[Friday Link Round-Up]

1. Try upcycling your own furniture. For inspiration, check out this re-nest Furniture Facelift: One IKEA Dresser, Three Ways (not that I condone IKEA furniture. You could find something of much better quality to upcycle). Or check out this idea for creating your own picnic basket from an old suitcase.

2. Get scooting on that business idea you've kept on the backburner for so long with great articles from this week's Design*Sponge and paper n stitch. Check out this post on the difference between PR and marketing (a vital difference indeed). Or read the 3-part series on how to become influential and likable in business. I sort of take issue with the idea that women have to be "likable" to be successful in business, but the ideas in these posts are still totally legit even if gender relations aren't.

3. San Francisco just passed a law allowing people to sell their homegrown produce to restaurants, stores, and so on. This is a huge step for urban farmers. 

Photo via Michael Macor, The Chronicle

4. Today is Earth Day! Stage a rain dance! Kiss a tree! Roll in some grass! Or just look at pretty photos of how majestic the world can be.

Havasu Falls, AZ via here

[Green Thursdays] "Upcycled" Style, the BP Oil Spill, & Earth Day

Yeah, so the three subjects are totally unrelated, but interesting nonetheless.

1. First off, fashion. SFGirlbytheBay posted about poketo, a brand specializing in upcycled goods. Essentially, the company takes remnants of fashion items and creates gorgeous accessories in an eco-friendly and sustainable away. The purses, wallets and even passport cases are phenomenal (which by the way is like my word of the week.) Plus, the goods are affordable; a wallet is a reasonable $32.

2. Catch up on the news of the BP oil spill - it's been a year since the spill and some progress has been made.
BP Sues Rig Partners in Gulf for $40B (Time)
Obama Marks Anniversary of BP Disaster (NY Times)

3. Earth Day is tomorrow! Read about it here and think about making your own pledge.

Mine is to start using a thermos/water bottle when I buy my coffee in the morning and to phase meat out of my diet :-)