Earth Day Giveaway at Calypso Studios

One of our first going green efforts as a family has been to switch to using reusable bags when we shop. According to The Global Warming Survival Guide on Time.com, those plastic bags that you use to temporarily hold your purchases are commonly made of polyethylene and can take up to 1,000 years to break down in a landfill. Plus, they emit harmful greenhouse glasses.

Now when we shop, we BYOB (bring your own bag). My problem though is that I keep forgetting to pack the canvas bag that I have. I needed a better solution--something more "packable" so that I can just keep it stowed away in my purse or diaper bag. In my search for a new reusable bag, I found the store Calypso Studios.

Calypso Studios carry a line of reusable bags called S.H.O.P. Totes. The totes come in a variety of styles including "Safari," "Retro Fruit," and my favorite, "Acts of Kindness." Three totes come in each set and they retail for $20. I have used my S.H.O.P. tote everywhere from grocery shopping to schleping my stuff to the beach. It folds up tiny and is super light weight. I'm planning on taking my S.H.O.P. totes with me in my suitcase when I travel so that I can use it as a lighter diaper bag and also as an extra carry-on if needed (don't you hate when you get to many souvenirs and then have to buy a new bag just to take it home?)

While shopping around, I also fell in love with their line of jewelry. Calypso Studios work with American artists to design jewelry that is made from elements from the earth including clay, glass, and shells. Check out this beautiful Silver Arabian Nights necklace that I fell in love with--it is hand-strung with hammered metallic discs and seed beads.

I love highlighting the charitable efforts of businesses. Calypso Studio's mission is to use resources that help with ecological reconstruction. To support this, Calypso Studios donates a percentage of their sales to environmental organizations to keep landfills and waterways free of plastic bags.

Calypso Studios is holding a gigantic Earth Day Giveaway on their site this month. They are giving away $10,000 worth of S.H.O.P. totes! The giveaway ends on April 22nd (Earth Day!) at 12 p.m. so hurry on over and sign up for your chance to win your own tote!