One Earth, One Chance

Maryland Is an Official Earth Hour State

2010-03-29T00:27:00.006-04:00

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley during the weekend joined hundreds of millions of people, countries, corporations, and governments in participation for Earth Hour 2010. The Governor declared Maryland as an official Earth Hour state and he also turned off the lights at his home.

This year Earth Hour took place on Saturday, 27 March at 8:30 pm. The movement began three years ago as a way to show support for linking energy usage to climate change. Earth Hour planned to send a message on behalf of the United States: "We care about this country and want to turn off the lights on dirty air, dangerous dependence on foreign oil and costly climate change impacts; and make a switch to a cleaner, safer and more secure world."

An estimated one billion people celebrated the event by hosting Earth Hour gatherings where they captured photos, videos, and tweeted and blogged about it. Though the event occurs once per year, you are encouraged to get involved and make a difference throughout the year.

For more information on how you can get involved, visit Earth Hour and the World Wildlife Fund at http://www.myearthhour.org/ and http://www.worldwildlife.org/.

Congratulations Mackenzie!/The Nature of Competitions

2009-12-04T20:31:00.005-05:00

Congratulations Mackenzie

Mackenzie Green, a student at the University of Miami, won the Miss District of Columbia USA pageant held in Washington, DC on November 29, 2009.

Green, along with 25 other contestants, strutted their stuff for a panel of judges competing in evening gown, and swimwear. She took special awards in both categories as well.

The pageant conducted interviews on the previous day.

I would like to acknowledge the outstanding Miss District of Columbia Teen USA 2010, Jennifer "JLo" Lopez. Lopez also swept both evening and swimwear categories.

Congratulations to both of you young ladies. Please remember to represent our Nation's Capital with grace and integrity at nationals.

XO
Tia

The Nature of Competitions

I feel compelled to address this topic based on what was and is being said about our winner and the judges' selection for this year.

First, I'll give the disclaimer that I have been a judge of a pageant before, so I know how difficult it is when the results are announced and the sadness of non-winners fills the room. As is known and often said, "There can only be one winner."

This is dedicated to those young ladies who felt cheated, who wondered if they were not beautiful enough, if they should have worn their hair a different way, done their makeup differently, or could have worked out a little more. I bet the winners have the same thoughts as well.

On my profile sheet for the pageant, I answered the following about winning the title:

Why should the judges choose you as the winner?

The judges should choose me as the titleholder because Miss District of Columbia USA is more than a title to me. It is the opportunity to represent the District of Columbia while continuing to enrich the lives of others. Besides, every one of the girls in this competition is a winner.

Ladies, I meant this from the bottom of my heart. It may not have been the best answer, but it was honest. Maybe now you all know why I didn't win... lol... Three minutes is hardly enough time to show your true colors. Don't I know.

Granted, we were perplexed by some of the choices that were or were not made that night, but ultimately, that title now belongs to Mackenzie. As queens, we all know how hard it is when you get bashed on blogs and such and how it can take a toll on one's self-esteem, so we need to rally around our queen in support.

At the end of the day and in any competition, it comes down to what the judges score. You may have been a favorite on someone's ballot. So all of your hard work and beauty did not go unnoticed. Believe me, I know from having judged a pageant before.

We all still love one another because we liked one anther before the pageant, right? Well, newsflash: we are all the same women, even Mackenzie.

My point is that we are all winners, with or without that crown and sash. I know personally that I am a leader, mentor, volunteer, student, etc. even without the title and you are still the same leader that you were before the pageant.

So my beautiful surgeon (cardiovascular perfusionist), cheerleader ambassador, attorney at law, and reporter, just to name a few; you all know who you are. Stay positive and stay beautiful!

XO
Tia

Abandoned...

2009-11-19T20:11:00.006-05:00

So, it seems that I have abandoned my blog. Fear not, environmentalists; I have not ended my love and passion for the environment. I've just been wrapped up with school.

In other news, I have began writing for my school's newspaper and editing for the magazine! I'm very excited about both ventures as they will help with my journalism experience, pre-journalism curricula.

I have been volunteering for those less fortunate and not so much for environmental causes right now.

My current volunteer schedule includes:

21 November: I will be helping Victory Christian Ministries International distribute food at a homeless shelter.

26 November (Thanksgiving): I will be helping with the Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger, in the a.m.

I will update you soon!

XO
Tia

Flashback!

2009-10-12T01:34:00.004-04:00

This interview I did during an Earth Day clean up was just sent to me. I love it! The icing on the cake is my coined quote at the end of it!

http://www.ecopop.tv/Ecopop/Entries/2009/10/2_Episode_2__Down_n_Dirty.html

XO
Tia

I Made the Deadline!

2009-10-12T01:11:00.002-04:00

Please go check out project green search and vote for your favorite "it girl." (I'm hoping that will be me!)

Enjoy!

http://projectgreensearch.com/tia-holmes/1579

Project Green Search!

2009-10-11T04:44:00.003-04:00

So, I entered an environmental model search; however, I'm not sure if I made the deadline. We shall see. Please go to the Website to check out the entries; and if you come across my photo, I pray that you vote for me.

May the "it girl" win!

www.projectgreensearch.com

XO
Tia

"Moments" Movie Screening and Panel Discussion

2009-10-02T01:42:00.008-04:00

Today I went to Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC to speak to some of the students. I was excited to see the turnout of students who came to listen to me and the rest of the panel. The student were from the literary, drama and production departments mostly. I told them some of my stories from the dark and pleasant sides of the entertainment world. Since I love children and providing guidance, this was a golden opportunity for me!

Thinking of what to say as a student reads my introduction.

The screening was the same evening in the theater. This was my first time seeing myself on a big screen. How exciting. The best part of all was receiving compliments once it was over. I was blessed to work with such a good director, producers and cast mates. I only hope that I will have more opportunities like this in the future!

Special thanks to Checkmate Studios and IME Films for helping me give birth to a new career!

XO
Tia

Nature Watching

2009-09-22T17:07:00.014-04:00

So, I know I've been missing from my blog for a while:-( Please charge that to my life being busy and not me giving up on my blog. I've been busy with school and work as of late. I did not however stop loving our fellow earthlings, so I want to share some random photos that I capture occasionally. These photos also display some of the reasons why we should be conscious of our actions in terms of how they affect our fellow earthlings. I love to capture birds and deer.

Enjoy!

Birds enjoying some leftovers at Chipotle.
*Please always watch what you leave behind.

Deer being forced into the streets in my neighborhood due to overdeveloped land.
*Please don't use poisonous chemicals to keep them away from your yards.

Birds bathing in our contaminated runoff (water contaminated with chemicals).
*Please be mindful of the types of products you use when washing your vehicles.

XO
Tia

Camping for the First Time!

2009-08-03T17:17:00.007-04:00

So I was surprised with a camping trip this weekend that I wasn't completely prepared for. Although I have never been camping, this was a pleasant surprise. It was actually very tranquil to wake up to birds chirping right above you with the sun beaming into the tent. The smell of the fresh air was the icing on the cake.

Now although I was not out in the wilderness but on a private property that was very beautiful, I still was able to enjoy the nature that was around me. We were on the water where there were fresh crabs and such.

I will get back to you on how I feel about camping once I experience the real wilderness... lol

XO
Tia

Going Wild for Mother Earth!

2009-07-29T13:39:00.009-04:00

So, the pageant experience wasn't all bad because it allowed me a trip to the West coast and even better, a road trip from Arizona to Nevada and back with my mom, aunt and sister. I saw so many beautiful sights and animals during our trips, but I just wanted to highlight one of the most daring things that I, and probably my aunt too, has ever done.

On the way back from Nevada, we expected to see wild animals along the way, but we didn't expect to get close to them. We road past some wild horses in the desert and as you can see from the photos, there's not much to separate you from the wild there. These horses touched our hearts because they were trying to reach the puddle of water on the other side of the fence but they couldn't get to it. We were so sad to see them dehydrated, so we thought it would be a bright idea to feed them the water that we had for our road trip.

This shows that my platform still stands and that our actions are indirectly affecting our wildlife and marine life.

In Conclusion...

2009-07-25T17:31:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Amy Diaz, our Miss Earth United States 2009!

Amy performed very well at all points of the competition and I'm sure she will be a great representative for the United States at Miss Earth.

Now for my performance review...

Shame on me for thinking that my knowledge, passion and beauty would qualify me for the title of Miss Earth United States; I was sadly mistaken. To those of you who follow this blog, you all know that I like the "earthly" part of being Miss Earth Maryland far more than wearing the crown and sash.

During pageant weekend, I lost myself because I was not prepared for what I was about to endure. If you have never done a pageant before where you had to spend days and long hours with other "pageant girls," let me give you a brief description. I went there energized and ready to meet everyone, do photoshoots and activities but by the day of the pageant, I was crying on my best friend's shoulder. I came to the conclusion that I am not cut out for pageants, personality wise. I noticed that I was far more selfless, confident and less superficial than most of the women who surrounded me. I felt like I was in a barrel full of cats and I just kept getting clawed, pulled down and stepped over.

Although I was confident and knowledgeable about environmental issues and prepared for the stage, none of that mattered once my personality faltered. The worst part was my undying need to always be honest and follow rules--one of the reasons I don't have photos; none of that mattered either. (Next time, I'll scribble "Mickey Mouse" on the signature line, get it notarized and see if it goes unnoticed.) I felt like an empty shell fighting to bring myself back. After crying and venting to my best friend, I felt re-energized and ready for the stage. I felt that I had performed so badly that I had to leave it all on the stage that night and I am proud that I did!

I learned a valuable lesson from that experience and from watching some of the more seasoned girls of note, Amy Diaz, Anastagia Pierre and Dani Reeves (all who won titles that night and in the USA system). I must develop tough skin in order to be successful at the pageant "game."

After sour-graping, I realized that it was destined for Amy Diaz to become Miss Earth United States and that something for me is in waiting. I would like my readers to know that I always strive to set examples in everything that I do so that others may learn from my mistakes and successes; so I live each day with no regrets, only lessons learned. I will continue to shoot for the moon and reach more stars.

Pageant photos coming soon (hopefully)...

Thank you Earth Pageant Productions for an eye-opening pageant experience.

Pageant Results...
2009 Miss Earth United States titleholders:

Amy Diaz -Rhode Island - Miss Earth United States
Danielle Bounds - Mid-America - United States Miss Air
Anatasgia Pierre - Florida Sunshine - United States Miss Water
Dani Reeves - Central U.S. - United States Miss Fire

Today Is the Big Day!

2009-07-22T10:00:00.001-04:00

Tonight, I will compete to be Miss Earth United States. Everything that I have done up to this point and on will determine if the judges think that I will be the best representative for the title. My passion and confidence says that I am the winner!

The road to this pageant and all of the preparation that I have done have made me a better me and I hope that the judges will see that. I do not regret anything that I have done in regard to this pageant.

I will update you with results later.

Stay tuned...

Tia

Today Begins Pageant Weekend...

2009-07-19T09:00:00.001-04:00

I am on the road with my family today heading from Arizona to the pageant in Nevada. For some reason, I love this road trip. I'm no stranger to the journey across these state lines and it never gets old!

Today we're in for registration, photoshoots and rehearsals. Fun, right! The best part is that I will finally meet the best pageant director ever! The man behind the United States Earth Pageant.

I will update with photos later...

Wish me truth (not luck) :) I believe in this cause with my whole heart so I don't need luck, I need the wisdom and confidence to let the judges see the real me.

XO
Tia

My Future Beauty Queen!

2009-07-17T17:44:00.005-04:00

This is my niece wearing my crown and heels. She's a a-diva!

XO
Tia

My Regards to Miss and Teen District of Columbia International

2009-07-16T00:00:00.008-04:00

Dear Queens,

It is with great regret that I inform you that I will not be able to attend your sendoff party, because I am currently en route to compete in a nationally competition myself. Though I know that you will make me and every judge who helped select you proud at nationals, I wish I could be there to support you. I still remember that day judging and I recount it in my head frequently as I prepare for my national pageant. Judging experience is invaluable and I appreciated and took in every moment of it. I regarded myself the "nice judge" that day because I believed I was asking easy questions to make you all feel comfortable and to treat you all as I would like to be treated as a contestant. The things that I learned from watching each judge and contestant that day will help me be the best that I can be at my national pageant.

Enough about me and my experiences...

Juliana: You are a phenomenal young women; I only wish that I was as focused on a goal as you are on your platform. If you show that same confidence to those judges at nationals, I'm sure you will blow them away as well. Remember to always let your inner beauty shine on-stage and in interview! At the risk of sounding strange: I will never forget those piercing blue eyes.

Amanda: Your inner beauty shined, shined, shined brighter than any light in that interview room. Not only was I impressed when I looked at your photos and platform statement, but meeting you was the icing on the cake! You exemplified the meaning of true beauty and showed me what every beauty pageant should be based on. I learned so much from watching you that day. Please show them the same Amanda at nationals.

I'm looking forward to having tea and toasting to your (our) national titles!

Cheers,

Tia

Five Days Before I Meet My Pageant Sisters...

2009-07-14T13:44:00.004-04:00

I am looking forward to the pageant and festivities! I will update you on the happenings when I get there!

XO
Tia

Noteworthy: RIP MJ!

2009-06-26T13:33:00.001-04:00

See, even the late great Michael Jackson cared about Mother Earth.

What a great man he was. Will this inspire you to change your habits?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOnL5c8LMqM

Michael Jackson's Earth Song

Enjoy!
Tia

Ecosystem Farm Volunteering

2009-06-24T17:17:00.002-04:00

I had the opportunity to volunteer for the Accokeek Foundation's Ecosystem Farm. My experience was personalized because I was the only volunteer there, so I embarked on four hours of work with some of the employees. The project in mind for the day was wheat harvesting. I had never harvested wheat or even seen wheat in it's natural form ever! This experience was definitely a memorable one as I learned new things and saw some of the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer. (Anyone ever wonder why Nature is a woman? I guess I'll ask Captain Planet... lol)

On the way to the farm, I road down a long "back road" that featured farms and other ecological centers. I came upon a wetland, which I will work on better identifying. I couldn't believe it since the only wetlands I get to see are polluted and sometimes dried up. If only the world could enjoy all the benefits that the people who live and farm on this "back road" get to experience daily.

Seeing all of the beauty of this secluded area made me think: "When did convenience begin to trump Nature's needs?" Everyone who knows me knows that I love the animals, so I often think of the impact our actions are having on our fellow earthlings. How often do you consider sacrificing something for an animal. Here's a clue: If you no longer use plastic grocery bags and have converted to a canvas market bag, you've just contributed in some way to an animal's preservation. Go you! "Plastic is bad, umkay???!!!"

If you would like to explore or volunteer at the ecosystem farm, visit http://www.accokeek.org/

Tia

Sponsors Update!

2009-06-11T08:44:00.008-04:00

I'm so excited that I have people who believe in my success and my cause. I am taking this time out to give thanks to all of my sponsors with a brief spotlight on my newest.

Today I rejoined a boot camp designed by MD-native, Corey Belin. Corey began Belin Sport and Fitness back in 2007 and the company has quickly grown through quality training. He is a personal trainer but his most popular service is the Belin Sport and Fitness Boot Camp that has gained much recognition in such publications as Washington City Paper's 2009 "Best of DC" list. I began working out with the boot camp back in 2008 and had stopped due to my schedule irregularities. BS&F has since added mutiple times and locations to fit any schedule, in addition to expanding in New York City and supporting co-ed camps. I would recommend this camp to anyone who would like to work out in a friendly environment and gain amazing results all while having fun. BS&F is now on board to help me prepare for the national pageant. I will update you with results periodically.

My current company sponsors:

Events Forever
BP1 Management
InGenius Press (www.ingeniuspress.com)
Belin Sport and Fitness (www.bsandf.net)

I did not forget my individual sponsors. *wink*

I am looking forward to assisting more positive companies who would like to support my cause.

Thanks again for all of your support. I am even grateful for those of you who have helped me with preparing for the pageant! Where would I be without any of you?

With Love,
Tia

Cast Your Vote for Emily and Lamar!

2009-06-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

These days, it always seems that I have another friend appearing on a television show for any odd reason. Well ladies and gentleman, once again I am asking you to aid me in pushing Emily and Lamar to the finish line for the 'Today Show Throws a Wedding' contest.

I met Emily and Lamar on New Year's Eve and have admired their relationship ever since. I truly would love to see them win such a huge gift because they deserve it.

To learn more about Lamar and Emily follow these links.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/31082248#31082248

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31063909/

To cast your vote: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30370935 or text "3" t0 46833.

Good Luck Lamar and Emily!

*Now back to my regular environmental topics... lol*

Happy WED!

2009-06-05T22:33:00.004-04:00

To stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and to enhance political attention and action, World Environment Day (WED) was established in 1972 by the UN General Assembly. It is commemorated yearly on 5 June.

This years' theme is 'Your Planet Needs You—UNite to Combat Climate Change.' It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.

So, for the environment today we should all band together and do something.

Here's a tip: Unplugging all unnecessary electronics when they're not in use can save energy and your money.

XO
Tia

M.I.A.

2009-06-03T03:22:00.003-04:00

Okay, so I've been MIA lately. Well, at least not updating my blog. I do apologize for leaving you for weeks without updating you on my new found environmental knowledge... lol

Well, since I last made a post, I've...

...judged a pageant.
...acted in a movie.
...worked three-days before [the stage play].
...acted in a stage play.
...worked another three days after [the stage play].
...attended a class.

In other words, I don't rest. I did get a chance to watch some shows on PBS.org that helped me further my environmental knowledge and gain more insight into how our bad habits effect the ecosystem.

The quote on the header of my blog is so true. All things ARE connected my friends. For example, where do you think those harsh chemicals that we use everyday are going? They come right back to us through our water from our personal care products to the chemicals in our cleaning products. All of this waste water filters right back to us or contaminates our watersheds, which too eventually gets back to us.

In our waste water:

New products that include new chemicals are outpacing our filtration systems. Our filtration systems have the capability to filter foreseeable chemicals; however, they cannot filter the chemicals they don't yet know how to counter; these are the same chemicals that cause sickness in our marine life.

In our rain runoff:

Where do I begin with this one? Just imagine consuming a bottle of fertilizer. Essentially, we are poisoning ourselves by poisoning our waters. We are losing fish, crabs and are unknowingly potentially causing sickness to ourselves when we consume seafood from the waters we contaminate.

You all know I don't like to preach, but I just want to emphasize that the world is our home. I always use the analogy of someone coming into your home and dropping trash where ever they are, spilling anything anywhere, drinking all of your water, bashing in your walls, and for non-smokers, filling your home with smoke. All of this is the equivalent of the damage that we are doing to OUR environment: the system that makes life and some luxuries possible for us.

I hope that you can come away with some insight from this post. To learn more about nature and our environment, you can watch some useful videos at PBS.org.

Regards,
Tia

P.S. Being a vegetarian feels great! (More on that later.)

A Scholarship for KJ!

2009-05-15T20:30:00.003-04:00

Today was a great day for one of my close friends on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. She made an unexpected appearance on the show today and was awarded a $15,000 scholarship! Who is she? She is my definition of a hard-working, independent, driven woman. Her name is Keren Johnson.

Keren is one of the most admirable and hard-working persons I know. She works multiple jobs to fulfill her payments for students loans, as she plans to continue her education and pursue a career in politics. I had already admired KJ when I met her after learning she had worked on one of the front-runner's campaigns in this past Presidential election. After getting to know more about her, I understood why she had done such great things and received so many blessings in her life.

During my time knowing KJ, I've been inspired to continue my college education and pursue my dreams. I have been more successful with her as a friend and a model to follow, and a person who is also willing to assist me with anything.

Cheers to you KJ! I'm proud to know you and call you a friend.

With Love,
Tia

Miss District of Columbia International

2009-05-14T17:25:00.014-04:00

So during the weekend, I had the opportunity to serve on the panel of judges for the Miss and Teen DC International Pageant. As you can imagine, this was a great experience for me.

I offered nothing but smiles to keep each of the contestants feeling confident.

The best and nicest judging panel ever. I wished I could be judged by us. We were definitely fair, honest and realistic.

Focused: Someone's dream is in my hands.

And the crowns and sashes are placed on Amanda Lewis and Juliana McKee. Congratulations on a job well done!

Litterers Anonymous

2009-05-14T16:20:00.006-04:00

So I randomly see people litter sometimes and I usually confront them about it. Pretty courageous of me, huh? I would like to call this part of my blog "Litterers Anonymous." People usually do feel bad about littering when they are caught in the act and confronted about it. I would like to use these entries to give you insight into some people's thoughts on why they litter and what I tell them that gives them a reason to change their habit.

"The Drinker"

I was enjoying a walk along the Georgetown waterfront with some of my friends this past weekend when one of my friends stopped to talk to her friend who was on one of the boats. I had noticed some guys enjoying beer on their personal boat. For some, stopping along the waterfront dock is a great way to relax and unwind. For me, it is annoying to watch some carelessly discard their empty bottles into the water. I noticed "The Drinker" kick a bottle off the dock and then I confronted him about it.

Me: Did you just kick that bottle into the water?
The Drinker: What are you, one of those Earth lovers or something?
Me: Yes. Actually, I'm Miss Earth Maryland.
The Drinker: I didn't meant to kick the bottle in the water; that was an accident. Me: Why would you want to throw bottles into the water anyway?
The Drinker: Look at the water, it's dirty already.
Me: I just participated in a watershed cleanup and you would not believe what type of things I found. An oxygen machine, cell phone, crime scene tape and pretty much anything else you could think of.

He looked at me in amazement. It was as if he thought he was the only person guilty of littering. I saved him the lecture on our ecosystems and how important they are to our survival, but I think I got my point across based on the look of guilt in his eyes. So as to not mess up his moment of leisure, I moved on.

"The Confessor"

After one of my friends overheard me talking to the drinker, they decided to tell me about their view on littering and why they do it.

The Confessor: I am not going to lie. I litter sometimes too.
Me: (Sigh) Why?
The Confessor: Because I don't want the stuff sitting in my car and I know someone will clean it up.
Me: You can get excessive fines for littering and that is the purpose of the public trash cans. You don't usually have to drive too far to find a trash can. Or why can't you dump it at your next destination?
The Confessor: Well, that makes sense.
Me: The people who usually clean those things up are usually volunteers like me. I've put on a neon vest and cleaned up a few places before.
The Confessor: Really, I thought that inmates and people who do community service did that. I didn't know people volunteer for that. Thanks for letting me know that. I will do my best not to litter again.

I do realize that there will always be someone to clean up our land; however, we could work on not purposely contributing to that task. These jobs exist for the betterment of our environment, not for the convenience of people.

So in closing, let's take ownership of our environment and treat it as we would a treasure. The environment and the Earth is our treasure and a gift. It takes care of us in many ways, so it is our duty to in turn take care of it and continue the circle of life and love.

Tia

Sponsorship Opportunities!

2009-05-07T18:17:00.002-04:00

Your opportunity to be an official sponsor of Miss Earth Maryland has arrived. Please send an e-mail to missearthmd@gmail.com to receive a sponsorship brochure.

With Love,
Tia

Vegetarianized!

2009-05-01T02:43:00.004-04:00

So as Miss Earth Maryland, it is my duty to do whatever I can to protect Mother Earth and reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible. I recently made a pledge to PETA to become a vegetarian for 30 days; however, I think I should make it a permanent lifestyle. PETA will be sending me recipes for those 30 days, so I think that will get me on the right track to adjusting to this new eating habit.

If you're wondering how becoming a vegetarian can reduce my carbon footprint, then pay close attention. While improving my health and lowering my risk of heart disease, cancers, stroke and diabetes, I'll also be helping to improve the efficiency of food production. According to Dr. Pimentel on letsactnow.org, animal protein production requires more than 11 times as much fossil-fuel energy than production of plant protein.

I regret saying this, but the only food I will miss is the Daytona Wings from Hooters that I love so much, or any Buffalo wings for that matter. I had a fond love for bacon for a while but I've managed to wean myself off of that a while ago. Honestly, I've made attempts at trying to avoid meats in the past, but I never stuck to it because I didn't make a pledge for the change and I didn't believe in my reasoning enough to commit. I tried to use my love for animals as the reason for my change, but that didn't seem to be enough; as my friend always says: you can get my attention if you involve Mother Earth.

For more information on how you can join the movement, visit http://www.letsactnow.org/. There are vegetarian starter kits available for download on the site.

If Time Could Stand Still...

2009-04-28T08:21:00.007-04:00

I've been really busy this past week following the Earth Day events, audition and rehearsals. On Wednesday, Earth Day, I got a chance to speak with Michael and George of the Michael Baisden radio show. I was driving along and I heard that they were talking about eco-products in dedication to Earth Day, so I called in and I actually got through. I told them some useful information about water conservation before they got goofy on me.

On Thursday, I attended the movie premiere for Jazz in the Diamond District. I give the movie two thumbs up! It was great to see and mingle with some old friends and meet new people.

http://www.jazzinthediamonddistrict.com/

I kicked off Saturday with an audition call back, then off to meet with a director for a movie I'll be filming in May. After all of this acting, I had to go to a rehearsal for the play I'll also be in, in May. As you can imagine, by this time I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be. LOL

Sunday I went to Federalsburg, MD to participate with my friend and his mom in the March of Dimes 5-mile walk. I had never done a walk like this before. I couldn't believe how quickly the miles flew by. Once we were done walking, they rewarded us with some great refreshments and goodies; I was a fan of the funnel cake.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: How You Can Make a Difference

2009-04-28T08:07:00.003-04:00

You can make a significant difference toward climate change by implementing the three Rs. But more importantly, you should focus on the first two before implementing the final R.

Reducing refers to lessening the amount of items or resources that are consumed, using only the amount that is needed and looking for alternatives that will lessen our use.

Reusing is extending the life or re-purposing an item rather than discarding or throwing it away.

Recycling is processing old used items in order that the material can be used to make new products.

A fourth R has been suggested by the EPA: Respond! By responding, you would implement the changes in your life to be more environmentally conscious and become helpful in spreading the awareness.

Tips for implementing these changes in your life:

Reduce:

Buy permanent items instead of disposables.
Buy and use only what you need.
Buy products with less packaging.
Buy products that use less toxic chemicals.

Reuse:

Repair items as much as possible.
Use durable coffee mugs.
Use cloth napkins or towels.
Clean out juice bottles and use them for water.
Use empty jars to hold leftover food.
Reuse boxes.
Purchase refillable pens and pencils.
Participate in a paint collection and reuse program.
Donate extras to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away.
Reuse grocery bags as trash bags.

Recycle:

Recycle paper (printer paper, newspaper, mail, etc.), plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community doesn't collect at the curb, take them to a collection center.

*Purchase some cool post-consumer products at www.uncommongoods.com.

Sources: www.42explore.com/recycle.htm; www.epa.gov/epahome/home.htm#recycle; www.cheasepeakebay.net/atschool.aspx?menuitem=16885

Recycling 101

2009-04-28T07:48:00.007-04:00

Your local government is the key to your recyling success. Contact your local government and/or recycling coordinator to learn about how you my obtain a recyling bin/receptacle and to learn what items are accepted in your county/area and how to dispose of additional materials, such as hazardous waste, properly. Generally, plastic items 1-7 (including plastic bags), glass, aluminum, paper items, and steel are acceptable. Research is constantly being conducted on how to recycle additional and new types of plastics. Proper recyling consists of adhering to your area's accepted items list, removing tops from plastic bottles and cleaning the items to be recycled before placing them in the receptacle.

Earth Day Weekend: SUNDAY

2009-04-22T12:32:00.014-04:00

SUNDAY: Green Apple Festival!

I rounded out my weekend by attending the Green Apple Festival on the National Mall. I was so excited to go and meet the reigning Miss Earth United States and some of the other delegates. When we parked, we noticed a bike carriage that was free and sponsored by Timberland. Since we had parked so far, we thought it would be cool to take a "green" ride over to the festival. It was actually fun and relaxing.

When I arrived, I was greeted by Miss Earth Unites States, Jana Murrell and Miss Earth East Coast (DC), Ruby Ong. We hung out for a little bit before my manager scored us yet another interview. It's so funny that doing these interviews makes me realized how truly passionate I am about the environment and promoting the awareness of others. While it's so easy to recycle, I always stress that that's one of the last things you want to do; notice the order: we should always reduce, reuse, recycle, respectively.

Jana had the pleasure of speaking to the audience about the environment and introducing the Flaming Lips. All day long, the crowd were asking what time the Flaming Lips were performing. Once they got on stage, I realized what all the hype was about and that I actually already know and like a couple of their songs. There were other special guests in attendance as well, a Congressman, Timberland CEO, actor and others. This just shows you how vast the Green Generation is becoming.

I wrapped up the day by volunteering to help clean up after the show. I was actually surprised to find that there were actually things to be cleaned at a green festival. The cleanup was not so bad because most of the people began bringing the trash to me once they realized the mess that was made. I met one of the fellow volunteers for that day and asked to document her volunteerism. Thanks Zara!

Thanks to Earth Day Network, Planet Green, the Green Apple Festival and Timberland for sponsoring such a great event.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Earth Day Weekend: SATURDAY

2009-04-20T18:58:00.020-04:00

SATURDAY: Anacostia Watershed Cleanup and Play Rehearsal

Saturday, I volunteered to help clean up the Anacostia Watershed, Kingman Island. I had so much fun walking the trails with my two biggest supporters and best friends who came out to volunteer as well. While cleaning, we found countless things along the shoreline, under the bridge and along the trails. I heard the funniest story about a child who was there cleaning finding a $20 bill; she said, "I gave to Mother Earth and she gave back to me!" That was the cutest thing I had ever heard. But seriously, the Earth does give back when we care for it.

While I was under the bridge, I was greeted by two young ladies who work for Discovery Channel's Planet Green Network. They were excited to find out that I am Miss Earth Maryland and that I was out volunteering so they did a brief interview with me. They thought my story would be a great one for the network to pick up and follow. I was extremely excited to express my interest in the environment and my views on climate change. They filmed me as I balanced my crown on my head and walked on rocks to pick up litter. I expressed to them, "This is one of the reasons our pageant's slogan is 'Beauties for a Cause'." This was my first interview that day; and it primed me for next ones that would later follow.

I met the cutest young lady named Julyanna while under the bridge who was eager to help us move our loaded bags. She could possibly be a future Miss Earth!

As we were leaving, we came upon the film crew for the Green Apple Festival who also interviewed me.

After a busy day of cleaning, I stopped by for a movie audition and went to rehearsal for a play that I am in. As you can imagine, by this time I was tired, but I still managed to perform well in my audition and at rehearsal, according to the people who critiqued me.

Saturday brought me great joy because the weather was so beautiful and I did so many positive things that day. I couldn't wait to wake up to attend the Green Apple Festival on Sunday.

Earth Day Weekend: FRIDAY

2009-04-20T16:11:00.028-04:00

I am so excited to share the events of my busy weekend with you; these were among some of my first appearances as Miss Earth Maryland, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I had an opportunity to be interviewed four times over the weekend, thus giving the pageant, myself and my views on the environment exposure. I also had a chance to meet one of the other delegates from DC and Miss Earth United States. In addition, I had some things to do in the entertainment arena.

FRIDAY: Casey Trees Tree Stewardship!
Friday began early for me. I rose from bed at 7:00 am to prepare for a day of tree stewardship with Casey Trees. Before I got to the event, I assumed that we'd be planting trees; but to my surprise, Casey Trees has been caring for and planting trees in the DC area for some time. I was allowed the opportunity to care for some of the existing trees they had planted in the Georgia Avenue/Petworth area. I was so excited to learn some new things about trees and effective ways to care for them.

After being briefed on what we needed to do

for the trees that day, we split up and went to

work on the trees. When I began, I had no idea what I was doing and worse when the worms began squirming from their wholes I moved away. I was then told by an environmental student from Maryland who was also there to volunteer, that the sight of the worms was positive because it meant the tree was healthy. I was happy to learn that the tree was healthy and I later became comfortable with the worms. After a while, I put down my tool and started pulling the weeds with my hands, like a pro! When my first tree was done, I was more than ready to work on the next ones.

Tree Before Care

Tree After Care

Over the course of the day, we moved to about five different locations--weeding, mulching, and installing ooze tubes for some--walking a couple of blocks between each. We even cared for some trees at the local library before ending at Clark Elementary School, which has been closed for about a year. I was saddened by some of the things that we found on the grounds and playground of that school where I watched some of the neighborhood children play; I prefer not to mention them. I was more than happy to clean the school grounds as some of the others cared for the trees.

I would like to thank Casey Trees and my volunteer leaders for a wonderful experience and I would be more than happy to volunteer at any time in the future. I realized that at least one of the benefits for trees mentioned in my side note (below), reduced stress, worked for me. When the day ended, I didn't want to leave. I had grown to love playing in the dirt, seeing the worms and watering the trees!

If you would like to take advantage of the awesome opportunity and help Mother Earth, you can visit the Casey Trees Web site to see which opportunity may work best for you. http://www.caseytrees.org/

Side Note: You may ask, why care for or plant a tree? If you are asking yourself that question, then you probably are ignorant about the benefits we gain from trees. Trees offer many benefits as listed on the Casey Trees Web site:

Healthy Air
Cooling Shade
Cleaner Water
Less Crime
Reduced Stress
Livable Communities
Increased Property Values
Tourism
Wildlife Habitat
Trees and Commerce
Job Opportunities
For more detailed information on those benefits, you can visit the following
link, http://www.caseytrees.org/planting/reasons/tree-benefits/index.php

Saved by the Carbon Footprint

2009-04-08T23:31:00.015-04:00

If you haven't heard in the news already, according to experts, Utah was the first state to implement a mandatory four-day work week for most of its state employees. This should come as no surprise since we were hard-hit by the rediculus gas prices of this past year. In a USA Today article from June 30, 2008 Governor Jon Huntsman said he was making the change to reduce the state's carbon footprint, increase energy efficiency, improve customer service and provide workers more flexibility.

This is a positive environmental issue that seems to be impacting other states to make the change. The four-day work week initiative in Utah was scheduled to begin on August 4, 2008. As you probably have, I had forgotten about this intiative that was reported last year. Fox News reported today some of the effects of the change on one of its programs. Since I wanted to share the results with you, I took my research a step further by going to the Utah Government's website to view the interim report.

The February 2009 report as you can imagine, revealed positive results.

Here's a list of the evironmental benefits and interim results/"summary of early indicators":

Energy
Benefit: state savings on building operational costs, as well as spreading the load on transportation infrastructure.

Interim Results:
- $203,177 reduction in custodial service contracts this year.
- Early energy usage data indicates that ½ of the buildings in the study are achieving 10 to 20 percent+ energy usage reductions.
Environment
Benefit: reduced energy usage correlates to reduced CO2 emissions.

Interim Results:
- Estimated reduction of 12,652 metric tons of greenhouse emissions produced annually.
- Estimated reduction of 744,000 gallons of gasoline consumed annually.

While I covered only the environmental impact of the initiative, it is easy to imagine that the affected employees are offering no complaints to their new three-day weekend. This was a great way for the Governor to offer a work-life balance for his employees. Who wouldn't want to be off on Fridays? The report mentioned that 70 percent of the affected employees prefer the 4/10 schedule; employee turnover rates have decreased; and employee absenteeism has decreased. I don't know about you, but I would lobby to clone this Governor and place him in all of the United States if this initiative goes as planned. He's not only displayed his comittment to a greener environment, but he showed that he cares about his citizens in the process. His overall impact will be widely appreciated once this bug spreads.

I hope you're enjoying your week!

XO
Tia

More Than A Famous Face

2009-04-03T22:11:00.005-04:00

I was recently interviewed by Sakwe of The Famous Firm for T.G.I.F. (Thank God I'm Famous) Magazine. I am featured in the "More Than A Famous Face" section of the magazine. Check out my interview. http://thankgodimfamous.com/magazine/tiaholmes/

XO
Tia

All in the Family...

2009-04-01T18:35:00.000-04:00

I would like to take this time to recognize my cousin Alexis Johnson. She is this year's Washington, DC Cherry Blossom Princess. Of course, I am very proud of her so I had to put her on blast! She is a very smart and goal-oriented young woman who has God in her life. She is poised to do great things in the future.

Alexis Johnson is 2009 DC Cherry Blossom Princess

The DC State Society selected Alexis Johnson to represent DC in the 2009 National Cherry Blossom Festival NCSS Princess Program. Alexis, shown at right at the Lantern Ceremony on March 29, is a second-year student majoring in justice studies and psychology at North Carolina Wesleyan College where she sings with The Gospel Choir and tutors at the local elementary school. After graduation she would like to study law.

Source: http://ncss.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/alexis-johnson-is-2009-dc-princess.html

Busy, Busy

2009-04-01T00:21:00.000-04:00

I'm back from a long trip in LA. I had fun there, but I'm having trouble adjusting to the time difference because I've been busy since I got home. I arrived back home on Sunday and did a promotional shoot for a television show that I am working on the following morning. It's nice being busy, but sometimes it becomes tiring.

*Pictured: Interview with Rob and Que of Day 26 for The Sexy Report.

During the weekend, Earth Hour 2009 took place. The media reported it was a huge success and I'm glad to have been a part of it! I hope you all voted Earth.

My current excitement is fueled by the appearances and volunteering that I will participate in for the month of April. Since April is dubbed environmental awareness month, I will have a few features in online newsletters and magazines. I will keep you all posted on the links.

I also got some of my pageant photos back from my shoot with Sam Chyung.

Best,

Tia

Making a Difference!

2009-03-20T19:26:00.000-04:00

I am so excited about one of my most recent accomplishments, so I couldn't hold in my blog post for long. On Friday of last week, I learned of an initiative called Earth Hour (the same as the poster below this post). I don't know why I had been oblivious about it for so long, but thank goodness I found out! Upon researching the movement, I decided that I would contact some of the mayors in Maryland.

I wrestled with the timing of my notification all weekend long. I kept telling myself,"If I send them letters (e-mails are the eco-friendly way *wink*) now, they won't have enough time to prepare." So, I let the weekend go by without drafting a letter. Monday and Tuesday went by before I decided that it wouldn't take them much time to notify their citizens that they would disable non-essential lights in their respective jurisdictions.

On Wednesday night, I began to write. After drafting a letter, I e-mailed it over to my friend Keren who's very knowledgeable about public policy having worked on prestigious campaigns. She sent back my letter the next morning with one change, and subsequently I e-mailed my list of mayors.

The reason for my excitement is the responses that I have received. We had a couple of cities that were already on board for Earth Hour, but I received emails of thanks notifying me that councils are taking the steps to prepare their cities for Earth Hour.

I don't know if you've ever aided in a good cause, but I can tell you that it sure feels great to make a difference! If you would like to learn about Earth Hour, visit the website to learn how you can make a difference in your community. www.earthhour.org

With love,
Tia

Earth Hour 2009

2009-03-18T21:45:00.001-04:00

Here I am!

2009-03-18T13:20:00.000-04:00

I know that I have not been updating my blog in a timely manner, but I have just cause. I have been collecting photos, which will later be posted, for a very special blog entry.

I have done a few things in these past few weeks to further my awareness and to also increase the exposure of the pageant by using my title locally, and hopefully nationally. I recently did a photo shoot with one of my favorite photographers in which I was adorned with my crown and sash. This was my first time having ever worn a crown and sash. Wow!

I felt honored to not only have and be able to wear the crown, but to also know that I have a title that will help me further contribute to a cause that I have always been so passionate about. My little sister who has been a pageant titleholder and successful pageant princess was in attendance to assist me. I love her!

Lets just say, yesterday was a good day! And not to mention it was St. Patricks Day! I picked the best day to do a photoshoot for such a green cause! I even wore green eyeshadow!

Tia

P.S. In case I am negligent in updating my blog before next week, please remember to turn off your lights for Earth Hour 2009! This occurs on March 28 @ 8:30 pm anywhere in the world. Make it a party, have a candlelit dinner, have a block party or just sleep! www.earthhour.org

Help Us Help Ourselves...

2009-03-02T15:28:00.002-05:00

Human nature never ceases to amaze me. I have always wondered how one can comfortably continue on a road of self-destruction. For instance, think of the people who smoke or do drugs knowing of the harsh effects it causes their bodies; or take my bad habit of drinking coffee: although I know that it is causing my teeth to become stained, I just can't stop. That leads me to what's been boggling me this week.

This particular issue has been in the news for the past few years with increasing exposure. The subject: paper or plastic at local grocery stores. Well, you all know what I say, "Neither, please! I brought my own bag!" In recent years, many grocery stores locally and nationally have began to market reusable grocery bags and some have gone as far as banning the plastic bags. I do commend the stores that have the plastic bag recycling stations; however, environmentalists would much rather do away with the little buddies to reduce the energy needed to recycle the mostly HDPE 2-type plastics, and to stop them from indefinitely making it to our landfills when not recycled. (I wish I could have kicked this off, but I'm sure I'll do other great things.) Here's an article about what sparked this new trend:

Morning Edition, March 27, 2008

In San Francisco, the age-old question "Paper or plastic?" was answered one year ago this week. The city banned hard-to-recycle plastic bags in grocery stores, and so far, that translates into 5 million fewer plastic bags every month. Now, other cities are considering similar bans, and companies are
developing alternatives to disposable bags.
San Francisco politician Ross Mirkarimi didn't know just what a stir he was going to cause. On March 27, 2007, the city passed his bill to eventually ban plastic bags from all the city's grocery stores and pharmacies. And now, cities across the United States, including Boston, Portland, Ore., and Phoenix, are considering similar bans.
"This has probably been one of the most interesting wildfires of common sense, and I'm delighted and proud that San Francisco was the first city in the United States to have kick-started this," Mirkarimi says.
And not just in the U.S. Mirkarimi says Paris and London contacted him and now have passed similar bans.
In the U.S., the ban has had a few unintended consequences in the marketplace. North of San Francisco in the small town of Oroville, one manufacturer of plastic bags actually got a boost in business.
Roplast Industries makes large, thick, reusable plastic bags. They contain more plastic than the flimsy, single-use bags, but in the long-term, says Roplast President Robert Bateman, they're better for the environment.

The company's bag "will hold five or six times as much as the standard disposable bag," he says. "And it is reusable. It can dramatically change the amount of plastic used."

Of course, those thicker, heavier plastic bags are still plastic. If you don't like that idea, Roplast has another choice — compostable plastic bags. Compostable plastic may seem like a contradiction in terms. But Bateman says it makes sense to use plastic that degrades.
Critics point out they degrade but they don't biodegrade. That is, they break down, but they just break down into smaller bits of plastic.

Just up the highway, in the town of Chico, Andy Keller has another idea — the ChicoBag, an environmentally friendly nylon-fiber carrying bag that folds up into a tiny wallet-sized stuff sack. When the ChicoBag is held in the palm of your hand, it looks like a really, really tiny sleeping bag.
"People carry them in their back pocket or their purse or their cup holder or the glove compartment of their car, and it allows them to have a bag whenever they need it," Keller says.

California's grocery store industry would like to keep its plastic bags. They're cheaper than paper, and the industry says it wants to offer customers choice — paper, plastic and reusable bags. The plastics industry has been more aggressive, trying to halt plastic bag bans before they can start.

The Bay Area city of Fairfax last week abandoned its bag ban under threat of a lawsuit by the plastic bag industry. Fairfax has about 7,000 residents, and Mayor Mary Ann Maggiore says there's no way it could handle a lengthy lawsuit.
The plastics industry said it would sue on environmental grounds. Sharon Kneiss of the American Chemistry Council says that, by banning plastic, Fairfax was giving a tacit endorsement to use paper bags, which could hurt the environment.
"Bans on plastic bags are not a good environmental choice," she says. "Bans aren't the answer, recycling is the answer."
The town of Fairfax, though, isn't giving up. It's made its ban voluntary, and Maggiore says that most shopkeepers have stopped handing out plastic bags. On top of that, advocates in Fairfax plan to take on the plastic bag industry again. They expect to put the issue on a ballot in June.

Not only are other states considering joining this great bandwagon, but some are considering charging you to use plastic bags. Yes, you heard that correctly: they are considering charging you from 10 to 20 cents per plastic bag that you use, so beware on your next shopping trip or just purchase one of their reusable bags, which range from 99 cents to $1.00. The reusable bags hold twice as many items as the plastic ones and are much more sturdy. If you ask me, going green is always the cheapest, logical option.

Here are some of my favorite sites for purchasing a stylish market bag.

http://www.chicobag.com/ (pictured)

http://www.eartheasy.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=2111-1 (pictured)

http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?source=family&itemId=15718

http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?source=family&itemId=16439

http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?source=family&itemId=16576

Welcome Miss Earth Maryland!

2009-02-24T16:47:00.000-05:00

Hello Blog-spotters!

I am new to this whole blogspot family, so please do try to give me a warm welcome. I would first like to introduce myself: my name is Tia Holmes. I am an Ambassador to Mother Earth serving as Miss Earth Maryland. Although, I just recently received this title, I have long been a tree-hugger, as many may call me. As a title-holder, the pageant system that I am involved with and I believe in promoting and increasing environmental awareness.

As an Ambassador to Mother Earth, I am constantly searching for information about how to live my life more and more eco-friendly. In this blog, I plan to share my experiences as Miss Earth Maryland, eco-tips that I learn and I will also share resourceful websites with you.

I know that the year 2008 was "green" overkill for some of you, but I promise to make this information as comprehensive as possible and I promise not to talk at you.

Thanks for your attention.

Tia