Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in toronto, CN

As much as I'd like it to be true, the opportunity to talk to a celebrity doesn't present itself every day. So recently when I was invited to talk with Cheryl Tiegs, I totally jumped at the chance.  I mean, have you been watching her show True Beauty?  I'm a reality show addict and watching the reactions to True Beauty's surprize twist totally fascinates me.

Plus, besides True Beauty, Cheryl Tiegs is involved in many interesting projects.  She is the spokesperson for Cambria, a Minnesota based company that creates "green" countertops, made with natural quartz that is both radon-free and produced using environmentally responsible business practices.  Plus Cheryl is well-versed in green living.  She practices it in as many ways as possible, and spreads the word on how easy it is to incorporate into daily life.

During our interview, we each had a chance to ask her questions and everyone hit on some really cool things, from being earth-friendly, how to inspire children to live green and find inner beauty, to what it was like working with Nole Merin and being around all those hidden cameras on True Beauty (it's easy to guess which questions were mine).

First Cheryl talked about how she became interested in the environment

Cheryl:  I started recycling about 20 years ago, when I had to tie my
newspapers together with string, package up all the bottles and cans
and put them in my car and take them to the recycling center.  Now,
today they make it so much easier and there is no excuse not to do it!

You see so much waste and I see that a lot of people don't
care.  I'm always thinking "what else can I do?"   I know you don't
have to tear your house down in order to start all over to become
green. My house has so many green elements now.  The first thing I did
was change all the light bulbs.  Years ago, some of the energy
efficient bulbs were dark and didn't emit enough light but I kept
trying until I got the right fit for each one of my lamps or shades so
there is enough light.

I've also been known to, when forgetting my canvas bags at the grocery
store, take off my sweatshirt and pile my purchases in the sweatshirt,
pulling up the arms to make a handy pouch.

When asked on how to green up the home without breaking the bank, Cheryl made the simple but effective suggestions to eliminate unnecessary products like air fresheners, use soy candles, replace lights with energy-efficient bulbs, try to use less hot water, unplug all those cell phone chargers, appliances, and coffee pots when not in use - do all the small things because it all adds up.  As Cheryl said, "There really is no excuse to not do the little things to live green."

We then got the opportunity to ask our own questions and
Casey, from Savvy Source Indianapolis kicked it off:   As a busy mom what simple activities do you find are the most special when you are with your kids?

Cheryl:  I like to read.  I like to do things with my kids that I also
like to do.  Cooking with my kids in the kitchen is an easy thing to
do.  I think it's important to do what you enjoy.  Of course there are
things that you do just for your kids, but do what you enjoy.  It's important for mommy and daddy to have *something for themselves* and for the children to see that.

Mimi from Savvy Source Atlanta asked how to get kids more eco-friendly and what are some affordable ways to be more earth friend.

Cheryl:  I would suggest handing your children the recycling to take care
of on their own.  Hand them a piece of recyclable trash and ask them
to take it to the appropriate bin.  Make them feel that they are doing
something to participate.

Also, be the role model.  Kids need to be very much aware that
recycling is a part of your home.  If they are not teaching recycling
in your children's school, take it to the classroom yourself!

When I got my opportunity to ask a question, I decided to jump right in with a question about the show, and asked what it was like working on True Beauty with all the cameras everywhere, the big secret - and what was it like working with Nole Merin?  (Seriously, I couldn't resist asking and I find Nole very entertaining)

Cheryl:  Nole is a doll.  He is lovely and very sweet, very easy to work
with.  I adored him.  I wanted to get involved with the show because I
believe that inner beauty is what makes you shine and glow.  We had 54
cameras, although the contestants only knew about "x" number of
cameras.  They didn't know about the hidden cameras.  We had to be
very careful every day not to spill the secret.  We couldn't say "when
you did such and such" because then they would begin to wonder "how
did they know that?"  We had little tests to see if they giving they
were, how honest, how loyal, how sweet, how kind, judging them on
their inner beauty.

Another thing challenging was judging.  I have worked for 12-15 years
to not be judgmental.  I would be standing six feet away from the
contestants during the judging.  I would list out their positives in
my ear, the producer would be saying "Cheryl, we need a negative, we
need a negative."  I would sit there frozen, looking at the
contestants.  I would finally come up with some constructive
criticism.  Towards the end I started to really get into it.

Christine, Savvy Source Fort Worth then tied in with a question about what can moms of preschool girls do to encourage the "inner beauty" to shine?

Cheryl:  Be a role model. I try to be kind to everyone I meet. Now, I'm not perfect and there are just those days when you lose your patience. I wanted to do the True Beauty show because I don't want people to just sit on your sofa, turn it off and then forget about it. I want to remind people to "up" their kindness quotient. Always ask yourself "what if I were on camera?" Shouldn't it be the norm that everyone is nice?

Naomi, Savvy Source Cleveland wrapped it up by asking advice for a mom who has very little time for herself, to encourage the feeling of True Beauty on a daily basis

Cheryl:  Inner and True Beauty has everything to do with self esteem.  How do you feel about yourself?  How good do you feel about yourself?
Educate yourself and always learn.  Always grow and always be good.

The definition of attract is to be like a magnet.  Attractiveness does
not mean you have perfect features.  It means there is something about
you, a shining light going on inside of you, that other people will
see.  Impart to your children a good sense of esteem.  Remind them
"I'm proud of you".

Cheryl is an inspiring person, and I can really get into the message she is spreading on how it's so easy to be earth-friendly.  Plus it's very true that we need to encourage our children to find their inner beauty - plus strive to find our own and be an example.  And this is the honest truth: I went and unplugged my coffee maker and other unnecessary appliances after I finished the interview.  Because she's right, there is no excuse not to try and live a green lifestyle.