Heather at home with one of her many recycling bins.

"Green is the new black."

This expression graces the front of an old t-shirt my husband bought me almost a decade ago. He got it for me because I love fashion. I also love to wear black, but most of all I love nature and all things green.

I was raised on a small farm in northern Arkansas amid the Ozark Mountains. Spending summers at the lake, romping through fields and creeks, playing with bugs and critters, and getting my nails dirty were all a part of what makes me...me. (I always liked to get cleaned up though.)

Some of my favorite times were spent pretending boulders on our property were mountains where my Barbies lived. They were marooned on a tropical island in the South Pacific or traversing the Rocky Mountains with Ken aboard the Barbie RV or on some archaeology expedition in a remote region of the world.

I sold vegetables from our garden to passersby. I cleaned the horse corral and even had a pet chicken, as well as dogs, cows and horses. Summer evenings were spent on the back deck with my parents watching nightfall approach while hummingbirds zipped and zoomed overhead. Throughout my youth, nature of any kind fascinated and soothed me. I guess I was conservation-minded before conservation-mindedness was cool.

Natural resources provide us with water, air, food, shelter, medicines, incredible educational and recreational opportunities -- family memories that last a lifetime. Conservation efforts and recycling programs help ensure we'll leave a natural legacy to our children and our children's children.

You may have noticed Little Rock Family looks a little different this month. We are thrilled to now be printing our fabulous, free parenting resource for you and your family on recycled paper.

Also, look for great family-friendly conservation and recycling ideas in upcoming issues. We're committed to doing our part to promote the idea that Green is the New Black! Taking care of our world for future generations never goes out of style.

This month, Moms on the Move like Georgia Johnston and others share real ways they keep all the balls in the air and what matters most to them. You'll find fantastic information about helping your kids handle disappointments, fighting the flu, dealing with sibling skirmishes, 10 Superpowers Every Mom Wants, the area's best compilation of family events and much more.

Pick up a copy around town or scroll through the digital edition here.

We love our readers and wish you all an amazing Valentine's Day!