By Flickr User DVIDSHUB

Outdoor clothing company Patagonia has teamed up with hundreds musicians to benefit environmental organizations through Patagonia Music. From Jack Johnson to the Zac Brown Band, musicians donated songs to Patagonia Music that anyone can download from the website for $0.99. All the proceeds from this venture go towards selected environmental organizations.

The fundraiser began last week with an initial 22-song offering. New songs will be added on a weekly basis and every penny spent on purchasing the tracks will go towards supporting the environmental charity chosen by the musician. For example, popular country group the Zac Brown Band chose Urban Farming as their organization. Sales from their song “Cold Hearted” will help boost efforts to build local vegetable gardens.

Other songs available on the website include Jack Johnson’s “To the Sea”, Mason Jennings’s “Don’t Let the World Go Black”, Ziggy Marley’s “A Fire Burns for Freedom” and Todd Hannigan’s “Rivers and Valleys”.

“If they can see that these musicians are concerned about the environment and it’s cool to be concerned about the environment, I think it will be a huge influence on young people,” said Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia’s founder and owner.

With a new album on the way, rockstar Sheryl Crow is the epitome of a green celebrity living the true sustainable life (for a rockstar).  Not only is the green mother of two committed to mother earth, but also is committed to rocking our socks off year after year. In honor of a music legend releasing yet another (now here 7th) album, 100 Miles From Memphis, this is a little something recognizing her efforts.

●     From flights to ground transportation, the entirety of the carbon footprint of her tour is neutralized with the support of renewable energy source.

●     All food provided is organic, locally sourced and packaged in biodegradable/compostable containers.

●     Ms. Crow is a founding member of the Green Music Group, a group committed to rallying the music community to take environmental action.

●     Water stations with reusable water bottles have replaced plastic bottles,  for crew members and band.

●     Non-toxic supplies clean Crow’s tour buses and bathrooms are furnished with post-consumer recycled bathroom tissue.

●     The carbon footprint of Crow’s touring vehicles are nearly non-existent–they all use B20 biodiesel.

●     All of Sheryl’s concerts feature a Reverb Eco-Village offering attendees the opportunity to meet with local non-profit groups and access an on-line carpooling service.

●     A comprehensive recycling/waste reduction system has been implemented backstage and on her touring vehicles.

●     Concert programs printed on, Forest Stewardship Council paper — an eco-friendly, responsible resource that uses soy inks.

Thank you to Sheryl Crow for showing all of them out there in the music land how living responsibly and kindly to the environment is done! Check out her video to learn more about her efforts.

Tis the Season to be stressed out, fa la la la la la la laa. But I am here to remind you that it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes we become so overwhelmed with big picture stresses like Christmas parties, family vacations, bills, work schedules, money, buying presents, cooking, etc (and the list goes on and on and on…). This Holiday season try to remind yourself that just because you are facing a problem doesn’t mean you have to be one for the people around you. Try to maintain a healthy physical and mental state of mind this Holiday season. Here are a few things I recommend:

Cozy up with some green tea and lose yourself in a good book

Go for a run! Release those endorphins and you will immediately feel better after you work out your daily stresses

Drink a cup of warm vanilla milk, it soothes the soul

Enjoy your surroundings and mother nature. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful world; breathe in the fresh air and be thankful

Sing. Belt your favorite song loudly, badly, off key, in the car, wherever-however

Slow down. Take a moment to look around you and find beauty in your surroundings. You will see that the little things are enough to make you smile

Bake some holiday cookies

Be kind and polite and you’ll find that you just might receive it in return

Take the dog for a walk. Nothing will entertain you more than watching your dog try to mark its territory on every single fire hydrant

Be present. Turn off your cell phone and computer for awhile

Take a power nap with your head at the other end of the bed

Indulge in your guilty pleasures

Choose happiness, gratitude and a positive behavior

Play hooky J (you deserve it every once and awhile)

Take a warm shower before bed to help calm your nerves so you are able to get a good nights’ sleep

Volunteer at a local organization, good for the heart, mind, body and soul

Practice Yoga and breathe deep

Listen to some good music… Pandora Christmas Station will surely get you back in the Christmas spirit

More importantly, remind yourself what the Holiday season is really about. Hopefully once you have given yourself time away from a stressful situation you can look back and realize it may not have been as stressful as you first thought it was. So, when you feel yourself slipping into a bad mood, try and think positive and remind yourself… it’s all good