May 252013
 

Times change, and with them fashions and fads come and go. The 1980s and 90s were all about consumption: the bigger, the better. It was a point of pride to go through more bottles of aerosol hairspray than anyone else in your social circle.

Now it’s en vogue to be green. Now you boast about reducing the size of your carbon footprint, recycling, reusing and any other means of being kinder to the Earth. Unfortunately, in their quest to conserve conspicuously, some people are falling a bit short of the mark.

Energy Efficient Isn’t Always Better

If you must purchase something new, like a dishwasher, you’ll want to choose the model that conserves energy, has an option for a half load and creates the least amount of impact to get your dishes clean. Just hopping on the energy-efficient bandwagon by replacing all of your windows and appliances with newer, more energy efficient models means you’re missing the whole point. In many cases, the existing windows are doing a fine job conserving energy, as are the fridge and stove in the kitchen. Remember that old slogan, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”? It’s in that order for a reason. New products don’t magically appear at a store with a clean carbon footprint. It takes energy, materials and resources to make and transport those items. Sending perfectly good appliances and windows to the landfill to rot, slowly and uselessly is just wasteful.

The same holds true for car maintenance. Before you try some bizarre solution from a snake oil salesman to boost your MPG or otherwise “greenify” your car, consider the damage you might be doing. Simply using factory Nissan parts to repair your aging Pathfinder, rather than shoddy third party replacements, will keep that car running better and longer. Some cars are just never going to have great gas mileage. But like those windows and home appliances, it’s often better to use the car for as long as possible, rather than purchase a new one for green bragging rights.

green living energy guide appliance

Photo by KOMUnews via Flickr

You Just Can’t Recycle Everything

It doesn’t matter whether you started the recycling revolution in your neighborhood, or just started filling the bin after it arrived. If you’ve taken it to the next level and started composting, that’s great — if you’re doing it correctly. If you’re not adhering to recycling or composting standards you can be doing as much harm as good, says an article on the Mother Nature Network website. For example, foods like leftover rice, old bread and milk products should be kept out of the compost pile as they can attract pests. Tossing in dandelions or other weeds is just wasteful— they will use the nutrient-rich compost to grow and take over the whole container.

As for what to keep out of the recycle bin, myriad items that most people put into their containers all the time can actually cause problems at the recycle plant. For example, plastic trash bags can gum up the machinery, and pizza boxes— while made of cardboard— tend to have too much leftover grease and pepperoni on them to be properly recycled. Most takeout containers and pet food bags also belong in the trash and not the recycle container. And just because that stack of old hangers is made of plastic, it is not the kind that can be recycled. Recycling is definitely a good thing, but it must be done correctly in order for it to benefit the Earth. All that trash you thought you could recycle? Now it takes two trucks to get it to the correct destination. For more information on recycling no-no’s, visit LearnMoreRecycleBetter.org.

green living recycle

Photo by Elliot Brown via Flickr

“Off” Isn’t Always Totally Off

If you turned off your DVD player last time you used it, then congratulated yourself on how green you were, ask yourself this: did you unplug it? A long list of appliances continue to drain energy 24 hours a day— even when they are not turned on. These “energy vampires,” as they are known, include everything from DVD players to air conditioners and many more says the Consumer Energy Center. In order to get the maximum energy savings, don’t just switch off your devices, unplug them. If that sounds like too much work for your entertainment center, look for power strips that turn off outlets based on what the master device is doing. They’ll save power and save you effort.

green living energy vampires

Photo by Alexander Baxevanis via Flickr

 

 

This post is written by Andrea Porter. A painter, mom, wife and photographer, Andrea always has material to write about. Finding the time to write is another story altogether.
May 242013
 

How many of you have ever had to get a urine sample from your cat?  It really is no easy task. About 2 months ago, I noticed Oliver was acting different.  He was still playing but not as much and the clumps of urine were getting smaller in his litter box. It is hard to tell which cat did what in the litter boxes because we have 3, and they all sort of share, but that mothers intuition was kicking in.  I just knew something was wrong.

I stayed up all night with Oliver in the basement trying all kinds of fake litter to try to get a urine sample.  First I tried the plastic beads the vet gave me.  There were so few beads, even in the smallest box we had Oliver didn’t think there was any litter in there so he wouldn’t go.

Then I read online that you can used rinsed safflower seeds because their shells are hard and do not absorb liquids.  I happened to have a big bag on hand and tried that. Oliver sniffed it, and walked away.

Then I tried packing peanuts, cut up plastic drinking straws and clear plastic wrap over his regular litter, each in their own litter box. He refused all 3. Continue reading »

May 232013
 

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May 222013
 

On this Wordless Wednesday I wanted to share some pictures of a new friend we have in our backyard! This female mallard duck showed up one day with a very protective male at our bird feeder. We only see the male once in a great while now, but the female comes almost every day.  Oliver clearly smells food and wants nothing more to be allowed out to attack her.  Jewel and Harley could care less about this large bird that visits our back yard.

wordless wednesday duck collage

 

May 212013
 

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Lots of Memorial Day parties going on this weekend and you are probably  looking for great deals on foods and products for barbecuing and entertaining! Below is a list of over 30 printable coupons that should help make for a great party!



May 162013
 

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Have you heard of Ellie yet?

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Paying attention to details like seam placement, waistband size and silhouette are what make our pieces perfect. Each piece is designed by women, for women, so it’s made to flatter all body types. Using pop stitching on a tank to imitate a smaller waist, creating side panels on a legging to accentuate a lean shape, or adding style lines on our pants that give that perky butt look that all women crave are just some of the ways we’ve perfected our fit. And with the Trufiit Technology we’ve developed you’ll never have to worry about sizing, all of our pieces run true to size. We use the highest quality fabrics that hold your shape and fit like a glove so they stretch and move with you.

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Whether you’re a runner, yogi, or cardio queen, they aim to design pieces to withstand a full range of fitness activities. Each piece uses high-tech fabrics. They promise to never use cheap cotton or jersey spun fabrics. Unlike those plain fabrics, which are used with lower-end activewear brands, they claim that their 4-way stretch technology will never shrink and will always flatter.

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May 152013
 

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May 142013
 

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Private Selection.
All opinions are 100% mine.

When it comes to desserts, I just don’t have time to prepare anything fancy.  I end up buying something pre-made from the store that never quite looks and tastes as  good as homemade.  Whenever we get invited to dinner and are asked to bring desert we are always scrambling as to what to bring. In the fall, we usually bring an apple pie since a lot of local apple orchards around us that make delicious homemade pies that are so full of apples they are REALLY heavy.  As for the other months it’s whatever looks like it will taste the best from the grocery store.

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May 142013
 

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May 102013
 

Heart health  Omega-3s have been receiving a lot of attention over the past decade. Organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, the American Health Institute and the American Heart Association have been strongly advocating the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on holistic health.

It’s not for lack of reason, considering the important role omega-3 fatty acids play in maintain and improving the following:

  • heart health
  • cognitive function
  • memory capabilities
  • blood sugar health
  • anti-aging benefits
  • liver health
  • balanced cholesterol levels
  • reduced inflammation
  • feelings of personal health and well-being
  • relief from symptoms associated with premenstrual system, and
  • a strengthened immune system.

Omega-3s are broken down into three main components; ALA, EPA and DHA which are found in marine sources and these forms of omega-3 fatty acids are the best absorbed by the human body. While flaxseed, hemp seed, walnuts, algae and soybean are excellent sources of ALS, and viable options for vegetarians, they do not have the same absorption rate as many aquatic based sources. Continue reading »