Written on
February 13, 2009 by
SusanC
Let’s face it, in this economy nearly everyone is having to cut corners and eliminate things from the budget. Sadly, it has come to my attention that one of the big things people are cutting back on are eco-friendly and organic products, in favor of cheaper, run of the mill alternatives.
Well, in this little post I would like to show you just some of the small ways that being green can save you those hard earned pennies to put toward the things that matter most!
Ditch the paper towels and paper plates (if you haven’t already)! By simply using dishcloths for your everyday messes and your actual dishes for dinner, you can not only contribute to a healthier environment with less garbage, but save a hefty little sum over a years’ time.
Continue Reading »
Written on
February 12, 2009 by
SusanC
For the past few weeks, my family has been preparing for a big move. We are not moving down the street or to the next town, but instead across the country.
During our lives here in our current home, we fortunately did not accumulate a lot of “stuff,” but much of what we have will not be traveling with us. We have decided that the memories created with some of our personal belongings are not worth the expense and time of packing them up and hauling them across country. Don’t get me wrong, we are a sentimental family, but my days of holding onto my lost baby teeth (I kept them way into my college years), have been replaced with a more common sense mentality of only keeping what I am going to use eventually, preferably sometime this year.
Continue Reading »
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.
Continue Reading »
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.
Continue Reading »
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.
Continue Reading »
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.
Continue Reading »
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).
Continue Reading »
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.
Continue Reading »
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.
Continue Reading »
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.
Continue Reading »
