The weather might be getting progressively colder as we fastly approach January but that shouldn't prevent you from applying use of your green thumb.

The custom imprinted Mini Rice Hull Planter is a beautiful item that, unlike many other promotional products, is composed of ingredients and materials only found in nature. The planter is made of renewable grain husks which may vary the color of the item but is guaranteed to look professional and natural. This item will last 5 years if used regularly, is resistant to freezing and thawing and will nurture the tender roots of any plant. Insert your favorite seeds and you have an item that is sure to please those with a talent of growing plants and flowers. 

It's an unfortunate reality that we don't hear much positive news about the environment these days.  So when I came across an uplifting article about the return of a special species to the San Francisco Bay, I knew I had to share it.  After missing for 60 years, harbor porpoises are beginning to reappear in large numbers.

According to NPR, what drove the porpoises away in the first place was probably the quality of the water.  Bill Keener from Golden Gate Cetacean Research told NPR that at one point, "raw sewage used to flow right into the bay.

Since the passing of the Clean Water Act in 1972, however, the water's quality has improved.  Researcher Jonathan Stern with San Francisco State University told NPR that it's taken some time for the porpoises to rediscover the bay.  "Over 60 years, we're talking about a number of generations of porpoises," Stern says. "So it's quite likely that San Francisco Bay as a habitat was out of the institutional memory."

That's clearly all changed, though, as 250 individual porpoises have been identified in the area.  The positive change proves that humans can work to reverse damage done to the Earth and its ecosystems.  As Stern told NPR, "It's one of those very few good-news environmental stories. And it's in our backyard. It gives one hope."

New Year's Eve is quickly approaching, with only 3 days until we have to remember to write "2012" instead of "2011".

If you find yourself in any store before NYE, you'll see a ton of 2012 memorabilia. Whether it is promotional noise makers, promotional clocks or even promotional t-shirts, 2012 memorabilia will be in high quantity.

You'll find no item in higher quantity than custom imprinted caps. Hats are very popular and can be seen everywhere you go on New Year's Eve.

For an eco-friendly alternative to the store-bought hat, consider the custom imprinted Port Authority Bamboo Sandwich Bill Cap. This unstructured hat has a low profile and has 6 panels that look very good together. The hat also has a Velcro-closure and a sweatband to prevent sweat from the brow. The hat is a combination of bamboo and cotton. With an imprint, this item will look phenomenal. 

 

Back in August, I shared an article about how one state in Nigeria is using excess plastic to build homes and other structures.  I certainly applaud Kaduna State for making use out of the excess trash and pollution in an attempt to prevent the Pacific "garbage patch" from growing any bigger.  Now, one company is actually gathering plastic directly from the North Pacific Gyre to recycle and turn into new products.

According to Sunrise Packaging, Method, a company which produces natural products and cleaning supplies, "has unveiled its latest innovation in sustainable packaging- a bottle that is made out of plastic collected from the North Pacific Gyre, also referred to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch."  Twenty-five percent of the plastic used for the new bottle is taken from the Gyre in an attempt to shrink the massive mountain of plastic. 

However, the real goal here is to raise awareness.  Sunrise Packaging reports that "the real solution to plastic pollution lies in reusing and recycling the plastic that’s already on the planet."  Indeed, remanufacturing unwanted contaminants will not only remove the garbage from our oceans, but will also reduce the need for the creation of new plastic.

This is a brilliant idea that definitely has our support!  Great job, Method.

It might be too late to purchase gifts from Motivators.com in time for Christmas (still plenty of products that come in before the last day of Hannukah) but the Classic Yo-Yo - Recycled is still one of the bigger holidays to hand out gifts. Maybe it's the old adage, "Better late than never." or the reunion of families and friends on New Year's Eve.

The custom imprinted Classic Yo-Yo - Recycled is a great item that has transcended generation after generation. The fun spool/string item is simple to use by children and adults alike and requires no batteries ever. Best of all, it's rather inexpensive. This particular item is made from 100% recycled polystyrene, is made in the USA and Union Made! Perform some crazy tricks everyone will take delight in. 

If you're still holding off on Christmas cards, consider this: what do you do with the cards you receive after December 25? 

Every year, 2.65 billion cards are sold in the United States alone - enough to fill a football field 10 stories high. According to the RecycleWorks program of San Mateo County in California, if each person chose to send out one less card, we would save 50,000 cubic yards of paper. Most of these cards find their way into dumps. 

But what if you could send all the cards that you make (no limit but your own) and put them underground? You can do just that and help the environment too.

Write out your cards using the custom imprinted 5 Seed Cards in Window Box. The box you'll receive is a beautiful item with five cards and envelopes for sending out. Send them to your loved ones and encourage them to bury it later. With the right care, the card will bloom beautifully and become a plant!

A few nights ago, I found myself seeing the first carolers of the Holiday season. I tend to see carolers walking the streets in late November or early December, making this year the latest I had seen them out on the street.

What surprised me wasn't the lack of singers or how late in the season it was until I finally saw carolers but rather what they had with them.

One caroler had a custom imprinted noise maker. He simply paraded the street, gathering attention by using a megaphone. The item worked, certainly grabbing the attention of those around - including myself.

If you find yourself caroling this season, consider bringing with you the custom imprinted Megaphone - Recycled. The item is printed with a safe and durable UV ink, is molded from polypropylene - recycled code 5 and is even made in the United States of America.

If you live near the Motivators NY office and sign onto weather.com, you'll probably see this.

But if you live almost anywhere West of the Appalachian Mountains, you'll probably see weather very similar to this:

Much of the United States, especially the Southwest, is seeing a terrible snowstorm. Northeasterners are used to these storms that commonly knock down trees and powerlines but these regions tend to not see too much of the white stuff - especially in quantities like this. Some areas of Kansas are even seeing drifts of 4-6 feet and winds of up to 50 mph. 

This blizzard couldn't come at a worse time. With today marking the first day of Channukah and Saturday being Christmas Eve, there's a lot of difficulty with traveling both within and outside the state. The government is recommending that people not travel during the storm. Ten lives have already been claimed due to the storm's intensity.

For those who happen to find themselves stuck in the snow and NEED to travel, consider using the custom imprinted Corn Plastic Ice Scraper. The item, in addition to being made with a biodegradable corn plastic, is available in a wide variety of colors that is sure to stand out in the snow. Your logo and a message can fit perfectly on this ice-scraper. 

Recently, I shared some alarming statistics proving that some organic foods may not be as safe as we all thought.  According to CBC News in Canada, "23.6 percent of the 178 organic apples tested in 2009 and 2010 contained pesticide residue."  But you'll be happy to know that some foods don't have to be purchased organic at all.  Let's take a look at some of those fruits and veggies:

1.  Onions

Because onions have to be peeled before use, even if pesticides are used, it shouldn't affect the vegetable.  It's listed as one of the "Clean 15" foods that contain the least pesticide residue.

2.  Pineapples

Pineapples have a thick outer shell that helps keep pesticides out of the fruit.  Therefore, if you can't find organic pineapples, you shouldn't worry!

3.  Avocados

An avocado is another vegetable that features a thick green skin. Because its contents are not directly touched by pesticides or chemicals, buying non-organic is just fine.

Other fruits and vegetables that made the list include mushrooms, grapefruit, and sweet potatoes.  So if buying organic is a challenge due to budget or availability, don't fret.  You can purchase these conventionally-grown products and still sleep well at night.  Happy shopping!

The Holidays are all about parties. Bringing together the friends and family you've grown closest with is not only one of the biggest pleasures of the year but can also be one of the most stressing. You're responsible for getting together family members from different walks of life that may/may not get along. There are also friends who might be meeting each other for the first time ever. What's more, the relationship between your family and friends is a slippery one - if things go well, all is well. But if the tension is there, it's there for life. 

Although you're planning the food, the settings and the bar, you might have to plan the ice-breakers. Consider this:

The custom imprinted Pocket Neck Wallet is a great item that proudly displays an ID as well as three pockets to store papers, cards or even money. Consider imprinting a name for the party or the holiday and year. From there, put an ID card for each person attending and let the mingling begin! People will see each others' name in the neck wallet made of 50% recycled materials. You'll see a very successful party. Best of all, these items will make great keepsakes for years to come.