By Wendy

Happy Friday everyone! Planning on staying local this long Labor Day weekend for some good ol’ grilling in the backyard like us? Here’s a great turkey burger recipe we’ll be trying this weekend from Applegate Organic & Natural Meats: Turkey Burgers with Fruity Salsa de Verano. The sweet and salty flavors sound so delicious! I can’t wait to try it. Here’s how you can make it at home:

What you need:

1 package Applegate Organic Turkey Burger

1 ripe mango, diced

1 ripe peach, diced

¼ cup red onion, diced

¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped

½ tbsp olive oil

½ tbsp blood orange juice

1 cup shredded romaine lettuce

2 avocados, sliced

4 whole wheat buns

What to do:

Combine all other ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Mix and set aside.

Grill organic turkey burgers until well done.

Assemble the burgers, with lettuce and avocado on the bottom bun, the turkey burger, and then top it all off with your fruit salsa and the top bun.

Eat and enjoy!

If you’re not into turkey or a burger person, here are 10 vegetarian recipes you can try on the grill. Lots of yummy vegetable recipes to make on the grill and even some fruity ones for dessert!

What are you doing with the family this Labor Day weekend?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

By Wendy

Summer has flown by this year! And now Labor day is just around the corner and you’re trying to plan one more trip to the beach before you have to officially say goodbye to summer. Here are 5 easy ways you can stay eco-friendly at the beach with the family:

1: Pack up the car with as many people as possible, or use public transportation- this will not only help lower overall gas emissions and save you money, it’ll also make for some great family fun and some great pictures!

2: Use the designated walking areas instead of walking on dunes- beach grass and sand dunes help protect the land against the water and beach erosion. Using walkovers when we see them will help us keep the beach as wildlife flourishing.

3: Take everything you brought to the beach with you when you leave- whether they’re recyclable or not, be conscious of what you bring to the beach. Make sure you pack everything with you and disposing them in the right places. This helps prevent any remnant items from being left behind at the beach and potentially floating out into the water, which could end up hurting wildlife, such as fish, turtles, and other sea creatures.

4: Always pick up after yourself- The beach isn’t another bathroom or garbage can. Pick up all your leftover beach toys, snacks, and water bottles. If someone needs to use the restroom, use the public restroom. Pick up after your pets and dispose of their waste in the garbage.

5: Use eco-friendly sunscreen- if you’re at the beach, you’re bound to go into the water. Choose a eco-friendly sunscreen that uses safe ingredients to keep the water and wildlife safe of harmful toxins.

With these 5 easy tips on how to stay eco-friendly at the beach with the family, you’ll be able to help keep our beaches well protected and a ongoing summer destination for everyone.

What other tips do you practice to stay eco-friendly at the beach?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

By Wendy

Happy Friday everyone! The weekend is finally here. What are your plans this weekend? Taking the kids to the mall? Or maybe going out to watch the latest movie? Why not change up your routine and go out for a bike ride. Now that summer is here, it’s finally nice enough where you don’t have to drive the car to get to every destination.

Here are 5 reasons why to pick up your bikes and start riding:

1- All Over Workout: since roads often have twists, turns and hills to climb, bicycling allows your entire body to get a work out- from your arms, legs, and even your abs. Bike for 30 minutes to an hour and you’ll definitely find yourself working up a sweat and muscles working it.

2- You Can Do It Anywhere: biking riding is one of those things you can enjoy just about anywhere. All you need it a bike, a helmet, and some road.Visit BikeGeeky.com for the guideline & resources you need to pick your riding gears. Start taking short rides around the neighborhood to build up your confidence. Then you can start doing more exploring around your area. You never know what you may encounter on your bike.

3- Relieves Stress: exercise, whether it’s biking, running, or dancing, can help reduce your stress level and any symptoms of depression, while also improving your self esteem, you can improve your weight and use an appetite suppressant supplement for more results. The better you feel about yourself and life, the more productive you can be at home, at work, and to your family.

4- Decreases Your Gas Emission: whether you’re taking a bike ride to the park or to grab for few things from the grocery store, riding your bike instead of driving your car will help lower gas emissions. Do this a few times a week and you’ll not only be environmentally friendly, but also save up some money for that family vacation or some other big ticket item you were hoping to purchase in the near future.

5- Fun for All Ages: no matter what age you are, twenty or sixty, bike riding just makes you feel like a kid again. The speed you feel when you’re on a bike, the freedom you feel on an open road, the wind tousling your hair, it’s great a great feeling.

Bicycling outdoors is also a great way to get closer to Mother Nature and all the beauty this planet has to offer us. So go for that bike ride this weekend! Not only is it good for the environment, it’s also great for your health and your wallet.

What’s your favorite thing about bike riding?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

By Wendy

It’s always great to have some frozen treats in the fridge, especially when it contains my favorite fruit, the watermelon. Watermelons are delicious and contain lots of vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B6, all helping you to keep your body healthy. If you’re looking for a frosty and fruity dessert, try this watermelon sorbet recipe. This refreshing sorbet is great for dessert or just to enjoy as a snack. It’s also a healthier option to ice cream. Here’s how to make it:

What you need:

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

6 cups watermelon chunks, (4-pound watermelon), seeded

2 tablespoons lime juice

What to do:

Combine sugar and water in a saucepan.

Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently to dissolve sugar.

Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. This should take about 45 minutes.

Cover mixture and refrigerate until chilled. This should take around 1 hour.

Place watermelon and lime juice in a food processor and process until smooth.

Set a sieve over a large bowl and press the puree through to remove all the tiny seeds.

Whisk in the sugar syrup.

Pour the watermelon mixture into a shallow metal pan and freeze until ice crystals form around the edges, which should take about 30 minutes.

Stir the ice crystals into the center of the pan and return to the freezer. Repeat every 20 minutes until all the liquid is frozen.

Put mixture into a container and place in the freezer for 1- 1½ hours to harden.

How else do you like to enjoy your watermelon?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

By Wendy

It’s August and you’re hoping to take a trip with the entire family before the kids officially start school again. So you’ve finally decided on a destination and how many days you’ll be going for. Now it’s time to pack for the actual vacation. We all try to be eco-friendly at home and at work, except when it comes to packing for vacation, we tend to forget about those eco-friendly habits we’ve developed. Whether it’s from all the excitement of going on vacation or just out of convenience, we end up over packing for the vacation; bring items that aren’t eco-friendly; or maybe not recycling when possible, we forget. So, here are 7 easy ways how we can be eco-friendly while we pack and travel for vacation:

1- Pack Light: the heavier the bags, the more fuel it takes for you to travel. It also makes it easier to pack in a way that won’t wrinkle the clothes you do choose to bring, here are 6 Tips for Wrinkle-Free Packing for those who have this issue. The lighter you bag, the better you can avoid paying additional luggage fees for heavy suitcases. It’ll also be easier for you and the family to get around. A win-win situation for everyone.

2- Avoid Bringing Toiletries: it’s great to have your own little bottles of your favorite shampoos and conditioners, but usually, hotels provide you with the toiletries you need for your stay. So skip those and bring only the ones you really need. Put them into your own plastic travel containers so they’ll be reusable and more eco-friendly

3- Pack your Digital Game Camera and Charger: digital cameras take better pictures and can hold more pictures than any disposable camera, which can only be used once and bad for the environment. And you’ll be able to look back at the great vacation you had this summer.

4- Bring a Water Bottle- bring your own water bottles if possible. You’ll avoid having to buy bottled water throughout your trip, which will save you money and stay eco-friendly.

5- Use Eco-Friendly Public Transportation: try using public transportation instead of renting a car and using gas. If you’re flying to your destination, choose a direct flight instead of a connecting flight.

6- Choose an Environmentally Conscious Hotel: many hotels now use renewable energy, use non-toxic cleaning products, recycle, and follow other eco-friendly practices. Search for one that makes sense for your trip. If you can’t find on at your vacation destination, try reusing hotel towels, using less water and energy, and only charge your electronics to full capacity and unplug to save energy during your stay.

7- Support the Locals: eating at local restaurants and doing local activities will let you get the full experience of your stay and decrease your environmental impact.

How are you eco-friendly when you’re on vacation?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.