detroit area Art Is In Market locations:  Laurel Park Place Mall (37700 Six Mile Rd.,  Livonia, MI 48152), Twelve Oaks Mall (27500 Novi Rd., Novi, MI 48377) and The Mall at Partridge Creek (17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038).

Until next time...

Namaste,
Julie

A Labor of Love

“Control is never achieved when sought after directly. It is the surprising consequence of letting go.” ~James Arthur Ray

Where has the summer gone?  It’s hard to believe it’s already the end of August.  And while I am super excited to launch the fall line in just a couple of weeks, it’s taken me quite a while to get there.

Call it writer’s block...or um, a creative block?  Regardless, I spent a great deal of time this summer coming up with different design ideas, and then tossing them aside.  The more I forced myself, the less I wanted to work on them, and the ideas just stopped flowing.

A friend suggested walking away for a few days, checking out mentally and enjoying myself.  (Great advice by the way!)  And wouldn’t you know, the minute I did that, the ideas came to life and I got back at it!?!  I even revisited a few of those designs I had put in the “no” folder and I’m thrilled to say that the new additions to the free to be yoga tees® line are finally at the printer.  Phew!

This September, I am introducing a new color to the ‘Peace Love Detroit’ tee, plus a super adorable (or at least I think so!) new baby long sleeve one piece.  There will also be two new women’s tees--a long sleeve and short sleeve v-neck.  And one of those will have a charity angle!!  More on that soon.  :)

I am so relieved to be done with the fall designs, and am super excited to see what you all think!  I sure hope you like them--it’s been a true labor of love!

And on that note, I’m thinking it’s time to relax and celebrate Labor Day Weekend.  Enjoy, everyone!

Until next time...


Namaste,
Julie

Beach Clean-Up

“The world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” ~Albert Einstein

It’s time to lead the change.

On a recent trip to Florida over the Fourth of July holiday, I set out for a morning walk along the beach with my family.  It was the day after the big fireworks display.  We were horrified by the amount of trash along the beach--there was a ton of debris, including wires, plastic pieces, and other remnants from the fireworks.

We were concerned why this mess had not been picked up.  I didn’t feel right continuing my walk without doing something, especially with high tide fast approaching.

We spoke with a kind lifeguard and he said the beach was in bad shape when they arrived for work that morning.  People had trashed the beach during the festivities--leaving tents, glass, and other garbage behind.

The lifeguard went on to say they did the best they could, but the clean-up crew that was scheduled to come that morning never showed up. While he shared in our concern, he said that ‘it is what it is,’ and they really couldn’t do anything else about the situation.

As far as I was concerned, that was not acceptable.  So we decided to do something.  We asked if they had bags and gloves--which they did--so we took some and set off to clean-up the beach ourselves.

Thankfully, there were other people on the beach that morning who felt the same way, and after seeing us get to work, they offered to help!  We ended up with a group of about 10 people who pitched in and helped clean-up the beach.

When all was said and done, we had five very heavy garbage bags filled with debris leftover from the fireworks--five heavy bags of garbage that would otherwise been swept out into the Gulf of Mexico.  Much of the debris would have posed a serious threat to marine life, which often mistake trash as food.

It’s sad to think what might have happened had we not lead the clean-up efforts.  A lot of people just stared at us, or complained about the trash as they walked by, but very few were willing to do something about it.

That morning on the beach turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip.  It also helps solidify my belief that we can be the change we want to see the in world--sometimes we just need to lead the way.  :)

Until next time...

Namaste,
Julie

free to be turns 3!

“Don’t miss all the beautiful colors of the rainbow looking for that pot of gold.” ~Unknown

It’s hard to believe, but free to be yoga tees® will be turning three this week!  I never imagined the journey that would ensue when I came up with the concept and founded free to be llc three years ago.   Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the day-to-day business that I forget to take a moment to reflect on how far free to be yoga tees® has come.

From an idea that transpired during a yoga practice, free to be yoga tees® can now be found in three prominent malls in Metro Detroit (Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, Laurel Park Place in Livonia and The Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township), as well our online shop at freetobeyogatees.com.

In addition, with the help of my mom and aunt, we started to take free to be yoga tees® out into the community and explore art shows and other special events over the last year.  These included the Birmingham Holiday Gift Show, the Michigan Earth Day Festival and The Made in America Roadshow.  The response received from these events has been wonderful, so we are hoping to participate in even more in the future!

And finally, one of the things that I was most excited about was the introduction this past fall of the “charitee” style, where a portion of sales from that tee are donated to charity.  The first tee, featuring a polar bear and the French proverb, ‘Live in hope,’ helps support organizations working to save polar bears and their home, the Arctic.  I hope to build off of this, and introduce more styles to the “charitee” collection soon.  Since one of my ultimate goals with the tees is to use them as a platform to make a difference in the world, I’m excited to explore the possibilities with this angle.

So as free to be yoga tees® celebrates it’s third birthday on Friday, I just wanted to say thank you.  I have an enormous amount of gratitude for everyone that has supported me and free to be yoga tees®.  It’s been a source of personal and professional growth, and I’m excited to see where the path leads next.

Until next time...


Namaste,
Julie

World Turtle Day!

“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” ~Lao Tzu

This past week I was driving home from work and noticed something very small moving in the road.  As I got closer, I realized it was a tiny turtle attempting to cross the road during rush hour.  Now, if this sounds familiar, you are correct.  This has happened to me before and I did indeed blog about it.  But given the fact today is World Turtle Day, I decided to write about it again!

So I come to a complete stop and hop out of my car despite the traffic.  The person in the car behind me got really mad, swerved around me and gave me a dirty look as he drove by.  Since I wasn’t sure how to handle a turtle the first time this happened, I had looked it up and knew it’s best to just pick up the little guy by the bottom of his shell and help him finish crossing the street in the direction he was traveling.

Evidently, if you don’t put them down in the direction they were traveling, they will turn around and try again.  Good to know, because I’m not sure if the other drivers down the way would be willing to stop and help!  I know we are all in a hurry, but I simply don’t get why people don’t stop for animals crossing the road.  They are a living, breathing beings and have just as much of a right to be here as you and me do!  Have a little patience!

I was reading an article from TreeHugger.com today, and it said: “Of the 207 species of turtle and tortoise alive today, 129 of them are listed by IUCN as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. That's an incredibly 62% of species! Though these species wear a suit of armor, they are incredible fragile and in need of protection by humans, from humans.”

Something to think about it!  And perhaps the next time you see one struggling to cross a busy road, you will be a friend to these vulnerable creatures who are in need of our help! :)

Until next time...


Namaste

MI Earth Day Fest

“If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is Nature's way.” ~Aristotle

Free to be yoga tees® is incredibly excited to attend this year’s MI Earth Day Fest, taking place in downtown Rochester (Third and Water Street) from Friday, April 26 thru Sunday, April 28.

The event, Michigan’s premier green and healthy living celebration, is a great community event highlighting the success of hundreds of local businesses and community groups that strive to ‘Make Every Day Earth Day’.

The MI Earth Day Fest will offer a wide variety of fun, informative, earth-friendly activities including:  green/wellness exhibits and activities, world-class presentations, organic food, farmers market, kids corner arts and activities, farm fun area, strawbale and rock climb, stage and street entertainment, contests and prizes, free wellness programs and massage, and Connections Cafe roundtables. Discover healthy, green alternatives in food, wellness, energy, transportation, gifts, personal care, art work, home, garden, finances and more.

Dates/Hours:
Friday, April 26 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 27 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 28 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The event is FREE and fun for all ages!  For more information on the event, visit www.migreenteam.com

We hope you come and visit the free to be yoga tees® tent and celebrate Earth Day with us!  (We will be located in booth a1.)  We’ll have a wide selection of free to be yoga tees® available for purchase.  All free to be yoga tees® styles are earth-friendly--made from sustainable fabrics with low-impact dyes, free from chemicals and custom designs printed with water-based ink.  What better place to highlight our tees than at event that celebrates the eco-friendly philosophy!  We hope to see you there!

Until next time...

Namaste

Earth Day 2013

“I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.”  ~E.B. White

Earth Day is almost here, and we’re pretty excited here at free to be yoga tees®!

As you know, free to be yoga tees® prides itself on carrying eco-friendly tees for women and men.  All of our styles are made from sustainable fabrics with low-impact dyes, no chemicals, and custom design work printed with water-based ink.

In addition, free to be yoga tees® are proudly made in the USA, which believe it or not, is better for the environment!

According to the Made in the USA Challenge blog: “Companies that keep their manufacturing in the US are subject to EPA regulations to help protect the land, air and water. Additionally, a made in the USA product’s carbon footprint is smaller because it has less distance to travel.” (madeinusachallenge.com)

With that said, free to be yoga tees® is celebrating Earth Day ALL WEEKEND long by offering our loyal fans and customers FREE SHIPPING!

Shop freetobeyogatees.com 24/7 and enjoy FREE SHIPPING this Friday, April 19 thru 11:59 p.m. on Earth Day (this Monday, April 22).

Until next time...make every day Earth Day! :)

Namaste

Made in America Roadshow

“If you take advantage of everything America has to offer, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.”  ~Geraldine Ferraro

Free to be yoga tees® is excited to take part in the Made in America Roadshow, happening at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi April 12-14.

The traveling roadshow will exclusively feature American made products and services from all across the country.  As a small business that prides itself on being ‘Made in the USA,’ free to be yoga tees® is thrilled this event will be making a stop in Metro Detroit.

The event will feature American made clothing, jewelry, sporting goods, furniture, home decor, food, arts and crafts, wineries, breweries, vacation resorts, celebrity appearances and more.

Dates/Times:
Friday, April 12:  4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 13:  10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 14:  11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for the general public, $8 for seniors, and children 12 and under AND veterans and active duty military* are FREE! (*with identification).   For more information, visit www.miaroadshows.com!
 
Made In America Roadshows invites you to play a part in the economic restoration by building relationships between American manufacturers, service providers, and consumers. They believe the people who produce and manufacture in the USA nurture America’s commerce, industry, welfare, and pride.

Free to be yoga tees® could not agree more!  Hope to see you at the event--we will be showcased in the Art-is-in Market booth.

Until next time...

Namaste

The eco tote is here!

“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” ~John Muir

I’m excited to tell you about the newest addition to free to be yoga tees®--it’s an earth-friendly tote that’s proudly made in the USA--and just in time for Earth Day!

The ‘free to be eco tote’ features Gandhi’s “Be the change” quote on one side, and environmental facts on the impact of using a reusable bag on the other.

The new ‘free to be eco tote’ is made from a blend of 80% recycled cotton and 20% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.  The tote, which comes in an earthy natural color, is great for running errands, a trip to the farmer’s market, and more!

According to the Council for Textile Recycling, 25,000 tons of new textile fiber is disposed of by North American spinning mills, weavers and fabric manufacturers each year.  Recycled cotton is recovered cotton that would be wasted during the spinning, weaving and cutting processes.  Up to 40% of cotton grown is wasted between the harvest and the manufacture of garments.  In the past, this waste went directly to landfills.

Why use a reusable bag?  Here are some facts that may make you think twice!

-Americans use about 100 billion shopping bags annually.

-At least 12 million barrels of oil are used per year in the 
manufacture of those plastic grocery bags.

-Approximately 5% of plastic grocery bags are recycled in the U.S.

-A single plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill.

-10% of the plastic produced every year worldwide ends up in the ocean.  70% of which finds its way to the ocean floor, where it will likely never degrade.

-Every square mile of ocean has about 46,000 pieces of plastic floating in it.

-It's estimated that 1 million birds and thousands of turtles and other sea animals die each year after ingesting discarded plastic bags.

(Sources:  Environmental Protection Agency, National Wildlife Federation,The Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Mother Nature Network, Reuseit.com)

If we all made a pledge to start using reusable bags more often, just imagine the impact we could have!  To learn more or purchase a ‘free to be eco tote,’ visit freetobeyogatees.com

Until next time...

Namaste

an eye-opener

“If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.  All things are connected.  Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.”  ~Chief Seattle

A friend recently passed along a link to me--it’s a trailer for a documentary that is scheduled to come out later this year.  The film explores the devastating effects trash has on wildlife, in particular a large sea bird called Laysan Albatross.

I encourage you to watch the trailer, less than four minutes long.  While it’s a little disturbing, it’s also reality--and will open your eyes to a problem that deserves far greater attention.

Click here to watch the trailer.

After watching this, and exploring online, I found some startling statistics that I thought were worth sharing.

*Every square mile of the ocean has about 46,000 pieces of floating plastic in it.

*10% of the plastic produced every year worldwide ends up in the ocean. 70% of which finds its way  to the ocean floor, where it will likely never degrade.

*Marine animals and sea birds mistake plastic refuge as food, which can result in deadly consequences.

That same day, after doing this research, I took a walk around my neighborhood, and was horrified by how much trash I found along the side of the road during my 20 minute stroll.  How do we fix this problem?  Is it so difficult to properly dispose of trash--and furthermore, recycle items such as plastic bags and bottles?

Something to think about...something certainly needs to change.

Until next time...

Namaste

baby, it’s cold outside

“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.” ~Karen Kaiser Clark

Have you heard?  New free to be yoga tees® styles have arrived!

The new additions include super cozy sweatshirts to keep you warm during this cold winter, plus the exciting new free to be baby line.  And lets not forget the brand new women’s baby-rib ‘be the change’ tank in aster blue--the perfect reminder that spring is right around the corner!

The new unisex eco hoodie, featuring the ‘peace love detroit’ design is guaranteed to keep you warm during these chilly winter days.  Made from a blend of organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles, the hoodie is available in heather coal in small thru extra large.

Another exciting addition to the collection is the introduction of free to be baby!  The brand new long sleeve infant one piece, made from 100% organic cotton, comes in canary which is great for a baby boy or girl.  Available sizes include 3-6 months, 6-12 months and 12-18 months, and features the ‘peace love detroit’ design.

And last but not least, a free to be favorite is now available in a fresh new color just in time for spring:  aster blue (which can best be described as a purplish-blue.).  The women’s baby-rib tank top, made from a blend of organic bamboo/organic cotton/lycra comes in sizes small thru large.

All of these styles are eco-friendly, proudly  made in the USA and on sale now.  Visit freetobeyogatees.com to shop these new styles and the entire free to be yoga tees® collection.

Until next time...

Namaste

the power of one

"Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature." ~Thich Nhat Hanh

I came across an article within the last week about a 10-year-old boy in California who started his own recycling business after learning about the importance of recycling on Earth Day at his elementary school several years back.

Wanting to make a difference, he started riding his bike around his community picking up trash and taking it to the local recycling center.  In addition, as his business continued to grow, this young entrepreneur started to donate some of his proceeds to charity because he said: “every little bit matters.”

This story warmed my heart and filled me with hope.  I decided to Google search and see if there were any similar stories, and was delighted to find quite a few!  What a wonderful thing to know that children across the world believe they can be the change and are doing something about it!

This reminds me of a quote that I am quite fond of and that can be found on one of my free to be yoga tees® styles--it’s a Gandhi quote that says:  “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”  The story above reaffirms how true this is--we all have the power to do good in the world.  Each and every one of us.

Until next time...

Namaste

lead the change

“When you live on a round planet, there’s no choosing sides.” ~Wayne Dyer

On Monday, President Barack Obama discussed the elephant in the room so to speak, by addressing climate change in his second inaugural address.

I am proud he took a strong stance and am hopeful he will be able to use his second term to leave a lasting legacy in leading the change on environmental issues and global warming.

He said: “We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity.  We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.  Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms.  The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult.  But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it.  We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries – we must claim its promise.  That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure – our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks.  That is how we will preserve our planet...”

Inspiring words to say the least.  The first true test will come in the next few months when he must decide whether or not to approve the Keystone XL pipeline that would run from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

How does this effect you and me?  The Keystone XL Pipeline would produce heat-trapping gases and contribute to global warming.  Coming off the hottest year on record, do we ready need to create something that will make the problem worse?

In addition, there is threat of a spill, which would have devastating effects (an example of such is the Embridge spill in 2010 in the Kalamazoo River).  Plus, according to the National Wildlife Federation, the tar sands create toxic waste ponds that are so large they can be seen from space.  Is that what you want the heart of America to look like?

As an aspiring tree hugger, I hope the project does not move forward.   It’s time to move away from dirty oil and seek cleaner sources of energy.   Here’s to a cleaner, greener future!

Until next time...

Namaste

new direction

“A different world cannot be built by indifferent people.” ~Dr. Peter Marshall

As a collector of quotes, every once and awhile I find one that ignites a fire and deeply inspires me.  Such is the case with the powerful quote, above.

I think it’s the perfect way to describe the fun, new direction I plan to take the free to be yoga tees® blog.  I am fueled by my passion for the environment and wildlife, and I plan to begin using this blog more to dive into such topics.

While I will still certainly blog about the tees from time to time, I envision using this blog to tie in the bigger picture of what I hope to do with free to be yoga tees®--use them as a platform for change.

With climate change in the headlines daily; controversial topics like drilling in the Arctic, fracking and the Keystone XL pipeline heating up; more and more species facing the threat of extinction--the time was now to step up and use my voice.

Yes, I am just an average person with no real background in any of this--just interested and believe educating others on what is going on and how we can all collectively make a difference is vital to a better world.  I don’t pretend to know it all and I certainly have room for improvement, but as I learn more on my journey to live a greener and more meaningful life, why not take others along for the ride.  :)

As Steve Jobs once said, “...the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

So here we go....time to be the change!

Until next time...


Namaste

A new year

“If you’re not living life on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.” ~ Anonymous

Happy 2013, everyone!  Hope this year is off to a great start for you!!

Here at free to be yoga tees®, I’m looking forward to the new year and the possibilities that lay ahead.  As always, the ideas are flowing and I’m excited to see where they lead.  Stay tuned for some new designs coming out a little later this year, plus some other fun surprises!  Yes, I’m going to leave you hanging on that one for now.  :)

On another note, one of my goals for the new year is to take this blog into a fun, new direction.  More on that soon!

In the meantime, I encourage you all to connect with free to be yoga tees® by signing up for our e-newsletter.  Click here (http://eepurl.com/kRvrn) to receive e-mails from free to be yoga tees®, and you’ll be the first to know about new designs, sales, free shipping and more!  Hint: you might want to sign up before the end of the weekend!

If you’d prefer not to receive e-mails into your already crowded in-box (I can completely relate!), please make sure to connect with free to be yoga tees® via Facebook (facebook.com/freetobeyogatees) and/or Twitter (twitter.com/freetobeyogatee).

Until next time...seize the day!

Namaste