Happy Earth Day!

Did you have a dad who used to say to you, "Close the door! We don't live in a barn!"

I did. And what's worse is that fact that I would often reply, "No, dad, we live on a rock," thinking myself hilarious until I was the poor sap washing all the dishes.

Apparently my comedic idea of "building character" differed vastly from that of dear old dad.

But the fact is that simply put, we were put on this rock to help. Make things better.

In celebration of that, feel free to acknowledge the great round rock today and in small ways to great ways, help make things a little better for everyone.

Read the LA Times rendition of "Oh-How-Things-Have-Changed-Since-The-Good-Old-Days" as the world recognizes the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

Visit your local World Market for tips, tricks and funky inexpensive tools to make your life greener.

Download Evernote and stop wasting post-it paper.

Get a little more history and education behind the movement from a man who has been in the scene since the early 60's;  Professor William Moomaw, of International Environmental Policy at Tufts University's Fletcher School.

Use the calendar of events and look up how you can become involved in your own community by supporting the Earth Day Network.

Enter HGTV's Green Home Giveaway today and each day until they give the gem away. You don't want to live in a barn, after all.