tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88223792043796974132024-03-05T20:14:12.506-08:00Diary Of A Wanna-Be Green Girl*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-16309463183753240672010-11-14T14:20:00.000-08:002010-11-14T14:20:06.624-08:00Happy Holidays: Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnSgQXiu1xMJQ6B8kBLbZ-iV7JBaZ89v7cqMvr7S0hml17Q0cIUvidwXYL3MytgQFsQvf69FNgSDptlh9hIQzUXwGc1QdXtG_zHhAsqXflTj7CDYoMvmTq5IR3aK4wNOIy3D-ninln-z2/s1600/100_5183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnSgQXiu1xMJQ6B8kBLbZ-iV7JBaZ89v7cqMvr7S0hml17Q0cIUvidwXYL3MytgQFsQvf69FNgSDptlh9hIQzUXwGc1QdXtG_zHhAsqXflTj7CDYoMvmTq5IR3aK4wNOIy3D-ninln-z2/s320/100_5183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I am going to re-ignite Diary of A Wanna-Be Green Girl with a weekly series of holiday tips. The first one came to me today while I was coupon clipping. Old newspapers! Not only are they great for cleaning your windows with your water + white vinegar green window cleaner (Find the recipe in an archive post from Feb. of 2009 <a href="http://wannabegreengirl.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-is-clean.html">HERE</a>) - but I had 3 papers, ... which gave me 3 comic sections... and actually, by surprise got a double of comics in one! So I had 4 comic pages - I can easily wrap 4 medium sized gifts (like books, cds, jewelry, candles etc) practically for free. All you really have to do is use 2 coupons from the paper to earn back what you paid for the paper (at most!) - and you can wrap for free.... think about if you start saving now? You have 6 weeks, 6 more Sunday papers to collect your cute and colorful comic strip gift wrap! Once they rip the present open, it can easily be put into your fireplace as starter, or into your recycle bin - which is where it would have went had you not saved it to wrap with! I'm not sure if regular gift wrap is able to be recycled because of the coating.... and I know it can be toxic to burn! This is not a new concept. People have been wrapping with newspaper forever! It's different though when you make a concious effort to say, "this holiday season I can save a butt-load by using what I already have!!"Amanda Wregehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307489885470495122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-31946744270477916482010-06-22T16:50:00.000-07:002010-06-22T16:50:27.791-07:00Galveston Beach, TX "Catch of the Day"I found this ad in the Rolling Stone Magazine. It's for <a href="http://www.surfrider.org/">http://www.surfrider.org/</a><br />
<br />
I think it visually makes an amazing impression. <br />
<br />
It reads, "In regions of the Pacific, plastic particles outnumber plankton six to one"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngQCjqmoYJVLEcpVApG4Ms7kGZspCbD1-mTiYsPL4kTqwQ4jyTI72lz4OB_UKw1migfgUiCsngYx8oQf-W71ZcJ-nFgOZW-NNriCZ6njwEGJ_hn33KK38hhKKhcsvDnhGbv4aqdP91d_k/s1600/Snapshot_20100622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngQCjqmoYJVLEcpVApG4Ms7kGZspCbD1-mTiYsPL4kTqwQ4jyTI72lz4OB_UKw1migfgUiCsngYx8oQf-W71ZcJ-nFgOZW-NNriCZ6njwEGJ_hn33KK38hhKKhcsvDnhGbv4aqdP91d_k/s400/Snapshot_20100622.jpg" width="343" /></a></div>Amanda Wregehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307489885470495122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-50120972188535030032010-06-05T16:50:00.000-07:002010-06-05T16:50:49.433-07:00Toxic Shrek Glasses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBWaHWX6ucLuhLoLc8LdUMyjEIL70N2j0zdZDzYsLjPgO-Wzpimo0VSjuZuO-YPXjC8FYTDmi-fd556EAsbwVpQ8oYNWT40GLX-8ZycAQGj8TXIPjL5-jWeTrif7CsR9AsLaD_LgLrLx9/s1600/shrek+glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBWaHWX6ucLuhLoLc8LdUMyjEIL70N2j0zdZDzYsLjPgO-Wzpimo0VSjuZuO-YPXjC8FYTDmi-fd556EAsbwVpQ8oYNWT40GLX-8ZycAQGj8TXIPjL5-jWeTrif7CsR9AsLaD_LgLrLx9/s320/shrek+glasses.jpg" /></a></div>So as the excitement of the new Shrek Glasses emerged in our household. We have been making special trips there (McDonald's) in order to collect them all. So far we have Shrek, Fiona, and Puss in Boots. All we need now is Donkey, but it seems as though we won't ever be able to make our collection complete. To be more specific, we will lose them all together because yesterday, June 4th, they were all recalled due to cadmium being present in the paint. Cadmium is found in nature, very toxic, and used to make red and yellow paint. I found it very annoying that the <a href="http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mcd_faq/shrek_glasses_recall.html?DCSext.destination=http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mcd_faq/shrek_glasses_recall.html">McDonald's website has a Q&A </a>about this recall, and begins every answer with "they are not toxic".. well yes they are Mr. Ronald McDonald. I don't think my kids will be too sad about having to go get a refund (as soon as they actually release HOW to get your money back on the glasses), because just as I sat the glasses down to take the picture of them for this blog entry, my daughter was freaking out telling me, "Don't touch them!" and "they'll make you sick mom!"....You know we all go there expecting, at our own risk, to be poisoned by McDonald's food..... you wouldn't think you'd carry the same risk buying some collectible glasses!Amanda Wregehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307489885470495122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-78178022711434466662010-06-01T18:53:00.000-07:002010-06-01T19:00:48.027-07:00Magazine Mayhem!I am obsessed with reading tabloid magazines. I love them. I really could look at them and reread them a million times... and I really do! I honestly probably have about 50 of them in my house right now. A new "set" from the 50 I read before. Those mags usually run from 1.99-3.99 a pop too! Ouch! Don't worry. I haven't spent a cent... and NO I haven't swiped them from the local Great Clips or Dr.'s office! My stepmom is in love with these magazines as I am. When she found out we shared this "love", she immediatley asked if I would enjoy getting them from her when she was done. Since then we have this magazine hand-me-down thing going pretty nicely. I don't care if they are from Dec. 2008 or last week honestly. People, Rolling Stone, In Style. I love them all. Sharing these mags not only saves $$ but it saves trees, and gives these mags a 2nd life! Not just a 2nd life in my case.... they are at least getting 3rds because my boss also loves them. So they are being passed from reader to reader... and hopefully when the last photo spread of Hugh Jackman has been turned, they will go into one of the dozens of paper/mag/phonebook recycle bins in every parking lot in the Center Grove School District. So next time you see that issue of Cosmo in the checkout lane.... text that girlfriend of yours. She's probably already bought it. Pass it around. Spread the love, save a buck, save the Earth!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_YgEIqHxg-1SLBF0H_7KgqGZq_lECzgMbQaFN2NXsW6ohsKo8v2Wt5ZBji75KR23EzD6He1pYG_GYY13xpNiNuSNTYiodd5Tp3gSNhksSfrhKhME2rQKciZcttyKXW6bXIF_TuIdXVwD/s1600/mags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_YgEIqHxg-1SLBF0H_7KgqGZq_lECzgMbQaFN2NXsW6ohsKo8v2Wt5ZBji75KR23EzD6He1pYG_GYY13xpNiNuSNTYiodd5Tp3gSNhksSfrhKhME2rQKciZcttyKXW6bXIF_TuIdXVwD/s320/mags.jpg" /></a></div>Photo Caption - This is really my pile of magazines as of right now!! I've read every single one? Anyone up for some reading?! :)Amanda Wregehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307489885470495122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-80730855743289680852010-05-30T16:58:00.000-07:002010-05-30T16:58:54.121-07:00Farm Fresh Delivery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZYuRmVw6WpDOgf5gBufMXA_Nao1jSxMkyt5OOVFjuQgljeFMdnKXkBKnRUA2wXCQkjkmnaGa74HkTEJg2xDQVSRgPVUAPC9uWZ1X7k24ZHEmLkrt5PYDddgHc7ioyms9MZmfb71U203S/s1600/main_splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZYuRmVw6WpDOgf5gBufMXA_Nao1jSxMkyt5OOVFjuQgljeFMdnKXkBKnRUA2wXCQkjkmnaGa74HkTEJg2xDQVSRgPVUAPC9uWZ1X7k24ZHEmLkrt5PYDddgHc7ioyms9MZmfb71U203S/s400/main_splash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>At the wonderful luck of joining Groupon on Facebook I was able to purchase a 50% off one for something called Farm Fresh Delievery. Farm Fresh Delievery is a co-op that works with local farmers throughout the midwest and provides local, organic, fresh, and bulk foods and delivers them right to your door. It's like an online Farmer's Market!!! Every Friday for the last three weeks I have had a big nice plastic tub left on my doorstep. Inside it is filled with the fruits and veggies (and a couple times meat) of my choosing from the beginning of the week. Really you have the choice of almost anything you can think of, although because of availablility, the list changes weekly. Not only are we getting better foods because they are organic and fresh, but in more ways than just those are they eco-friendly!! The entire step to process the products to sell in the stores is eliminated, as is the packaging, and money used to distribute it all. Some things we have even come in bulk (ie: raisins and sunflower seeds).... this saves SO MUCH packaging. Do you realized how many little Sunmaid boxes it would take to equal the 1 lb of raisins I got for just a couple dollars?! Everything you buy, is guaranteed fresh and in pristine condition or you are compensated fully for the item. There aren't any delivery charges either. <br />
<br />
See what my buzz is about!!!<br />
<a href="http://www.farmfreshdelivery.com/index.php">Farm Fresh Delivery</a>Amanda Wregehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307489885470495122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-63120018670123444262010-03-10T15:27:00.001-08:002010-03-10T16:45:40.088-08:00The Raw Diet?.... just maybeAfter having a Facebook friend today post about this energy providing "green smoothie" she was drinking... I inquired and found out the ingredients. Already eating a vegetarian diet, I thought that any other unique way to eat and gain energy (other than coffee!)would be wonderful. As I was given the laundry list of items in the smoothie... I began to wonder...if I can drink all of this mixed together in a tasty smoothie... I can REALLY increase not only the servings of fruits and veggies I eat a day, but I can also really add a variety where if I was eating each individually I would only eat one or two things. She directed me to a website she likes, <a href="http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/">Green Smoothie Girl</a> and the term Raw Diet finally made sense to me. After browsing the website, I came to a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/09/26/weightloss.angela.stokes/index.html">CNN article </a>about a woman named Angela Stokes, and how she made a huge life change by following a Raw Diet. That then took me to her personal website, <a href="http://www.rawreform.com/index.php">Raw Reform</a>. Now after 12 hours.... I feel like I have had an epiphany. After going to the store this morning and purchasing 1/2 of the ingredients for the Green Smoothie (I was happy to have already had 1/2 of what I needed!!) - I prepared enough for 2 meals... it was my lunch and dinner. I even gave a glass to my 5 year old daughter who gave her seal of approval, proclaiming, "THIS IS DELICIOUS!!!" Soy is a huge protein source for me. Soy would not be something included in a raw diet. That would be my first little hurdle, would just to be thoughful of making sure I got what I needed. I think I might try for a 2/3 raw vegan diet (breakfast & lunch) and eat my normal vegetarian diet for my 3rd meal of the day. This website <a href="http://www.thebestofrawfood.com/">Starting a Raw Food Diet</a> looks like it's going to be a good resource for me to start... I'll let you know how it goes!!<br /><br />This Filled my blender completely... feel free to improvise,.. change ANYTHING!!<br />This is 2 Meals worth:<br /><br />1 Apple (cored)<br />1 Banana<br />1/2 Avocado<br />1 Celery Stalk<br />1 c. Carrots<br />1 1/2 c. Kale<br />1 c.(Frozen)Berry Mix (I used Strawberry/Blueberry/Blackberry)<br />1 c. (Frozen) Pineapple<br />12 oz water (I used 8 oz water 4 oz 100% Acai-Pomegranate Juice)<br />2 TBSP Ground Flax Seed (you could use the Flax Seed Oil - but I couldn't find it)<br />1 6oz cup of Greek Yogurt (not RAW but I added it)<br /><br />If you do a Raw Diet, or are interested in trying it... let me know.. I'd love to have someone to dialogue with!*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-10380500392252859372010-03-09T07:44:00.000-08:002010-03-09T07:47:29.370-08:00$1 Off Morningstar.... You're Welcome!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRMIYPsTWK3G-86n2nFz_QgIESfOy3u9zVEirGoy9K9Ho_dmIgWiSVa58BQ59GyjOSzMwFUnG2ce6izPrpMD5ZW5yhnKvV2c6IwIKJM_2FrPCvmhXLVU6wEvvLrcLAMO-MQo9IK76Eatd/s1600-h/61995OCODEeb.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRMIYPsTWK3G-86n2nFz_QgIESfOy3u9zVEirGoy9K9Ho_dmIgWiSVa58BQ59GyjOSzMwFUnG2ce6izPrpMD5ZW5yhnKvV2c6IwIKJM_2FrPCvmhXLVU6wEvvLrcLAMO-MQo9IK76Eatd/s400/61995OCODEeb.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446661207049838450" /></a><br />Click <a href="http://www.morningstarfarms.com/coupon.aspx">HERE</a> for a $1 off coupon for one of the new Morningstar Farms frozen entrees!*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-16926879292496320662010-03-08T18:01:00.000-08:002010-03-08T18:44:56.767-08:00~Green Events in Indy~ NOW - APRIL!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw7dsv6zEUurLOTVsW8NByVauPtYFQlpNb7C_R55_aPufo-eGR0X6M5RhHy7nFItvHRyXURgcGrJkmeIZQ6q4quQcOf3wrUVjk_BbiVXWi-gTkk_wQmjdl0rWKujZAMq7a5ibC2Dt-uSX/s1600-h/livegreenlogo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw7dsv6zEUurLOTVsW8NByVauPtYFQlpNb7C_R55_aPufo-eGR0X6M5RhHy7nFItvHRyXURgcGrJkmeIZQ6q4quQcOf3wrUVjk_BbiVXWi-gTkk_wQmjdl0rWKujZAMq7a5ibC2Dt-uSX/s400/livegreenlogo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446459428674517682" /></a><br /><strong>Winter Market</strong><br />Now - April 24<br />Saturdays @ Indy Winter Farmers Market<br />9am-12:30pm <br />FREE<br /><br /><strong>Going Green Festival</strong><br />Indiana State Museum<br />Friday 9:30am - 2pm; Saturday 11am-4pm<br />$7 Adults; $6.50 Seniors; $4 Ages 3-12<br /><br /><strong>Meditation Hike</strong><br />Indianapolis Museum of Art<br />Every Thursday 4-5 pm<br />Meet at the Efroymson Entrance Pavilion.<br />Click <a href="http://www.globalpeaceinitiatives.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59:peace-hike-schedule-for-2010-now-available&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=76">HERE</a> for more information<br />FREE<br /><br /><strong>Footprints: Balancing Nature's Diversity </strong><br />Indiana State Museum<br />April 1st-December 31st<br />Tues.-Sat. 9am-5pm & Sun. 11am-5pm<br />$7 Adults; $6.50 Seniors; $4 Ages 3-12<br /><br /><strong>Rain Garden Basics</strong><br />Indianapolis Museum of Art<br />April 8th: 6-8pm<br />$30 - Public, $21 - Members<br /><br /><strong>Green Spring Cleaning Workshop</strong><br />Morris-Butler House Museum<br />April 13th: 5:30-7:30pm<br />$10/person, $7/members<br /><br /><strong>Urban Composting: The Demise of the Stinky Trash Can</strong><br />Indianapolis Museum of Art<br />April 15th: 6-7pm<br />$35 - Public, $30 - Members<br /><br /><strong>Earth Day Indiana Festival</strong><br />White River State Park<br />April 24th: 11am-4pm<br />Click <a href="http://www.earthdayindiana.org/news.html">HERE </a>for more info<br />FREE<br /><br /><strong>Arbor Day - Indy Free Tree</strong><br />Monument Circle<br />April 30th: 8am-2pm<br />FREE<br /><br /><strong>Arbor Day Celebration</strong><br />Indiana State Museum<br />April 30th: 9:30am-2pm<br />$7 Adults; $6.50 Seniors; $4 Ages 3-12*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-8695930818186457922010-03-07T14:40:00.000-08:002010-03-07T14:52:38.399-08:00My Baby's Getting Some PIZZA!!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8isHPKHE9QcDUsdw97thS3qNoK77rxxxFFQ4P4N8iEh6vYj-LrGHcZjS_oppX3tlBIaAdcnPaexR8P-iQJtxBD5mGCcfVDLGJjnzb5WXtg3Lh4ojRI6uwfOJZ8AHtMZxpH8Nq_myoba9/s1600-h/Snapshot_20100307_4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8isHPKHE9QcDUsdw97thS3qNoK77rxxxFFQ4P4N8iEh6vYj-LrGHcZjS_oppX3tlBIaAdcnPaexR8P-iQJtxBD5mGCcfVDLGJjnzb5WXtg3Lh4ojRI6uwfOJZ8AHtMZxpH8Nq_myoba9/s400/Snapshot_20100307_4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446028479837940530" /></a>Poor Joel is always getting all the toppings ripped off of his pizza just so he can enjoy a slice with the rest of us. Pizza (the easy dinner) definitley isn't easy in our home. Daddy is a huge carnivore, Joel can't have any dairy products due to his lactose intollerance and I am a vegetarian. We literally need 4 different pizzas because Skylar is sure to be difficult as most 5 year old do!! Tonight is Joel's night. I was super excited to find this at SuperTarget here in Greenwood. My baby's getting some pizza tonight!*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-88676128838706698252010-03-04T13:54:00.000-08:002010-03-04T14:11:06.108-08:00Earth Hour 2010 - JOIN IN!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3PitgOTRNY6GALhLgYxLe2mPy0piHtIDaBla6b2pS3OSojOAqu1GaqrgdmGvcQKaqviEiCZxubAzo9drSxN4KWx9jqj0farZweHF9VfgyxKR7w7iU2I8rISsWmxfnGNSvvPPRpYkrz4X/s1600-h/EarthHour.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3PitgOTRNY6GALhLgYxLe2mPy0piHtIDaBla6b2pS3OSojOAqu1GaqrgdmGvcQKaqviEiCZxubAzo9drSxN4KWx9jqj0farZweHF9VfgyxKR7w7iU2I8rISsWmxfnGNSvvPPRpYkrz4X/s400/EarthHour.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444904617467839922" /></a><br />It's that time of the year again, Earth Hour 2010 happens in 22 days - March 27th at 8:30pm! Join the rest of the globe and turn off those lights. Please take a moment to watch the Earth Hour Video and see how you can make a difference. <br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FclcMfzjwug">Earth Hour Video</a><br /><iframe src="http://www.earthhour.org/widget/vote/Small_splash.htm" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" width="300" height="250"></iframe><br /><object height="250" width="300" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.earthhour.org/assets/flash/tools/banners/EarthHour_300x250_2010.swf"><param value="http://www.earthhour.org/assets/flash/tools/banners/EarthHour_300x250_2010.swf" name="movie" /><param value="true" name="allowFullScreen" /><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess" /></object>*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-5235247189243678612010-03-02T07:28:00.000-08:002010-03-02T08:40:48.168-08:00You don't no stinkin' dryer!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EblQx0mlueGfBJRTu8bYM3hWVOVaA54apDFJj2WSXgulqEZG8em3fQtVUeycO8eLZwiIYnxww6Nhc2WW2vzNRJHqIJYThqiHHfydMruRxh1VWyooSKj5NmaGOzp2p9iIikny5i_dcWpB/s1600-h/Snapshot_20100302_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EblQx0mlueGfBJRTu8bYM3hWVOVaA54apDFJj2WSXgulqEZG8em3fQtVUeycO8eLZwiIYnxww6Nhc2WW2vzNRJHqIJYThqiHHfydMruRxh1VWyooSKj5NmaGOzp2p9iIikny5i_dcWpB/s400/Snapshot_20100302_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444077127395931986" /></a><br />Considering it hasn't gotten above 30 degrees in the last 3 months, hanging up your wet clothes to dry on a clothesline will probably make some denim popcicles before giving you nice dry clothes. And unless you have a private yard with something to tie a line to, it also can be pretty tricky. A clothesline isn't usually an option in an apartment complex either. So with the bad weather, apartment living, and a broken dryer our family has made do, improvised, and realize the energy stealing appliance is completely unnecessary! All you need is an extra shower curtain rod and you can turn a small bathtub area into a perfect place to hang your wet clothes to dry. We have been dryer-less for 3 months now. Another upside is, once you hang the wet clothes up, once dry, they are already on hangers, no folding needed,...and a side bonus - no wrinkled clothes you forget to get out of the dryer and no static cling! You can also avoid the poisonous dryer sheets that so many use. So if you don't have the weather/sun to hang outdoors, the space, or your apartment rules ban the use of a clothesline, you can still go greener, ditch that dryer and drip those clothes dry! You can also count on your clothes shrinking less and lasting longer, which will also save you money long-term. The environment and your pocketbook will thank you!*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-45927085172827207522010-02-24T15:48:00.000-08:002010-02-24T17:25:39.224-08:00Bacon VS Bacon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEits3R15KdBoPL3szs-te_NGnyNckpkqmlmXC7rrW7C3-7hW6xK8z36UXq_BVI2yNV7KvUPtSD2YZiAlyKcfZcMMdUZ3tsbe-Fnv4X-vCa2mkSljE20b7nR-VtmWosB_5useCKohTB1dube/s1600-h/Morningstar.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEits3R15KdBoPL3szs-te_NGnyNckpkqmlmXC7rrW7C3-7hW6xK8z36UXq_BVI2yNV7KvUPtSD2YZiAlyKcfZcMMdUZ3tsbe-Fnv4X-vCa2mkSljE20b7nR-VtmWosB_5useCKohTB1dube/s400/Morningstar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441979214886367346" /></a>For those vegetarians out there.... I am a huge fan of MorningStar Farms products. They are found in the frozen section. I buy the grilled chik'n strips, bacon strips, and veggie cakes. I use the bacon strips the most. I use it for breakfast with eggs, on my salads, in my chicken carbonara (with the grilled chickn' strips), on BLTS, in loaded mashed potatoes. The uses are endless. I can cook it in just a few minutes in my toaster oven. Last week, I ended up at Meijer instead of SuperTarget for some shopping, and didn't have time to hit up the frozen section and ended up grazing in produce. I saw the LightLife brand of veggie bacon (Smart Bacon) and snapped it up.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnGZFTMI5pQx74rlaoFVP9hcj_0jW7rm_kQe3W6YB74WGJMm5eEsRE4ULOXtAe8fr3bDGhxGd5jQMNOkDDZK8tudh62-5C0MhbHenBe5i1muMFmvFkbAZ6Ge8wXRAErz7Dg63gMviCfDz/s1600-h/SmartBacon.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnGZFTMI5pQx74rlaoFVP9hcj_0jW7rm_kQe3W6YB74WGJMm5eEsRE4ULOXtAe8fr3bDGhxGd5jQMNOkDDZK8tudh62-5C0MhbHenBe5i1muMFmvFkbAZ6Ge8wXRAErz7Dg63gMviCfDz/s200/SmartBacon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441974190489614722" /></a> Looking forward to a yummy BLTA (A=avocado) for lunch. But let me tell you.... NOT ALL VEGGIE BACON IS CREATED EQUAL! Blech!!!It never crisped up, remained floppy, whereas the MorningStar brand crips enough to crush and acts like "real" bacon would and not to mention tastes delicious. The Lightlife Smart Bacon perfumed my kitchen with the nasty smell of hotdogs. Hotdogs? Really? I immediatley threw it in the trash, along with the brand new package I had just opened that mealtime. This specific LightLife product is the reason for the bad sterotypes of veggie protein meat replacements! I can't speak for the other products in the LightLife line except the GimmeLean Sausage which is actually very good, but if you are in the market for a veggie bacon alternative, please take my word for it, save yourself the $ and go with Morningstar Farms. It is above the rest and gives me everything I would want from this type of protein Your palette and the piggies will thank you!*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-25726595232612074192010-02-24T12:55:00.000-08:002010-02-24T13:14:15.316-08:00Do you really need your microwave?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3AJEA78lnit36WKLBzPjTHyaf5o6Cc1XG4NnTn3Qz-V5nhLkF4_X_HeMJU167SpmrXnEES8Oxf15hjibFGqxHYpqiwMv8XKUQyMh-xHYl6Ba_T7CnJLWbszPk5_jh2uQh2qFTtLvxxsk/s1600-h/microwaves.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3AJEA78lnit36WKLBzPjTHyaf5o6Cc1XG4NnTn3Qz-V5nhLkF4_X_HeMJU167SpmrXnEES8Oxf15hjibFGqxHYpqiwMv8XKUQyMh-xHYl6Ba_T7CnJLWbszPk5_jh2uQh2qFTtLvxxsk/s400/microwaves.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441921078692944722" /></a><br />I can't believe it's been an ENTIRE YEAR since I posted to this blog. Shame on me. Well I am getting back on track because I love to write and blog and share. So I'll start small. <br />When we moved back to Indiana we decided that we would simplify our life as much as possible. This included decluttering as much as possible, in a way that we could minimize our trash, and go with a reuse and recycle approach. Also to make sure we lived in a completely toxic free environment, doing what we could within our control. Creating a balance of energy in our home using the practice of feng-shui and committing to family relaxation and meditation. One major change we decided to do was to get rid of our microwave. Many reasons. First it is a pretty large appliance that uses a LOT of electricity when in place in a kitchen. Unless unplugged after every use (which is actually what we were doing before), the microwave even when not in use is in fact using electricity for the clock feature. It is undesirable clutter in most kitchens for those who are not lucky enough to have it built into the cabinets. And lastly, just with knowlege I had learned it also damaged the nutrients of the food cooked in it. Of course food is most nutritious in its most natural and raw form anyway, but if you are going to cook your food, the microwave is going to take more nutrients away from your food that other cooking methods. We have been microwave free for 2 months now, and I haven't even for one second missed it. I purchased a nice tea kettle. It looks cute, and takes up a lot less space for heating a simple mug of water for some tea. Popcorn? Bagged popcorn is about the only thing we can't do, but we purchases kernels anyway and use our hot air popper that belonged to my grandma. That method is SO MUCH healthier anyways! So I urge you all to reevaluate your true need for a microwave. Is it really worth it? Please also read below the Top Ten Reasons to Throw Out Your Microwave! <br /><br />This is from a study that I found here: <a href="http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/microwave-ovens-the-proven-dangers.html">The Proven Dangers of Microwave Ovens</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Ten Reasons to Throw out your Microwave Oven</strong><br /><br />From the conclusions of the Swiss, Russian and German scientific clinical studies, we can no longer ignore the microwave oven sitting in our kitchens. Based on this research, we will conclude this article with the following:<br /><br />1. Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term - permanent - brain damage by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].<br /><br />2. The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.<br /><br />3. Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.<br /><br />4. The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.<br /><br />5. Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.<br /><br />6. The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.<br /><br />7. Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in America.<br /><br />8. The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.<br /><br />9. Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.<br /><br />10. Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.<br /><br />Have you tossed out your microwave oven yet?<br /><a href="http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/microwave-ovens-the-proven-dangers.html"></a>*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-74977507627277988642009-02-01T05:51:00.001-08:002009-02-01T06:22:38.907-08:00What IS Clean??<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY5c6LnfNidUwbDG4SRq-B8R1LxIo6zijBAdfjIa9-ykcCe3Nr3xtDwvrYzJupNB-T0Ifhm904RprEVcRN2JkD0Koqq1nRffceEzSZ7SYj5DF4vzbzsyzzzOl1MuF6pBc9_lGdxt-DWQy/s1600-h/Green-Clean.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY5c6LnfNidUwbDG4SRq-B8R1LxIo6zijBAdfjIa9-ykcCe3Nr3xtDwvrYzJupNB-T0Ifhm904RprEVcRN2JkD0Koqq1nRffceEzSZ7SYj5DF4vzbzsyzzzOl1MuF6pBc9_lGdxt-DWQy/s320/Green-Clean.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297833471035115442" /></a><br />Keeping my house clean for my family's health is very important to me. Picking up cleaning products with labels of danger and ingredients that I am unfamiliar with can be quite unnerving. Over a year ago I decided to throw out all of my commercial "brand" cleaning products and to buy empty spray bottles and make my own cleaners. It was super easy, and anyone can do it. A few of the items may be something you haven't purchased before, but they are not hard to find or expensive. This method of cleaning is neither toxic or expensive, it's actually cost EFFECTIVE, and better for the environment because it limits the packaging that you buy since you are reusing the bottles each time you make another batch. Of the items I do not make on my own, I have replaced them with products that are safe and Eco-friendly. <br /><br />For my friends at work, who are interested to know these recipes, this blog's for you!<br /><br /><strong>What you need:</strong><br />Spray Bottles<br />Baking Soda<br />Washing Soda<br />Distilled White Vinegar<br />Tea Tree Oil<br />Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap (I personally like the lavender for a nice scent)- or an eco-friendly liquid dish soap<br />Olive Oil<br /><br />(I have copy/pasted these recipes directly from: <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html">HERE</a>)<br /><br /><br />CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER<br />Simply pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit. <br /><br />Note: Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to the mixture and store in a sealed glass jar, to keep the product moist. Otherwise just make as much as you need at a time. <br /><br />WINDOW CLEANER<br />1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent<br />3 tablespoons vinegar<br />2 cups water<br />Spray bottle <br /><br />Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past. <br /><br />OVEN CLEANER<br />1 cup or more baking soda<br />Water<br />A squirt or two of liquid detergent <br /><br />Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn’t work for you it is probably because you didn’t use enough baking soda and/or water. <br /><br />ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER<br />1/2 teaspoon washing soda<br />A dab of liquid soap<br />2 cups hot tap water <br /><br />Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag. <br /><br />FURNITURE POLISH <br />1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)<br />1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice<br />Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely. <br /><br />VINEGAR DEODORIZER<br />Keep a clean spray bottle filled with straight 5 percent vinegar in your kitchen near your cutting board and in your bathroom and use them for cleaning. I often spray the vinegar on our cutting board before going to bed at night, and don’t even rinse but let it set overnight. The smell of vinegar dissipates within a few hours. Straight vinegar is also great for cleaning the toilet rim. Just spray it on and wipe off. <br /><br /><br />TEA TREE TREASURE<br />Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. I’ve used it successfully on a moldy ceiling from a leaking roof, on a musty bureau, a musty rug, and a moldy shower curtain. Tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days. <br /><br />2 teaspoons tea tree oil<br />2 cups water <br /><br />Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. Makes two cups. <br /><br />VINEGAR SPRAY<br />Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing if you can put up with the smell. It will dissipate in a few hours.<br /><strong><br /><br />Additionally, from my house to yours:</strong><br /><br />Instead of dryer sheets (very toxic - google it!) or liquid fabric softener, use 1 cup of white vinegar in your last rinse cycle of your washer. Your clothes will be soft and fresh, and no, they won't smell like vinegar! <br /><br />We use straight washing soda in our dishwasher, and vinegar is the rinse aid. <br /><br />I make my own baby wipe solution for my cloth baby wipes! Check my blog archive for that recipe!<br /><br />I also recommend Charlie's Soap for your laundry detergent. It's fabulous, you only need 1/8 cup for each load, and it can get anything out! <br /><br /><br />What are / or where can I find these products??<br /><br />You can get Charlies Soap, Dr. Bronners, and Tea Tree Oil all at Earth Fare.<br />Additionally, I have also found Dr. Bronner's at BILO and Target in the Organic Healthy & Beauty isles. Tea Tree Oil is also readily available at GNC. So far I have only found the Arm & Hammer Washing Soda at the Harris Teeter at Steelecroft (Hwy 160/49)- but haven't checked other H.T.'s. Here are some links for a few of the products as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thelaundrybasket.com/Our_Products/Our_Products_Super_Washing_Soda/our_products_super_washing_sod.html">Arm & Hammers's Washing Soda</a><br /><a href="http://www.drbronner.com/">Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap</a><br /><a href="http://www.charliesoap.com/">Charlie's Soap</a>*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-64801496020816213032009-01-11T18:35:00.000-08:002009-01-11T19:00:37.056-08:00Little Things Add Up...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji96iKkGsQAhZTqhE2yLlOylvZyiPfRMRhkWg698bqTVYy21gHybx1LYvTGSy0sPru24Wh1oJUBFLSHM5Oxz5JpkXRtEW3klp9XU1Uj2kPOPG699yFLURn5B8BdIk7CDzSVtTEW74fS9oU/s1600-h/0101091847.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji96iKkGsQAhZTqhE2yLlOylvZyiPfRMRhkWg698bqTVYy21gHybx1LYvTGSy0sPru24Wh1oJUBFLSHM5Oxz5JpkXRtEW3klp9XU1Uj2kPOPG699yFLURn5B8BdIk7CDzSVtTEW74fS9oU/s320/0101091847.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290236688578566850" /></a><br />You don't have to do big and earth-changing things to make a difference. I bet like me, you have a pile of receipts... you log them... or don't ever look at them again, and then they go into the trash right? Well, how many of those receipts do you REALLY need? How about those little ones from the gas pumps? Do yourself and the earth a favor next time and when it asks if you would like a receipt, select "NO"!!! It will be one less receipt printed, one less piece of trash for you to get rid of!*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-63806933272870887902009-01-07T15:16:00.001-08:002009-01-08T03:43:08.801-08:00Clover Schools Goin' Green!I thought this article was relevant and wonderful.... right from the local Lake Wylie Pilot! It is comforting to know that the school system my child is in, cares about something like this. Now between home AND school, she is not being exposed to the use of any toxic cleaning chemicals as much as possible. Healthier schools = Healthier children! Yay! (Click article to enlarge to read) or it can be found online <a href="http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/403/story/226632.html">HERE</a>! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3X9cqRMbLZ34konNEnurq4cg0rsiXDfZ4IyPbq7aToERzEJGuzUJCwSE3DnTA-RlXFUBS-jZKY87qkCUBjJh2GmMkzhdiBSZWunSHvkWUr1I5NUyODfnD08acH2V3cY3WGm04cjxQMd9/s1600-h/article.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 174px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3X9cqRMbLZ34konNEnurq4cg0rsiXDfZ4IyPbq7aToERzEJGuzUJCwSE3DnTA-RlXFUBS-jZKY87qkCUBjJh2GmMkzhdiBSZWunSHvkWUr1I5NUyODfnD08acH2V3cY3WGm04cjxQMd9/s400/article.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288886410075008850" /></a>*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-59583262189976698492009-01-02T08:17:00.000-08:002009-01-03T12:51:58.751-08:00Green Living For Dummies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZKIR13R09YwGoJdBZ_V5kLuHExu-kkpMBxMNZKaljq3dkzEKZ7Agt72_gkEibPW0CLCrzGGhna0SqzulsDRXqtH298x3lkXSBqjkGpRn3SvKK978wN1unbh_VUyF4x0v10wU1nWiEPwG/s1600-h/100_4059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZKIR13R09YwGoJdBZ_V5kLuHExu-kkpMBxMNZKaljq3dkzEKZ7Agt72_gkEibPW0CLCrzGGhna0SqzulsDRXqtH298x3lkXSBqjkGpRn3SvKK978wN1unbh_VUyF4x0v10wU1nWiEPwG/s320/100_4059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287172847420710338" /></a><br />What an awesomely-green find! I credit my ingenious husband for this great stocking stuffer! -run one- -run all- to the $1 bin at Target. They have a huge variety of "For Dummies" books.... little paperback purse size or for perfect bathroom reading material (ha!) Green Living For Dummies... the "pocket edition" has great tips on why to be greener, how to make your home healthier and more efficient, minimizing trash, and greening your diet!*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-1235865649732063692009-01-01T18:13:00.000-08:002009-01-03T12:52:48.339-08:00Make A New Years ResolutionMaking a New Years Resolution can sometimes be hokey and unrealistic. For 2009 make a vow to change your life.... to better your family, your health, and the planet. Small changes over time add up big! Switch out some ordinary light bulbs to CFLs. Buy a faucet mount or pitcher purifier and give up your bottled water. Check the local thrift store or Goodwill before splurging for brand new threads at Target. Commit to educating yourself about something you are unfamiliar with such as organics, cloth diapering, or vaccinations. Take control of your life in '09 by "Greenin" your life up!<br /><br />ps. after an almost 3 month hiatus I am back online! Stay tuned, I have lots to say!<br /><br />*Peace*<br />Wanna-Be Green Girl*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-999472407165940982008-10-25T17:28:00.000-07:002008-10-25T08:05:18.474-07:00My last package of baby wipes...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnR93FbghcavN7EtnJG2WxZuoWaAK7VXsS5-J7TrLIGelbagz8pVIyZ-kPJzNbD1XjwZmKdjsK1PAQKpqdtd7ORbTheQfZjQkGMSCTCjUe8rfBF38dvCN9SD9c_kIr2qFmMmgMm1wft8n/s1600-h/100_3839.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnR93FbghcavN7EtnJG2WxZuoWaAK7VXsS5-J7TrLIGelbagz8pVIyZ-kPJzNbD1XjwZmKdjsK1PAQKpqdtd7ORbTheQfZjQkGMSCTCjUe8rfBF38dvCN9SD9c_kIr2qFmMmgMm1wft8n/s400/100_3839.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261106193790689730" /></a>When I began to cloth diaper a year ago, I also began with trying to only use cloth wipes. I am not sure why - but I did not stick to it... and looking back now feel a little guilty. I wonder how many wipes I have gone through this past year? I would have saved a lot of money as well as landfill space. I have gathered all of my old baby washcloths and old fleece baby blankets. I grabbed one more fleece baby blanket from the dollar section at Target tonight and have created a great little collection of cloth wipes. For wipe solution I am going with the "Fruit N Veggie" wipe solution recipe:<br /><strong>Fruit 'n' Veggie</strong><br />1 teaspoon fruit or vegetable-based oil (apricot, <strong>olive</strong>, grapeseed)<br />1 tablespoon vegetable-based soap (Dr. Bronner's liquid castile)<br />1 cup water<br />1-2 Drops of Tea Tree Oil<br />I am also going to use the help of a wipe warmer... so I'll have my cloth wipes and several premade bottles of wipe solution (so as not to confuse my husband about what is to go on the wipes...it'll be made for him ahead of time!)... and then soak each set in the wipe warmer so they are ready for use! It's not much extra work because I am already doing a load of cloth diapers every other morning - and actually more convenient because I can wrap the cloth wipes in the cloth diapers instead of a trip to the trashcan...so I am on my last pack of wipes... and that makes me proud. Better late than never!*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-50116428210429807442008-10-11T08:19:00.000-07:002008-10-11T08:36:45.020-07:00Bread Wars<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkOlPFy4XW12CP8DNdCTQvxngp9MH3RszGbS04LboR4H_g9JqAQoN6hrgha1EtgoGJIUtwQMms2syAErM66SZouUmetC7Bf1QF165tV4Fbxq3XwYIMltQIeb8uofPSpre3T-y_DjeOF8z/s1600-h/bread1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkOlPFy4XW12CP8DNdCTQvxngp9MH3RszGbS04LboR4H_g9JqAQoN6hrgha1EtgoGJIUtwQMms2syAErM66SZouUmetC7Bf1QF165tV4Fbxq3XwYIMltQIeb8uofPSpre3T-y_DjeOF8z/s200/bread1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255918990679595250" /></a>We have bread wars in the home. I love whole wheat bread... the very healthy kind and pretty much my husband just wants the plain old white Wonder Bread...He always has to compromise... because the kids and I beat him 3 to 1 on the bread issue. The kids will eat bread without discriminating on color... it's just bread right? <br /><br />However, I just noticed a BOGO free endcap at Harris Teeter and caught the side that was labeled largely "NO HFC"... so I took notice. In big letters it says "NEW!" and it's Arnold 100% Natural Whole Grain White (they also had wheat)...I spend too much time in the bread isle looking for healthy "white" bread ... w/out HFC... that is not made with bleached flour and I think my search has ended and I found it! Most importantly it's good... really good! The side of the bag is marked $2.79/loaf... so good price ... most importantly good ingredients. Our bread war is now over! Thank you Arnold!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMoiMP0pSOWv-mV-3iAnWBK07ylNehdPPSCAOnzDyw5jhLdGaDPEDyWbIKkLQJNCylYoj4nCUxzkYrNdecyeTlPtAz7-JW6kpAZl7rfKSHLwfR53esp1PMAQkVinDL20ne1A6m6kvPRCx/s1600-h/bread2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMoiMP0pSOWv-mV-3iAnWBK07ylNehdPPSCAOnzDyw5jhLdGaDPEDyWbIKkLQJNCylYoj4nCUxzkYrNdecyeTlPtAz7-JW6kpAZl7rfKSHLwfR53esp1PMAQkVinDL20ne1A6m6kvPRCx/s200/bread2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255920445295056018" /></a>*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-36353782774946712472008-10-04T11:26:00.000-07:002008-10-04T12:00:50.074-07:00Move over plastic... here comes SIGG<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlTowJGzvvoZzDcvWtI3eBFsD4UV7H3nJKn79F9joPBME_vhS-U1kkNIvr0jmKt-d-DmQ0L8rI9MsGOX0Npdxqcut2ttgumZuiOdH-gbi5-2cP6GwnOeoIVvNhDwK7uu0kUEhzUYr4jKH/s1600-h/rotated.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlTowJGzvvoZzDcvWtI3eBFsD4UV7H3nJKn79F9joPBME_vhS-U1kkNIvr0jmKt-d-DmQ0L8rI9MsGOX0Npdxqcut2ttgumZuiOdH-gbi5-2cP6GwnOeoIVvNhDwK7uu0kUEhzUYr4jKH/s320/rotated.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253373995695462946" /></a><br />After admiring for quite a while, my husband and I both recieved genuine Siggs for our birthday this year. And in celebration of the beginning of the school year our daughter also recieved a lunchbox sized one! Our son's is up next.... as I have just discovered an awesome handle you can add to the mini-Siggs to make it easier on little hands and very much like the "sippies"... those of course.. a little harder to get away from plastic on. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/SIGG-0-3-0-4L-Kids-Handle-Swiss-Made-Eco-Friendly-Red_W0QQitemZ170265985403QQcmdZViewItem">(The Sigg handles if you're curious)</a><br /><br />Although not a <strong>new</strong> discovery, recently it has become more "known" about the dangers of plastic bottle and the potential leaching of bisphenol-A (BPA), a potent hormone disruptor. BPA can be leached into the water bottles contents through normal wear and tear, exposure to heat and cleaning agents. This includes leaving your plastic water bottle in your car during errands, in your back pack during hikes and running it through your dishwasher and using harsh detergents.<br /><br />What can you do??<br />- switch to a stainless steel water bottle<br />- reuse glass containers such as quart sized juice bottles<br />- absolutley avoid buying bottled water and opt for your tap or invest in a faucet mount water purifier or pitcher for your fridge. Your investment will be quickly replenished...<br /><br />We personally love our Sigg line, which you can find at www.mysigg.com<br />However, there are many products on the market that are eco-friendly and are a great replacement for the ones out there who don't want to risk it with the plastic any longer. <br /><br />From the Sigg Website: Recently, there has been a lot of press concerning Lexan plastic water bottles (Polycarbonate #7) leaching harmful chemicals into the container's ingredients. It's extremely important to note that SIGG bottles exceed FDA requirements and have been thoroughly tested to ensure 0.0% leaching – so they are 100% safe.*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-20992397087971326642008-09-28T06:25:00.000-07:002008-09-28T07:01:13.062-07:00Greenin' the Kitties....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfttOYEGJReYS8jkpVe0GG6BCxVXzD-B0-NQsmYrj5GrbTfKMWTs4HdfG49TT935gwJgfNTUPhNRE9ldmYIORahqfCjIqz3lDegYlNC5TIFzmNyeLdZOm6yA1qzlhooOGa3WjRs3Q7khr3/s1600-h/bagbox.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfttOYEGJReYS8jkpVe0GG6BCxVXzD-B0-NQsmYrj5GrbTfKMWTs4HdfG49TT935gwJgfNTUPhNRE9ldmYIORahqfCjIqz3lDegYlNC5TIFzmNyeLdZOm6yA1qzlhooOGa3WjRs3Q7khr3/s320/bagbox.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251071947249741794" /></a><br />Cat litter. It either works great or is crap. So many things about cat litter are important... the clump factor, the odor control...how many cats it is good for... I don't think many people think about if it's "healthy" for your cat. I'll first touch on that. <br /><br />Sodium bentonite is often added as a clumping agent to traditional cat litters to create the “scoopable” clay litters on the market. That ingredient actually can swell to 15-18x it's original size. They use it in grouting work! Also, the dust/sand (Quartz silica) in litter can be inhaled, leading to respiratory problems and is also a known carcinogen to both humans AND animals. Sodium bentonite can poison a human, just think of what it could do to your cat... as well as if it swells that much - what if they ate a little? It would literally expand inside your cats digestive tract! <br /><br />So what are the options? Look for naturally made litters that are not make of toxic materials. There are many on the market that are made of compacted pine shavings, cedar, newspaper, or corn cobs that make healthier alternatives. I have tried three of these: Feline Pine, Yesterdays News, and Swheat Scoop. <br /><br />Personally I found Feline Pine to be awful. I believe we did try it when we had 5 cats... so maybe it would be better with just one... and maybe it just takes a daily or twice a day maintanence to keep it clean. Yesterdays news... it just was a great idea that I think is a poor product, made of little pellets of recycled newspaper - I found this all over my house from being stuck between the paw pads... and I don't think the cats liked it either. But to top it all off... I have found not only a GREAT natural product, but one that WORKS... and is eco-friendly. Swheat Scoop is certified flushable... so I am not even producing landfill waste by putting it in plastic bags or back into an empty litter container. This litter is made of wheat... it clumps great, it wards off litter box smell. It seems to be able to handle my 2 cats - and I can scoop right into the toilet and flush it away! I am at peace knowing that I am not poisoning my cat, that practically if desired... this litter could be eaten... and it's eco-friendly and I'm not putting 1 part of the process into a landfill because I am recycling the bag it came in... which might I add you can buy in a 40 lb. bag at your local Petsmart... so need to travel to a specialty or natural foods store is needed! Please visit their website at http://www.swheatscoop.com/home.html*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-32208185245828168192008-09-07T12:25:00.000-07:002008-09-07T12:36:59.048-07:00Nurturing Green "Sprout"A couple of weeks ago...back to school shopping came around. Lil Sprout and I went shopping and she found a great backpack she loved made from all recycled materials included recycled plastic bottles. I did give her a choice and she made the choice of this bag over any of the cartoon-y or popularly themed bags. She was so excited that when she ran in the door she said, "Dad it's RECYCLE!"... I am so proud of my lil sprout. Here is a picture of her bag! <a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/thewregefamily/?action=view¤t=bag-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/thewregefamily/bag-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822379204379697413.post-44370623862993570512008-09-07T11:41:00.000-07:002008-09-07T12:11:48.824-07:00Where Wanna-Be Green Girl REALLY BeganBack at the beginning of September (2007), I posted this blog with goals for lifestyle changes.... I was supposed to go back over it on Nov. 30th (2007), and forgot. So better late than never right??? I will change to <strong>BOLD</strong> all of the things I have accomplished and make notes in <em>italics</em> - and make a new goal to add more <strong>BOLD</strong> to my list! Next revaluation date April 1st, 2008.... so okay - it's way past April 1st... it's mid-September 08, but here I am. Starting a blog to further my commitment to a greener lifestyle.
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<br />*AmAndA*
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<br />Here is the original blog I posted on myspace back almost 1 exact year ago:<a href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=82363862&blogID=354599448&Mytoken=E323612F-C878-4430-BDBDBB9D97843D61253974697">Link to Orinal Blog</a>
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<br />Over the next few months I have a list of things I would like to try to change in our home. Let me know if you have any other ideas to add!!! November 30th I will go back through my list and see how many I have been able to accomplish!!
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<br />Goals to Achieve a higher level of "green-ness":
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<br />1. <strong>unplug certain appliances when not in use (especially those with unnecessary clocks) </strong> <em>*I do this every night, most conciously with my computer, I have a powerstrip to turn it ALL off, and we always unplug our microwave after use. </em>
<br />2. <strong>use compact fluorescent light bulbs</strong> <em>*We have 100% changed all of our bulbs!
<br />3. <strong>have nightlights with photovoltaic sensors scattered throughout the home (reduces need for turning on lights)</strong> <em>*we did get 1, but we need more </em>
<br />4. had ridge vents installed ( a way for an attic to ventilate itself)
<br />5. clean fridge coils
<br />6. <strong>clean dryer lint trap</strong> <em>* I do this everytime
<br />installed dimmer switches in all locations where CFLs would not work </em>
<br />7. use organic seeds and fertilizers
<br />8. <strong>use organic and locally grown pet food </strong> <em>*I have switched to an all natural cat foot</em>
<br />9. <strong>use some organic and locally grown foods</strong> <em>* I now buy as much as possible organic including: milk, fresh fruits and veggies, rice, babyfood, and cereal. </em>
<br />10. <strong>buy and sell used clothing and other items</strong> <em>*almost all clothing I have bought for my kids has been from friends, the consignment shop or Goodwill, or EBAY</em>
<br />11. use motorcycle often
<br />12. use fuel efficient vehicles
<br />13. exhaust fans are on timers (no forgetting to turn them off)
<br />14. <strong>make baby food</strong> <em>* I did do this 1x, and made a huge supply. I found it very time consuming for the amount of food my son eats...I mean, each icecube was 1 oz, and 1 jar of food is 4. So... he eats 2 jars at lunch and dinner now and 1 at breakfast.... so that's 9 icecubes a day... and like 14 in a tray I think? .... it wasn't worth it for me. </em>shut off water while brushing teeth * I have gotten good at this!!
<br />15. <strong>take short showers</strong> <em>*unfortunatley it's all I have time for lol </em>
<br />16. <strong>wash in cold water on delicate cycle </strong> <em>*(all but diapers) </em>
<br />17. hang certain loads of laundry outside to dry (sun is great for bleaching)
<br />18. <strong>use cloth diapers</strong>, and cloth wipes <em>*Diapers all the way - but wipes... not so much</em>
<br />19. let hair air dry
<br />20. grill in the summer (no heating the kitchen by using the stove)
<br />21. <strong>recycle as much as possible </strong>
<br />22. <strong>reuse plastic grocery bags for garbage bags and lunch sacks </strong> <em>*and I've done better, we've purchased reusable bags! </em>
<br />23. <strong>run A/C warmer and heater cooler </strong>
<br />24. use bamboo sheets
<br />25. natural gas water heater and furnace
<br />26. <strong>try to consolidate errands as much as possible </strong>
<br />27. <strong>take very few unnecessary trips (no aimless driving) </strong>
<br />28. run climate prediction simulations on all PCs
<br />29. <strong>carpool</strong> <em>*my friends and I do this as much as possible - which is more fun anyways </em>
<br />30. have solar screens on all windows
<br />31. try to avoid heating and cooling areas that don't need to be comfortable
<br />32. <strong>wash full loads of laundry </strong>
<br />33. <strong>wear clothing more than once before putting it in the wash</strong> <em>*as much as possible </em>use little to no boxed convenience foods (TV dinners, boxed meals, etc)
<br />34. <strong>rarely go out to eat</strong>
<br />35. fireplace is gas (studies have shown these are more efficient overall)
<br />36. have houseplants
<br />37. <strong>breastfeed</strong> <em>* 100% baby! </em>
<br />38. <strong>maintain proper pressure in tires on vehicles for maximum fuel efficiency </strong>
<br />39. <strong>open windows when it's nice outside instead of running the A/C </strong>
<br />40. Try to remember that less is better when using lotions, soaps, detergents, etc.
<br />41. clean a/c ductwork
<br />42. hang all loads of laundry outside to dry (install more clothes line)
<br />43. compost <em>*I wish we had some place to do this and the next one...</em>
<br />44. grow a vegetable garden (with organic seeds, fertilizer, plant food, etc.)
<br />45. <strong>stop using plastic bags and switch to paper or even canvas </strong>
<br />46. switch to laptop and stop using PC and big monitor
<br />47. put in bamboo flooring when carpeting is replaced
<br />48. use microfiber cloth on Swiffer instead of Swiffer disposables
<br />49. <strong>use cloth cleaning rags</strong> <em>* I cannot remember the last time I bought a paper towel! </em>
<br />50. <strong>use eco-friendly cleaners </strong>
<br />51. install cellular honeycomb blinds
<br />52. <strong>use cloth napkins </strong>
<br />53. plant to attract birds and butterflies
<br />54. <strong>purchase items with less packaging (try to be more conscious of packaging) </strong>
<br />55. <strong>replace weather stripping around doors </strong>
<br />56. have house tested for efficiency
<br />57. upgrade to more efficient appliances as needed
<br />58. install dual flush toilets *I dont know what this is, but we do reuse the shower water to flush the toilet. My husband is so smart!
<br />59. <strong>recycle cell phones </strong>
<br />60. plant more trees
<br />*AmAndA and NAthAn*http://www.blogger.com/profile/17153863036237165288noreply@blogger.com2