Green Your Christmas

Want to Green your Christmas this year.  Here are a few ideas I have come across:

• Buy and recycle a real Christmas tree and when your done, you can plant it.
• Use energy efficient lights for your house and tree.
• Recycle last years wrapping paper and bags.
• Use your old Christmas cards, popcorn, pine cones, ribbons & etc., to make homemade decorations for your tree.

Above all, be creative and have fun decorating your home and Christmas tree.  A real tree with homemade decorations can be both environmentally friendly and also make for a very sentimental Christmas for you.

Finding Green Jobs

Looking for a Green Job?  I have listed below ten great top informative websites all about finding a green job.  And don't forget to use your usual job search websites, just type in green jobs as your keywords.

• Yahoo Green
• Greenbiz.com
• Planet Green
• Green Living Tips
• Eco Localizer
• Greenjobs
• Green Jobs Network
• Sustain Lane Green Jobs
• Green Jobs Ready
• Green Jobs - About.com

7 Ways To Green Your Vehicle

1. Keep your car as long as you can.  Fight the urge to trade it in.  Not buying a new car is one of the most environmentally friendly choices you can make.  When you do have to buy a new car, buy a hybrid or at the least a small compact car.
2. Drive the speed limit.  Don't be in such a hurry, drive slower.  This saves on gas!
3. Keep your vehicle maintenance up.  Tune-ups, tires rotated, oil changed, etc.  You can actually save up to .10 a gallon at the gas pump when your car is in tip top shape.
4. Keep the junk out of your trunk.  All that extra weight makes your engine work harder and reduces gas mileage per gallon.
5. Use your cruise control.  Using cruise control increases gas mileage!
6. Use your AC as little as possible and roll down the windows when you can.  Using the AC uses more gas.
7. Combine your errand into one trip.  Run several errands at one time, saving on gas, instead of making several trips out.

10 Ways to Save Green

1. Keep your thermostat set at or below 72 degrees
2. Use CFL Light Bulbs
3. Use an EcoFlo Shower Head
4. Use weather stripping around windows and doors
5. Only use lights when needed & don't forget to turn them off
6. Unplug all appliances when not in use
7. Wash clothes & dishes in cool water
8. Take a cool short shower
9. Use a smart power strip
10. IF you must dry clothes at all, dry them half way, then hang up

Here's a link to another green article you may find very informative and helpful...  10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green

Go Green with your own Back Porch Veggie Garden

Another green idea!   I would love to have just a small vegetable garden, but we rent and the owner wouldn't appreciate us digging up their yard, so I gave up the idea.  But recently, in talking with friends, I realized I can still have my vegetable/herb garden. 

There are two ways.  One way is to have your very own little green garden right at home.  I'm not talking about the kind you plant in the yard, I'm talking about the kind on your back porch.  The kind you can put a few plants and herbs in some pots and a small bed or even do a raised garden bed.  Here's more about having a Simple Raised Bed Garden  Read this guide, How to Start a Back Porch Vegetable Garden or even this one A Vegetable Garden on my Back Porch

It may be a little late in the game this year, but next year I believe I may just start my own little back porch vegetable garden by using pots and some small beds. I hope the ideas above help to get you started on your green garden too!  Happy Gardening!

Cut Down On Waste This Year By Using Reusable Shopping Bags

Make it your goal to cut down on waste this year by using a reusable shopping bag.  With that being said, let me tell you about a few more of my favorite Green things.  Reusable shopping bags, and I own several.  In my opinion, you can't have to many of these.  I don't have a handbag or shoe obsession, I have a reusable shopping bag/tote obsession.  I love a great tote, especially a fantastic green one.  I have a different one, for different stores.  I have one from/for Walmart, Dollar Tree, Kroger and The Fresh Market.  I keep them in a small crate/box in the back of my jeep and simply use whichever reusable bag for what ever store I'm shopping in.  If I don't have one for that particular store, then I use my Dollar Tree versatile green reusable shopping bag.

I have listed below some of my favorite reusable shopping bags that I own and suggest.  All except for the Envitote, but this is on my list of totes to obtain in the near future.  This tote is amazing, it's not only green, but very versatile and multipurpose. 

Envitote

Walmart Reusable Shopping Bags/Totes

Reusable Bags

Dollar Tree

My Green Face

I absolutely love the way each and every one of these products looks and feels on me.  And the best part of it all is they are all eco-friendly green/natural products and under $20!  So here is what I use to get my favorite Green face. 

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Shimmer









Nutriganics™ Smoothing Serum

Physicians Formula Organic Tinted Moisturizer

 
 
 
 
 
 
Monet Minerals all natural mineral makeup*

(*Foundation, Blush & Liner, Brow and Eye Shadow)

Let me share with you one of my favorite green cleaning products

Today, I just wanted to share with you one of my very favorite green cleaning products.  Nature's Souce All Purpose Cleaner.  Unleash the power of nature. This all purpose cleaner from the folks at Scrubbing Bubbles® uses plant-based cleaners to take on tough jobs without breaking a sweat. It cuts through grease and grime without leaving a smeary residue. Best of all, its power comes from natural, biodegradable ingredients, so you're doing a lot more than just cleaning your house. You're also doing something nice for the planet!  Nature's Source All Purpose Cleaner is very affordable and can be found in most local supermarkets, drug stores, mass-merchandise stores and do-it-yourself stores, alongside the other cleaners in the cleaning aisle.

You can use Nature's Source All Purpose Cleaner for all kinds of great things such as:

• Appliances
• Cabinets
• Chrome
• Counter tops
• Fiberglass
• Floors
• Garbage cans
• Ceramic tile
• Hubcaps
• Porcelain surfaces
• Showers
• Sinks
• Stainless steel
• Tubs

And this is just one great product of Nature's Source, they also have a toilet bowel cleaner, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner and laundry stain remover.  All Nature's Source cleaning products are made with biodegradable plant-based cleaners.  Now you can have the cleaning power you want and still be natural.  For more information on Nature's Source great products please visit their website.

3 Natural Green Cleaning Products

Use any one or all three of these natural products to clean green at home. 

1. Lemons are acidic and can provide some antibacterial and antiseptic properties for cleaning and can be used as a natural bleaching agent.  Lemons also have a fresh citrus scent and is refreshing and invigorating. 
2. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and deodorizer and a great all purpose cleaner.  Mix 1 part water to 1 part vinegar.  The strong odor goes away after it dries. 
3. Baking Soda is a great abrasive clean and also a natural deodorizer.

And you could even make you a great Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit.  Healthy & Green Living has a great tutorial on How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit

Five of my Personal Favorite Green Things

I thought you may be wondering what some of my favorite green items are, so today I decided to share with you a few of my favorite green things and why they happen to be my favorite.

1. My 100% Organic Cotten Slacks - I absolutely love these!  Not only are these slacks 100% Organic Cotton, but very comfortable, figure flattering, durable and long lasting, yet crazy afforadable at just $12 a pair found a Walmart.
2. My EcoFlo Waterpik Handheld Shower Head w/ 5 Settings - Love it!  I actually purchased mine at Walmart.  I purchased mine on Rollback for around $23 while supplies lasted, so I'm not sure if they still offer those particular ones or not.  I believe they at least have a similar one for around  thirtysomething. But for me, was once again, another great green fabulous deal!  This shower head works great with the five different shower massage modes and still puts out great water pressure (which is a must have for me because I have thick hair) yet still cuts your water usage down by almost half in the process.  And when my puppy is ready for her bath, I just grab the showerhead off the mount and bring it down to her size.  Again, works great for everything, so even if you purchase one from Waterpik, trust me, it's still a great deal! 
3. My Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Fig and Raisen.  -  Love them!  Two of my favorite colors.  Burt's bee's provides you with the moisurization you need with a tint of lip color to boot!  And my favorite thing about it...it's 100% natural with vitamin E and coconut and sunflower oils.  And oh how I love anything to do with sunflowers. And are you ready for this?  Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer is only $5.00!  That's right $5.00 and you can purchase it only line at their website directly Burt's Bees or purchase at Walmart.
4. My Monet Minerals Makeup - Just awesome!  Monet Minerals is 100% natural mineral makeup. Monet Minearls does not use fillers such as Bismuth Oxychlorideor other ingredients such as dyes and carmine.  They offer very affordable prices, superior customer service and fast shipping.  Inexpensive mineral makeup samples are available to try and they also have great Monthly Specials to help save you money, as well as provide you a free sample with every order.  They're shades are unique and they are constantly adding new shades.  Oh and did I mention I am a Monet Minerals Consultant?  So order or get your Monet Minerals Consultation today!  Contact me! 
5. My Reusable Shopping Bags/Totes -  Love them!  I use mine for a multitude of things.  I use them to carry my groceries, gym supplies, business supplies, tanning supplies, camersas, just lot's of different uses. And guess what?  You can purchase them at your local Dollar Tree Store for only $1.00!!!      They have a new and different ones that come in all the time.  Everything fom different types of designs to different colors, so check back frequently because they have something for everyone.

Earth Hour 2010 has arrived!

Take action, show your support and turn off your lights for one hour on March 27th at 8:30 pm for Earth Hour 2010.  For more information click here:  Take action!


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Go Green for Spring - Three Simple Steps to help you get started.

Want to be eco-friendly, but just the very thought of going green makes you feel overwhelmed?  Take it from someone like me, a simple average everyday green gal.  Try going green for spring by starting with these three simple and easy steps. 

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Start off by reducing and reusing anything and everything you possibly can. Use as little as possible and resuse twice or more if you can.  Sign up with your local recycling program or find a local recycling center near you.  Try locating your's at Earth911.com
2. Replace all your light bulbs and/or night lights with CRS bulbs and LED lights.  You can find them at your local Walmart for only a few dollars.
3. Replace your shower head with an energy-efficient one.  You can find them online at speciality stores such as Shower Head Store or places like Lowes or Home Depot.  Even Walmart and Kmart offer affordable EF shower heads.

These are just three simple steps to get you started, but there are many more green and eco-friendly steps you can take.  Plant your own herb garden, weatherize your home for summer, keep your air conditioner set at the same level (a good temperature to keep your thermostat on would be what you can live comfortably with such as 72 or 74 degrees) or purchase a programmable thermostat.  Of course, these are just a few more ideas, but there are many more things you can do.  Just work slowly towards becoming more eco-friendly by taking it three small steps at a time and before you know it, you'll be green too!