Written on
February 11, 2009 by
SusanC
I am locked in a love-hate relationship with my TV.
I know–it wastes energy, time and brain cells. 90% of the programming it broadcasts into my brain is sheer and utter garbage. (Well, that’s not really the TV’s fault- more the digital cable service my BF and I also can’t seem to live without).
However, there is no better companion when fighting a nasty cold, and though it sounds contrived, that 10% of worthwhile programming is really just that! When the Planet Earth series premiered, we actually had friends come over on Sunday nights to watch a nature show. Never before would you have seen six or more “20-somethings” packed into our tiny living room to learn about species of the deep ocean.
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Written on
February 10, 2009 by
SusanC
Still need a green Valentine for your sweetie by Saturday? We have your romantic note-giving covered.
I Fancy You
So, this is my first endeavor into the world of Valentine Cards. I’m hoping this set will inspire you to organize a Valentine exchange in your office. You know, cover some shoe boxes in pretty paper and make mailboxes at your respective desks, and choo-choo-choose someone! Or maybe you’ll just give them to your friends. Or the 10 suitors you are currently juggling?
This set of 10 flat notes is printed on linen finish stock with rounded corners and comes with natural kraft recycled envelopes.
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Did you know bleach has to sit on a surface for 30 minutes before it works? Did you also know bleach is a pesticide? And it doesn’t work if the surface is dirty.
Women that work at home have a much higher risk of cancer than those that work at home. And repeated exposure to cleaning products is a big factor in this. Pretty scary right?
So why eat organic food when you are cleaning your home with a pesticide? A pesticide that cause all kinds of health problems from asthma to hormone imbalances that can cause cancer. There are tons of products out there to get rid of your “need” to use bleach.
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Written on
February 6, 2009 by
SusanC
It’s the month of another holiday filled with paper, sugar and imported goodies, also known as: Valentine’s Day.
Personally, I’m of the mindset that the romance and sparkle of Valentine’s faded ago, but I’d be fibbing if I didn’t admit I’d be a smidge disappointed if I ended the day without a token of affection or three.
Then again, if someone shows me the love and doesn’t show Mother Nature the love too, I’ll be even more disappointed than if I’d left the holiday empty handed.
So, what’s a green Valentine to do?
- If you’ve got to go for flowers, go for local.
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Written on
February 5, 2009 by
SusanC
As winter drags on I find that one monotonous day seems to drag into the next with no escape. All the “green” hobbies of other seasons, such as gardening, hiking or going for a nice family bike ride, are much less practical, if not impossible, during these blustery days.
So, what should you do with all this extra time you find wasting away indoors?
Why not take up knitting?
At it’s heart, knitting is one of the most relaxing and rewarding crafts you can enjoy, not to mention incredibly green and sustainable if you stick with wool and cotton yarns (especially those dyed with natural dyes or handspun by one of the many wonderful WAHMs on the internet).
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Written on
February 4, 2009 by
SusanC
Once a week we use this space to feature a recycled note or three from some of our favorite online sources. This week I found the perfect card to say congratulations! for pretty much any job or deed well done.
I’m thinking of sending it to the next person who tells me a really great joke.
Great Job On That Thing You Did
“Great job on that thing you did. Really super.”
Designed by Be a Decent Human Being for Sycamore Street Press.
– Letterpress printed in orange and light turquoise soy ink.
– 20% cotton paper gives a nice impression.
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When my husband and I moved in together in college, we were both going to school full time and working, and so we always ate at least one meal away from home each day. Eating out was getting too expensive, so we started packing our lunches each morning. That took care of a lot of the excess cost, but I was still unhappy with how much we were spending on plastic zipper baggies. I had recently become really involved with the environmental club on campus, and was examining our lifestyle for ways in which we could lessen our impact on the planet.
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Written on
February 2, 2009 by
SusanC
I am sure some of you would have experienced a moment like this–you look at your overflowing recycling bin full of paper, cardboard, tin cans, glass, and plastic bottles, and think to yourself “what a great job I’m doing to save the environment”. But to the contrary, it is actually a sign that something is wrong.
I myself realised this when looking at our recycling bin over Christmas!
The common saying “reduce, reuse, recycle” is actually a hierarchy expressing the order of importance of these ideas.
Firstly, and most importantly, you must reduce what you consume and reduce your generation of waste.
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Written on
January 28, 2009 by
SusanC
A few years ago I lived my life in 20 minute increments. Then I had to rest. Fibromyalgia and Asthma ruled my life. With 3 children, a husband and all the normal mess that life assures, my brain constantly told me that I wasn’t doing enough. But I simply did NOT have the energy to spare; it needed to go to things that HAD to be done, not things that I wanted to do like living a greener lifestyle.
I’ve since been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and eating a gluten-free diet has improved my quality of life massively. But I still remember the dreams I had, the ones that seemed so far away from my reality.
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Written on
January 27, 2009 by
SusanC
Every week we use this space to feature a recycled note or three from some of our favorite online sources. This week I thought it might be fun to feature envelopes only: creative and 100% recycled (and repurposed!) alternatives to standard letter carriers you can use to transport the smallest or largest of notes.
Below are some of my favorites (And please feel free to link to your own favorites in the comments, too!):
Romeo & Juliet Envelopes
Send a little Shakespeare mail to your favourite literature buff or teacher or student or Shakespeare enthusiast or actor or playwright or really anyone who likes to read or write!
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