Hi All!

We know there are some out there who been green some or all of their lives, and we congratulate you! We also know that there are some out there who are starting out fresh. For those of you out there who are new to the eco-friendly scene and would like to give their life a sustainability makeover, this is the blog for you! It’s time to take your first step into the green world — by calculating your Carbon Footprint.

Why Calculate your Carbon Footprint?

When you were a kid in school you might have dreaded your report card. Years late you still might get goosebumps at the thougt of a review at work. Have no Fear! Your Carbon Footprint calculator isn’t a stressful activity. I mean, hey you know you might not be the most eco-savvy person in the world but this assessment will allow you a summary or benchmark of where you’re at as well as give you an idea of your first steps of improvement.

Think of this little experience as your first wiegh in. Something that might make you a little nervous for starters but in a couple of months is the perfect benchmark to see how far you’ve come. And we promise, when you calculate how far you’ve come in a few months we won’t tell ANYONE about that pint of Ben & Jerry’s icecream you rewarded yourself with.

There are a dozen carbon footprint calculators out there. So pick one and stick to it. Each are slightly different so make sure you use the same one to measure yourself over time.

Carbon Calculators

• Native Energy Wedding calculator

•  

  The Home Energy Saver

• Ecological Footprint Calculators

•  

  Earthfuture - Sustainable Energy

So take a look and measure yourself today and welcome to your first day of your new eco-friendly life!

And As Always…

Happy Planning!

Amalia & Tiffany

In our last blog we introduced SmartBride Boutique, now we have a special announcement about a great Charity Event Talen Events went to and ways you can help the “Women Moving Women” Campaign.

On Thursday March 26, 2009 Amalia had the opportunity to attend the 1st SmartBride Spring Charity Event in support of the Canadian Women’s Foundation and its Women Moving Women Campaign.

Held at the Steam Whistle Brewery, we were entertained by trapeze swings, music and a tour of the brewery. Along with a fun photobooth with props, the food was great.

In order to help raise the money for this campaign there was a Silent Auction held with prizes ranging from a Image Consulting session from Your Shop Girl  to Toronto Raptors Tickets.

Women Moving Women campaign is an intiative to help women move out of poverty and into a better life, the event raised $3800 and helped move 1.5 women out of poverty. SmartBride Boutique would like to raise the other $1200 to move 2 more women out of poverty so they have resolved to donate $1 from every bridal or bridesmaid gown that is posted to the site throughout the month of April.

So we are encourage all of you to pass the word along about this campaign, if you or somebody you know has a bridal or bridesmaid gown in your closet to please list your gown on www.smartbrideboutique.com and help us move women in Canada out of poverty.

It’s Spring Cleaning Time! So If you live in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Halifax, Victoria and Winnipeg, clean out that post-wedding closet and post your gowns today!

As Always… Happy Planning!

Tiffany & Amalia

Irvine Welsh’s “ecstasy” movie launch party sponsored by Talen Events will be happening during the Toronto International Film Festival this year.

d’s 7th annual film fest party
“ecstasy” film environmental gala
Hosted by Danielle Iverson & Nico Miami
Monday, September, 8th 2008
8:30PM - 4:00AM
Green Carpet Starts @ 8:30PM
Empire, 50 Cumberland Street, Yorkville
RSVP@thatPRthing.com by Sept 5th

The film “ecstasy,” is a dark romantic comedy based on the #1 best-selling controversial book, “ecstasy,” by Irvine Welsh, writer of “Trainspotting.” The novel was translated into 20 languages and was a #1 bestseller in over 20 countries. Mr. Welsh’s first book, “Trainspotting,” published in 1993, (and voted by Waterstone, Europe’s largest bookstore chain, as one of the Ten Best Books of the Century), sold over 1 million copies in the UK alone and has its own Cinematic Cinderella success story. The film is to shoot in Scotland and Northern Ontario and will be directed by Rob Heydon, award-winning director of music videos and commercials. The production team includes; Rob Heydon of Ecstasy Film Inc. of Toronto, Canada and Ashley Pover of Proteus Entertainment of London, England. Joni Cuquet will be Executive Producing.Erica Durance is scheduled to star in “ecstasy,” whose rise to fame came in the role of Superman’s future love, Lois Lane, in the series “Smallville” on the WB Network. “I am thrilled to go to Scotland to star in this film. The whole idea of exploring relationships about people on ecstasy in a completely different location and culture is exciting,” Erica exclaims! “Trainspotting was one of my favourite films.”Durance will be starring with Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings, Master and Commander), Richard E. Grant (Dracula, Gosford Park, How to Get Ahead in Advertising, and Withnail & I) and Adam Sinclair (The Summit).

Performances include Bedouin Soundclash. With sold out shows across Canada, and performances all over the world, including the renowned Leeds and Reading Festivals, London’s V-Fest, and PuklePop; “Bedouin Soundclash” brings their soulful, energetic live show to Toronto once again.

For more information:
http://www.dianekolar.com/ecstasy/eviteflash.html

In keeping with our water theme, (see our recent blue star post), we thought that we would mention another wonderful foundation who has dedicated their time to conserve underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Some of you divers out there might be familiar with Project AWARE, the dive industry’s leading nonprofit environmental organization that has worked in 175 countries around the world to protect their aquatic resources.

What do they do?

In 1989, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) developed the AWARE philosophy - Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education - to stress divers’ roles in conserving these environments and create a group of effective environmental advocates. “Shortly after creation, Project AWARE began to develop environmental specialty courses for divers and nondivers, provide educational information to divers and dive professionals, collaborate with other environmental organizations and organize a worldwide underwater cleanup. What began as an environmental ethic quickly formed into the Project AWARE Foundation Project AWARE has created an international presence, forming organizations in the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland and Japan. The combined efforts answer the urgent call for underwater conservation in 175 countries of the world.

Project AWARE works with divers and water enthusiasts alike to combat challenges facing underwater environments. they involve volunteers in hands-on environmental activities like International Cleanup Day & The International Whale Shark Project. They also fund grass-roots environmental projects that address key foundation focus areas, community activism and critical research with direct contributions made by people like you. Learn more about project AWARE please visit their site http://www.projectaware.org/ and offer your support. You can also watch these celebrity videos to find out more about the organization:

What can you do?

• Ed Harris
• Salma Hayek

Cheers,

Amalia & Tiffany

Do you have a charity that you support? Tell us about it or email us at: info@talenevents.ca with the subject line: CHARITY.

Hey folks! Summer is in full swing, and if you’re like us your spending every moment possible outdoors! Most of that time is spent in our local beaches which is why the Blue Flag Program holds a special place in our hearts.

Blue Flag

To be labeled as a “Blue Flag” beach is quite a respectful eco-label. Blue Flags are awarded to beaches and marinas that meet strict criteria that cover everything from water quality to environmental programs. The Blue Flag program began in France in 1985 and has since grown to include over 2,600 beaches in 36 countries. It is run by Canada’s Environmental Defense and does their best to protect the environment and human health ensuring clean air, thriving ecosystems nationwide and doing everything they can to reduce Canada’s contribution to climate change.Where are they located?

If you’re currently in Ontario make sure to support your local Blue Flag beach, keep it clean, and enjoy everything it has to offer:

Lake Huron & Georgian Bay

• Little River Beach Park
• Northwinds Beach Park
• Rotary Cove Beach
• Sauble Beach
• Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
• Station Beach

Lake Ontario

• Centre Island Beach
• Cherry/Clarke Beach
• Gibralter Point Beach
• Hanlan’s Point Beach
• Ward’s Island Beach
• Woodbine Beaches

What can you do to help? Support our Blue Flag Beaches!

Make a contribution to Environmental Defence, the operator of the Blue Flag program in Canada. Your gift of $40, $75, $100 or more supports the means to continue the development of the Blue Flag program in Canada, and improve the quality of our coastal ecosystems.

For more information:
http://www.blueflag.ca

Have a Wonderful Summer!

Tiffany & Amalia

Are you having the wedding registry woes? Wish that you can use your wedding to give back in some way?

Changing the Present is a perfect opportunity to do just that. It’s an organization with over 1,000 charitable gift opportunities from many of the world’s leading non-profits.

Couples can use their wedding registry to:
- Protect an an acre of the wilderness
- Provide a child with her 1st book
- or even sponsor an infant chimpanzee

If you’re feeling weird about giving away wedding favors, Charitable Wedding favors are also an option. You can help to supply PB & J sandwiches at a drop in center or healthy treats for rescued animals as well. Whatever you decide, Changing the Present will provide printed favors certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for your guests.

Please check out this amazing website and tell us what you think!
www.changingthepresent.org

Until then… Happy Planning!

Amalia & Tiffany

Talen Events is hitting our first trade show this March! The Eco Wedding & Lifestyle Show is a unique tradeshow that will showcase the eco-chic bridal and lifestyle vendors who have made the same environmental choices you have in their product or service.

Have you been having trouble trying to find eco-savy companies in the Toronto area? This is the perfect one-stop special event to find the services and products that cater to your eco-conscious lifestyle. We’re here to help you and your family make the informed and sustainable descisions in your every day life!

For more information please check out: http://ecoweddingshow.com/

We’d love for you to attend, and look forward to meeting you!

The World Wildlife Federation has created an amazing program called The Good Life to track your eco-friendly efforts and the difference your making in your community!

Beyond that, The Good Life will give you some great “green” tips as well as an outlet to interact with other Canadians trying to live more sustainable lives.

“The Good Life” is a community of Canadians who would like to make simple but significant changes in their lifestyles that help fight climate change and reduce their footprint on the planet.

How to get on the Good Life?
1. Go to http://www.thegoodlife.wwf.ca and sign up
2. Check out all the actions that you have taken or plan to take in the near future!
3. Watch as your actions are tracked, and recieve an estimation of the amount of CO2 you have reduced.
4. Pat Yourself on the back as your total is added to the provincial and country wide total to track what we are doing as a nation to reduced greenhouse emissions.

We have taken up the challenge and we are now inviting you to join us in this cause. Don’t forget to invite your friends your co-workers to join. Remember, its the simple steps that will make a difference.. like telling your friends and coworkers what you’ve done to reduce CO2 in your life.

Cheers!

Tiffany & Amalia

In an article yesterday for MNBC, Chip Giller, president of Grist.org, an environmental magazine offers his viewers a seven day plan to reduce your carbon footprint by 10%:

Day 1: Lowering your heat

Turning down the thermostat by just 2 degrees can cut your energy bill by 10 percent. If it will make it easier, get an automatic thermostat adn set it to turn down while you’re away from home or sleeping.

Day 2: Turn your electronics off

Giller writes that, “Americans waste $1 Billion a year powering items like tvs, and dvd players while they’re turned off.” If it makes it easier for you, purchase a power strip that you can turn off an on when you want to use an item.

Day 3: Washing your clothes in cold water

There are loads of ways to save energy and money while doing your laundry. One simple way is to wash your laundry in cold water, and make sure the lint screen is clean before every load when your drying.

Day 4: Cutting down on Meat

We’re not asking you to be a vegetarian, God knows I couldn’t, but just skipping meat one day a week reduces as much as emissions as taking 8 MILLION cars off the roads. Since the production of meat takes up so much energy and resources, this is an easy thing to do that will make such a difference!

Day 5: Reroute your Transportation

We know you love your cars, we do too! But leaving your car at home just one day a week could save on gas and emissions! Take a day off and try carpooling, walking, subways or buses to get where you need to go. It will give you much needed fresh air, and you’ll feel great knowing your doing your part.

For more information about how you can help the planet using Chip’s 7 day plan head over to MNBC. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21601409/

Every little bit helps!

Cheers,

Tiffany