Kudos to the Human Society International for this fashionably trendy think-ink campaign!

                          

P.S. If you find yourself in a bind with a little ball of fur and are far from adept in animal assistance, contact the Wild Baby Rescue Center in Blairstown, NJ – or check out their helpful hints for dealing with wildlife.

[$4 by animal outfitter on cafepress.com]

                          

Vegan Style – And For Under $25

Among many things, April is the month of our Earth’s Birthday, making it subject to a lot of fun and inspiring activities. Being the stunning socialite you are, I bet you’ve got your itinerary down and a sustainable soiree or two on the agenda. And you’ve pre-picked the perfect party outfit, right? Oh. Not quite? Well, I’m a firm believer in multi-tasking, so while saving the earth this spring, why not save a little dough on some celebration savvy style. So what to wear to get a little festive? When in doubt, keep it casual and animal conscious, of course.

• Spring is usually synonymous with an abundance of outdoor things, so spare yourself a sprain by making sure to sport the right stemware. Girls, try the World Peace Vegan Flip Flop from VeganChic.com ($24.99). Not only 100% vegan, but absolutely ethereal with its peace sign printed foot-bed and peaced-out pin detail.

• Guys, check out Urban Outfitter’s Faux Leather Plimsoll. This exclusive to UO item comes in bold blacks, natural navys, earth tone tans and a few other hues. Cooler than canvas and much more animal-lovin’ than leather, for $24.00 these sneaks are a definite steal. And hey, they’re local!

• Next, nothing makes a fashion or social statement like a comfortably candid statement tee. BustedTees.com’s Stop Animal Testing ($20.00) is printed on fine jersey cotton, made right here in the U.S., and is available in both male and female sizing. The quirky quip and witty word play proves that just because you care about a serious cause, it doesn’t mean you have to be so, well, serious. Some organizations can resort to scare-tactics and in-your-face offensiveness to get the word out, when really it’s just not necessary. Instead, have a little fun with your animal-friendly flamboyance.

• Ladies, if you’ve been keeping up with the media mag trends this season, it’s likely you’ve been lavished with pages upon pages of prints. But animal prints aren’t the only way to channel your wild child side this season. Support the protection of endangered species with a WWF top from Forever 21, a fave mall-day destination. My pick? A pretty zebra printed one for only $15.80. Scope out the mini panda pal in the corner as reassurance that a portion of the proceeds go directly to the World Wildlife Federation.

• Finally, there’s nothing more in fashion than a stylish smile. Keep yours caffeinated with Crazy Rumors Perk Lip Balm ($3.95) from AlternativeOutfitters.com. I know it’s taxing being a confident, conscious and cost-effective shopper, so choose a lip latte flavor like coffee bean to pump some energy back into your pout. Made from jojoba oil, shea butter, soy wax and vitamin E, they’re 100% vegan and all natural.

I’d say you’re pretty much set for any spring flings that get penciled in your planner – or maybe it’s more like added to your iphone calendar app. Either way, don’t forget April is also Go Orange for Animals Month.

                          

This weekend wrapped up National Volunteer Week (yup, you missed it), so I figured it was about time to get my good on – in an even bigger way. It began when one of the most vital volunteers at the shelter (a virtual B2B associate I had never actually met in person until this past Saturday) dropped me a line, asking me to update one of the links on my site. You see, BAS is no longer connected with FoBAS (Friends of the Bloomfield Animal Shelter), so I had to tackle my tech girl for a quick site link switcheroo. After sharing  a few emails and enthusiasm for animal… welfare, rights, activism, everything with committee chair Cristin, I received the honor of an invitation to join as an active member of the adoption comittee.

I bet you’re now dying to hear more about my role on the board. Well, me too! I see strong social media efforts and blog broadcasting in my future. But the rest is still TBA. Perhaps, I can put to use my previous event planning expertise. I’ll letcha know.

                          

For the third year in a row, Born Free USA offered indie fashion designers the chance to win big – for themselves, animals, and the environment – by showing off their fur-free creations. Among the celeb judges are outspoken animal supporter/actress Kristin Bauer, editor of E The Environmental Magazine Brita Belli, international designer Elizabeth Emanuel, and Summer Rayne Oakes: eco-model, activist and green living expert. Stayed tuned for the 2011 winners announcement. And in the meantime, check out a few pics from past years’ animal-lovin’ lookbook.