Tag Archives: green

Doing the Christmas Wrap

Yesterday was wrapping day. We don’t give huge gifts, and we’re not getting anything that wriggles. Nonetheless, it was a bit of a project. If you’re into recycling and reusing like I am, Christmas wrapping is a mental stretch. I have a couple of rolls of old wrapping paper in my basement, and I do use them occasionally. However, the fact that they’ve lived with me since we arrived in our house over seven years ago tells me that I don’t tend to use a lot of wrapping paper. What do we do instead? Chocolate boxes, cookie containers, and old … Continue reading →

Stanford’s Sustainable Fashion Show

The other day, I blogged about a few sustainable fashion designers – individuals who are trying to make a difference with their eco-friendly collections. But where can designers show off their sustainable collections? At a sustainable fashion show, of course. This past April 22 (Earth Day), Stanford University held its first sustainable fashion show. The object was to raise the awareness of eco-friendly fashion not only for the students of the campus, but also people in the surrounding area. The fashion created for the show was made with sustainable fabrics, recycled items, and reused fabric remnants. But, the fashion show … Continue reading →

The Four Types of Mowers

What kind of shape is your mower in these days? Is it time to upgrade to a new one? The first step is to decide which type of mower to buy. There are some new options to consider. Gas Powered Mowers and Tractors Gas powered mowers and tractors are the usual type of mower we think about when we think about mowers. The loud engines that can be heard on almost any Saturday in the suburbs is what we have come to expect. This type of mower is usually the practical choice if you have a large lawn to mow, … Continue reading →

What is a Green Cleaning Party?

Green cleaning parties are becoming more and more popular as families are concerned with bring toxic chemicals into their home. More and more information is being released about how chemicals in common cleaners can affect everything from asthma to reproductive health. If you are familiar with frugal living, you may also be familiar with using homemade cleaners made from baking soda, vinegar and even olive oil. But what you may not know is that while these homemade cleaners save you money, they may also save your health. Using natural ingredients are the safest way to clean your home. Instead of … Continue reading →

How Green was 2008

Many analysts predicted that 2008 was going to be a green year in terms of the home. More people would adopt materials and practices that saved energy and were good for the environment. My own New Year Resolutions for the beginning of the year included being more green in our home. But then we had a downturn in the economy. So did everyone live up to the expectations? Yes and no. Let me start with my own home. We live pretty frugally and normally try to avoid waste whenever possible by reusing items. We do recycle quite a bit and … Continue reading →

Attack of the Stinky Trash Monster

“It creeps upstairs, alone or in pairs, what’s that horrible smell? A thing, a thing, a horrendous thing, everyone knows it’s stinky.” Does the stinky trash monster live at your house? Here is an account of my ongoing battle with this beast, and all of the ways I try to conquer it. In my home, the stinky trash monster sits there innocently in the kitchen, waiting to turn on me and let its presence be known to one and all. Usually, it does its work in the middle of the night or while our family has been out of the … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: October 6th Through October 12th

How has your weather been? Here we are having nice warm weather after a week of colder temperatures. Still, no matter how nice it is outside, I am reminded that winter is not far away. It is time to start thinking about fall maintenance and preparing for winter. Check back daily to learn more about this as well as read about other topics related to your home. October 6th Home Week in Review: September 29th Through October 5th Have you started thinking about preparing for winter? Cool morning and evening temperatures have prompted me to put extra blankets on the … Continue reading →

Going Green on Halloween

Did you know that you can go green for Halloween? No, I’m not talking about dressing your kids up as compost, but by making more environmentally conscious decision around your home and for your family this Halloween. Did you know that Americans are likely to spend more than 5 million dollars this year on Halloween stuff, from decorations to costumes to candy? This is according to the National Retail Federation. Many of those purchases will later go on to find their way into the landfill. Some of the biggest offenders are plastic decorations and costumes, and all of that packaging … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: September 8th Through September 14th

Have you been more conscious about going green? From sheets to rainwater, there are so many ways to help the planet. Take a look at some of the articles that were posted lat week. September 8th Home Week in Review: September 1st Through September 7th We are right in the middle of storm season, especially when it comes to hurricanes. Analysts say this is going to be one of the worst years for storms, so please be prepared. We weathered our last storm very well. Read about our preparations, and share in other Home Blog news. September 9th Collecting Rainwater … Continue reading →

6 Ways to Reuse Cereal Box Liners

Do you think that some things could never be reused? There are so many uses for the ordinary stuff that comes in and out of our lives. One good example is that cereal box liner. Cereal box liners are the waxed bags that hold the cereal and keep it fresh in the box. In an earlier blog about reusing the cereal boxes themselves, I touched on how useful these liners can be. Now, I’ll share six ideas for reusing them. Why throw something away if it could save money? Which idea is your favorite? Do you have an idea that … Continue reading →