Turn Dark Green for Fall 2009

Fall is a wonderful and lovely time of year, but you also need to be thinking ahead to be prepared for the upcoming cold, icy, windy winter months ahead. So I can't think of a smarter and better time to Go Green or yet, Greener. Let's get you started with a few basic and affordable easy ideas:

• Winterization/Weatherization -Reducing Energy Usage
• Replace all light bulbs with CFL Bulbs
• Keep your thermostat set as low as you comfortable can at a steady tempature...usually around 68 - 72 degree range
• Clean & replace furnace filters as needed
• Keep all appliances unplugged when not in use
• Keep all lights & etc. turned off when not in use
• Replace your showerhead with an Eco-Friendly Low Flow showerhead

These are just a few easy ways to Go Greener in the Fall, you can find many more great easy ideas, tips and information from some of my absolute favorite Eco-Friendly Green Websites:

• eHow
• US Department of Energy (Be sure to read about their FREE Weatherization Program for those that qualify)
• Sara Snow - Green Living Expert & TV Host
• Planet Green

Introduction to Basic Home Recycling

I'm so excited! I found out our city offers a great curbside recycling program, so I quickly and easily signed up online. I signed up on Friday, May 1st and two recycling bins were delivered to my door on Monday, May 4th...FREE! Yes, it was that easy! Their Recycling Program is great! Not only is the program organized well, but again, it's FREE and easy to sign up. So if you live in the Roanoke City area, be sure to sign up! To find more information, and to sign up, please visit Roanoke Recycling Collection.

If you don't live in the Roanoke City area, just check with your local town/city office, your local yellow pages or you can search online using Superpages.com to find a local Recycling Program.

As for me, I have decided to keep one bin in my kitchen for item (& keep newspapers, mags, paper, etc. in trash bag within my kitchen bin) collection, and one outside, and will transfer the appropriate items to the outside bin according to the upcoming weeks particular item collection (i.e. this coming week is bottles & cans). So now I've accomplished another "Eco-Friendly" goal, yay! My Green accomplishments are good news for all of you out there wanting to "Go Green", but feel it's just to difficult. Why? Because if I can do it, anyone can! Okay, my next green goal, replacing all my light bulbs with CFL Bulbs!

*For for more great information and introduction to Basic Home Recycling, please visit eartheasy.com

Walmart Goes Green

Walmart is going green! They have a great variety of "Green" products, information and tips. Check out Walmart's website on Watch Your Budget. Help Your Planet for tons of Green Living info.
*Fact - If 200 million people drank filtered tap water instead of bottled water we'd use 60 Billion less 16.9 ounce bottles of water.

Looking for Natural Makeup? Monet Minerals would be a great choice!

So you wanna go green with your makeup? Don't know where to start? There are several natural and/or organic cosmetic companies out there, but there is one brand in particular I use, and I love it! A new makeup minerals company called Monet Minerals. I am a Monet Minerals Consultant, so I can tell you, they not only offer great mineral makeup, but at unbeatable and affordable prices. We even have a great new skin care line, and of course, also offer consultant & affiliate opportunities! Okay, so you say what makes Monet Minerals the best choice?

Because we custom blend our minerals, using bases from several different reputable suppliers, to formulate the perfect amount of coverage. All of our shades are unique to Monet Minerals and we are constantly adding new shades.
Monet Minerals is 100% natural mineral makeup. Monet Minerals does not use fillers such as Bismuth Oxy-Chloride (see ingredients) or other ingredients such as dyes and carmine.
We offer very affordable prices, superior customer service and fast shipping.
Inexpensive mineral makeup samples are available to try and we have Monthly Specials.
We have a Mineral Consultant program if you are looking for more personal service.
We have a weekly drawing for our newsletter subscribers.
We are proud signers of The Compact for Safe Cosmetics.
What are the benefits of using Monet Minerals?
Monet Minerals soothes irritated skin.
Monet Minerals offers superior coverage.
Monet Minerals offers a naturally high SPF.
Monet Minerals are 100% natural and irritant-free.
Monet Minerals is non-comedogenic (does not clog pores).
Monet Minerals disperse light, which gives a photogenic appearance.
Monet Minerals cannot support bacteria, therefore do not have an expiration date.
You may be aware of the fact that there are very few ingredients in our Mineral Makeup, but do you know what the benefits of each ingredient are?
Let’s take a look at our Mineral Foundations:
Mica has some transparent properties and allows the makeup to go on smoothly.
Titanium Dioxide has waterproof and SPF properties while providing a Matte look.
Zinc Oxide is known for its calming effect and healing properties in problem skin such as rosacea and acne, its ability to stay on even while sweating and swimming, and offers protection from the sun's harmful UV rays.
Iron Oxides give the makeup its pigment.
Kaolin Clay comes from the earth and is great for oil absorption.
Ultramarine Blue is required in some cool shades of makeup since there is no blue oxide.
Ingredients in Monet Minerals:
Blush Ingredients - Mica, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.
Bronzer Ingredients - Mica, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.
Foundation Ingredients - Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Iron Oxides. May contain; Kaolin Clay and/or Ultramarine Blue.
Mineral Veil Ingredients - Sericite, Iron Oxides, Kaolin Clay.
Eye Shadow Ingredients - Sericite, Iron Oxides, Kaolin Clay. May contain; Titanium Dioxide.
Multi-Purpose Powder Ingredients - Mica, Iron oxides, Titanium Dioxide. May contain; Kaolin Clay and/or Ultramarine Blue.
Ingredients you will NOT find in Monet Minerals:
Bismuth Oxychloride - Monet Minerals does not contain Bismuth Oxychloride, which is the by-product of lead and copper refining. Bismuth occurs rarely in nature. Many women experience noticeable itching from this ingredient. It’s kin to arsenic, chemically. Other companies use this in their makeup because it is an inexpensive filler.
We encourage you to shop around. Please check the ingredients of other mineral makeup companies before making a purchase.

To shop my Monet Minerals store click here
To inquire about becoming a Monet Minerals Consultant or Affiliate click here
To read more about Monet Minerals click here, then follow the links to the specific information you are looking for.
To go to the main Monet Minerals website click here
Other great natural/organic cosmetic companies to try:
Ecco Bella
Burt's Bees
Tarte Cosmetics
The Organic Makeup Company

10 Simple Go Green Beginner Tips

So you wanna Go Green, but have no idea where to start? Well I am here to tell you that you can "Go Green" easily by making these 10 simple small changes:

1. Keep the water off while your brushing your teeth.
2. Hang your clothes up to dry when feasible.
3. Run your dishwasher on the shortest cycle and let them air dry.
4. Turn your thermostat down (heat) or up (a/c) a degree or two, better yet, when feasible, bundle up in the Fall/Winter and open windows in Spring/Summer.
5. Use weather stripping around your windows and doors.
6. Change out at least one light bulb to start. Then work towards changing out all lights (Overhead lights in all rooms and your porch lights) with a compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL).
7. Choose Organics that you most use and better yet, buy from your local produce stand or natural foods store. Kroger has a large selection of Organic foods/items. Seventh Generation offers great online Green Products and valuable coupons. And All Things Green offers a great variety of green shopping.
8. Unplug all electronics when not in use.
9. Drive sparingly (use rideshare, save up your errands and run them all at once, keep your tires inflated properly, and try to use your a/c sparingly and if/when you do use your a/c keep running on low.
10. Simply keep in mind to Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.

Check out some of my favorite Green/Eco-Friendly links:

Planet Green - Discovery Channel

Sara Snow - Green Living Expert & TV Host

The Green Guide - For Everyday Living