Last week I started to import my MySpace blog entries here and yesterday I imported my hotcouponworld.com blog entries. WOW! I've come far with the saving money! I originally started this blog to record my shopping savings, replacing the hotcouponworld.com blog. This has grown into just a blog to cover our lives since it's such a pain keeping everything separate.
Here's an update for the hotcouponworld blog entries:
I was looking at the money goals for 2008. We are out of debt except for the mortgage. I think paying off all of the credit cards, car loan & student loans was accomplished in 2009.
I've come a long way with saving money with coupons, using them to the best advantage. We have a small stockpile of items. Mostly of items don't expire (health & beauty, dog toys). I'm happy with it. I don't like it when I have to throw away food, so I keep the perishable items to a minimum. We don't eat in (together) as much as we used to, so most perishable items are eaten within the week or two.
I've gotten "greener". I recycle & reuse what I can - whether that means not using disposable items or donating items instead of throwing away.
One thing I haven't really done much of is online selling. It was a lot of work, but it's was always nice when I sold something. I did start "trading" on paperbackswap, dvdswap and cdswap so instead of spending money, I'm getting rid of something I don't want and get something I do want.
(and their human parents)
This blog started as The adventures of a D.I.N.K. family where the two "kids" are four legged and how we are going to retire early. Now it's a 1 income, 1 entrepreneur, and 1 pup getting closer and closer to retirement.
Showing posts with label being green. Show all posts
Showing posts with label being green. Show all posts
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Random Thoughts – Earth Day
How much recycling do you do? I’ve kind of increase over the last year – some in part to being thrifty. Here’s the list of what I do (and make Dan do).
o Print double sided at work
o Have a recycling bin under my desk at work (not sure if it gets to the recycling bin outside though)
o Changed my margins on documents
o Have a pile of one side used paper at my desk for scrap.
o Take extra one side used paper from work home and use them to print coupons
o Recycle single used batteries
o Started using rechargeable batteries
o Participate in the county recycling pickup (paper/cardboard, #1 & #2 plastics, glass & cans)
o Take all other # plastics to a dropoff recycle center
o Recycle empty toner cartridges at Staples or Office Depot (and get $3 back!).
o Donate, freecycle, craigslist anything we want to get rid of.
o Use old clothes for rags
o Use plastic grocery bags as trash bags
o Take plastic bags to the grocery store for recycling
o Use reusable bags at the grocery store (when we can get 5 cents off for each bag used).
o I bring silverware to work to use for lunch. If I forget silverware, I bring the utensil home for recycling in the other plastic recycling
o We use handtowels in the kitchen to wipe our hands and rags to pick up messes.
o I use containers instead of baggies in my lunch.
o I reuse the containers for the week when I can (like if it’s the same dressing all week or the same crackers all week)
o I refill the one bottle of water I use at work all day
o Whatever water is left in bottles or cups is used for plants and sometimes Esa.
o I do as much online banking as possible
o We receive bills via e-mail
I keep throwing around the idea about rainbarrels (especially for the sump pump) and a SMALL compost bin. I’m iffy about the compost.
I DO flush ALL of the time. No “if it’s yellow, let it mellow”.
o Print double sided at work
o Have a recycling bin under my desk at work (not sure if it gets to the recycling bin outside though)
o Changed my margins on documents
o Have a pile of one side used paper at my desk for scrap.
o Take extra one side used paper from work home and use them to print coupons
o Recycle single used batteries
o Started using rechargeable batteries
o Participate in the county recycling pickup (paper/cardboard, #1 & #2 plastics, glass & cans)
o Take all other # plastics to a dropoff recycle center
o Recycle empty toner cartridges at Staples or Office Depot (and get $3 back!).
o Donate, freecycle, craigslist anything we want to get rid of.
o Use old clothes for rags
o Use plastic grocery bags as trash bags
o Take plastic bags to the grocery store for recycling
o Use reusable bags at the grocery store (when we can get 5 cents off for each bag used).
o I bring silverware to work to use for lunch. If I forget silverware, I bring the utensil home for recycling in the other plastic recycling
o We use handtowels in the kitchen to wipe our hands and rags to pick up messes.
o I use containers instead of baggies in my lunch.
o I reuse the containers for the week when I can (like if it’s the same dressing all week or the same crackers all week)
o I refill the one bottle of water I use at work all day
o Whatever water is left in bottles or cups is used for plants and sometimes Esa.
o I do as much online banking as possible
o We receive bills via e-mail
I keep throwing around the idea about rainbarrels (especially for the sump pump) and a SMALL compost bin. I’m iffy about the compost.
I DO flush ALL of the time. No “if it’s yellow, let it mellow”.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
how other people live and how church changes things
Aug 12, 2008
how other people live and how church changes things
I know realize the basis for "Wasted" on Planet Green. Having 3 people in our house that are from a different household (and a different part of the country) for the weekend, you see their habits (I'm not saying that in a bad way) when it comes to being "green". Come to find out, my sis-in-law didn't know about "being green". Anyway, it was just interesting. They do recycle (bottles and cans), but they don't use dishtowels at all in the kitchen – papertowels are it. I also know that they (all 5 of them) use a new bath towel every day (that's a lot of laundry).
Like I said these observations are not in a bad way – just a preference and convenience for their family – to me, nothing wrong with that, because I understand the preference. I guess for me, being green also means saving money. Because it does – less laundry; smaller utilities bills, less trash (that means less trash bags used), - less money being spent period.
I was raised in the church – Assembly of God – and every Sunday it was "expected" of us to go. No questions asked. My mom and aunt were very much active in the church, since the Caprarulos were one of the founding families of the church! Anyway, my brothers and I grew apart from the church, but I know that it has made us good people. My sister-in-law, Joanne, wasn't really raised in the church like us. She believed in God, but her personality was a good person, but don't cross her! She'd hold a grudge forever (I've experienced it first hand!). A couple of years ago, she started going to the AG church again and her life has changed. No more smoking, no more holding grudges (she forgives) – she is just more at peace with herself and with her world. I'm so proud of her. We've always been close (except for a period of time after my parents passed away). It was so nice this weekend to spend time with her and remember how well we get along. I swear, if we lived closer to each other, we'd be getting in trouble somehow. We laugh a lot and can have serious talks too. The short of it – it's amazing how a person can turn their life around. Church has affected my niece too. She's starting a Christian college next week studying international studies. Her plan is to become a missionary. Chrissy has just grown so much since starting to attend church. She's actually getting out of the area and traveling (Mexico & Scotland already)!
how other people live and how church changes things
I know realize the basis for "Wasted" on Planet Green. Having 3 people in our house that are from a different household (and a different part of the country) for the weekend, you see their habits (I'm not saying that in a bad way) when it comes to being "green". Come to find out, my sis-in-law didn't know about "being green". Anyway, it was just interesting. They do recycle (bottles and cans), but they don't use dishtowels at all in the kitchen – papertowels are it. I also know that they (all 5 of them) use a new bath towel every day (that's a lot of laundry).
Like I said these observations are not in a bad way – just a preference and convenience for their family – to me, nothing wrong with that, because I understand the preference. I guess for me, being green also means saving money. Because it does – less laundry; smaller utilities bills, less trash (that means less trash bags used), - less money being spent period.
I was raised in the church – Assembly of God – and every Sunday it was "expected" of us to go. No questions asked. My mom and aunt were very much active in the church, since the Caprarulos were one of the founding families of the church! Anyway, my brothers and I grew apart from the church, but I know that it has made us good people. My sister-in-law, Joanne, wasn't really raised in the church like us. She believed in God, but her personality was a good person, but don't cross her! She'd hold a grudge forever (I've experienced it first hand!). A couple of years ago, she started going to the AG church again and her life has changed. No more smoking, no more holding grudges (she forgives) – she is just more at peace with herself and with her world. I'm so proud of her. We've always been close (except for a period of time after my parents passed away). It was so nice this weekend to spend time with her and remember how well we get along. I swear, if we lived closer to each other, we'd be getting in trouble somehow. We laugh a lot and can have serious talks too. The short of it – it's amazing how a person can turn their life around. Church has affected my niece too. She's starting a Christian college next week studying international studies. Her plan is to become a missionary. Chrissy has just grown so much since starting to attend church. She's actually getting out of the area and traveling (Mexico & Scotland already)!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
shopping results for the week, child before the internet, green tip, and one step at a time
Jun 11, 2008
shopping results for the week, child before the internet, green tip, and one step at a time
Shopping results of this week
So I went to CVS on Tuesday to get the weekly bargain. One was get $4 Extra bucks when you buy at Fusion razor – cool – I had 2 $4 coupons – I'll get them for like a $1! Well, I look at the receipt yesterday – and only got $4 back – DAMN! I looked at the ad – one extra buck reward per household – DOUBLE DAMN that fine print! I've learned my lesson. Damn – I hate when that happens!
Humor for the day (or should it be thought of the day)
Those Born 1920-1979
READ TO THE BOTTOM FOR QUOTE OF THE MONTH BY JAY LENO. IF YOU DON'T READ
ANYTHING ELSE---VERY WELL STATED
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't
get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, no t to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.
As infants &children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts, or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because, WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes. No video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms.......
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
If YOU are one of them... CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good .
While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn'tit?!
The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:
'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
For those that prefer to think that God is not watching over us...go ahead and delete this. For the rest of us...pass this ON!
Green Tip (from IdealBite)
Need to fuel your stomach, but don't have time for a long pit stop?
The Bite
Make it fast, and keep on truckin'. When you're on the road, fast-food restaurants aren't usually the greenest or healthiest option - but no matter where you stop, you can make your meal a little bit better for you and the planet.
The Benefits
· A tidier big rig. Take just what you need; how many of the 11 billion Heinz ketchup packets sold annually are just collecting dust in your glove box?
· Three honks for less gas use. American drivers use more than 2 billion gallons of fuel each year while idling (in drive-throughs and otherwise) - and idling creates twice the emissions of a car in motion.
· Truck-stopping global warming. Some major fast-food chains are switching to wind power for their energy, use only sustainable wood for stores, and incorporate organic ingredients.
Personally Speaking
At LAX on business, a starving Heather caved and went to McDonald's for fries (sans big bag and ketchup) for the first time in at least five years...and she has to admit they were better than she remembered.
Wanna Try?
1. Go inside. Your legs will get a stretch, and you'll use less fuel than driving-through. It's often faster too.
2. Order "for here," even if you're taking out to avoid the bag and excess napkins.
3. Grab just what you need. How much mustard do you want on your burger, anyway?
· Au Bon Pain, Chipotle, and Starbucks - better options when you're on the go, featuring some local and/or organic ingredients, recycled paper products, and more.
If 10,000 Biters take one fewer napkin at fast-food restaurants, in a year we'll conserve the total annual paper use of 25 Americans.
A Reminder that little by little, you'll get to your goal
I've heard this story before, but it's a good one and one that comes at a good time. From Everyday Cheapskate.
A Little Bit Here, A Little Bit There
I love to knit. That is not to say that I am a fast knitter or even that good at it. Mostly I make things that turn out marginally well; then I tear them out and start over on something else. But here's the funny thing: It's not the finished product that I find so enjoyable. It's the process. It's the gentle rhythm, the pulling of one loop of yarn through another, over and over again.
Curiously in all of knitting—and I'm talking about the most complicated and breathtakingly beautiful works of knitted wear—there exist only two stitches: knit and purl. That's it. And no matter how fast I knit, or how slow—how intricate or ordinary the pattern—one thing is sure: I can make only one stitch at a time. And one stitch makes absolutely no visual difference in whatever it is I'm working on at the moment.
Now and then I come to the last stitch, bind it off and surprise even myself by what I've created. How did that happen? It's remarkable really that just one stitch at a time can bring such pleasing results.
I love the story author Jaroldeen Edwards (Things I Wish I'd Known Sooner, Pocket Books, 1997) tells of the trip she took with her daughter one bleak and rainy day. She wasn't that thrilled to drive more than two hours to see flowers some woman had planted. But her daughter was insistent—"You're going to love this, Mom!" And tell me what mom could resist going along with that kind of enthusiasm.
They drove along the Rim of the World Highway, inching their way toward Lake Arrowhead through fog and drizzle. Jaroldeen now was certain she was being kidnapped by her daughter! Eventually Carolyn parked next to a small stone church and announced they would need to walk along a path, through huge, black-green evergreens and over a thick blanket of old pine needles.
Just as they turned the corner of the path, Jaroldeen stopped dead—literally gasping in amazement. "There before me was a most incredible and glorious sight! So unexpected and unimagined."
From the top of the mountain, sloping down several acres across folds and valleys, between the trees and bushes, following the natural flow of the terrain, were rivers of daffodils in radiant bloom. Every color of the spectrum of yellow—blazed like a carpet before us. Why? How? Her mind flooded with questions for how this could be.
As they approached the mountain home situated in the sea of yellow, she saw a sign posted clearly by someone tired of answering the same questions:
"Answers to the Questions I Know You are Asking: One Woman, Two Hands, Two Feet, and Very Little Brain. One at a Time. Started in 1958."
A little bit here, a little bit there.
Today I received a photo of the most darling little boy, Joshua Michael, who is approaching his first birthday. He's the first grandchild of my college roommate. Almost as adorable, is the hat he's wearing. Why? How? One woman, two hands, two needles and very little brain. One stitch at a time. Started about ten months ago.
shopping results for the week, child before the internet, green tip, and one step at a time
Shopping results of this week
So I went to CVS on Tuesday to get the weekly bargain. One was get $4 Extra bucks when you buy at Fusion razor – cool – I had 2 $4 coupons – I'll get them for like a $1! Well, I look at the receipt yesterday – and only got $4 back – DAMN! I looked at the ad – one extra buck reward per household – DOUBLE DAMN that fine print! I've learned my lesson. Damn – I hate when that happens!
Humor for the day (or should it be thought of the day)
Those Born 1920-1979
READ TO THE BOTTOM FOR QUOTE OF THE MONTH BY JAY LENO. IF YOU DON'T READ
ANYTHING ELSE---VERY WELL STATED
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't
get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, no t to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.
As infants &children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts, or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because, WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes. No video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms.......
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
If YOU are one of them... CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good .
While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn'tit?!
The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:
'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
For those that prefer to think that God is not watching over us...go ahead and delete this. For the rest of us...pass this ON!
Green Tip (from IdealBite)
Need to fuel your stomach, but don't have time for a long pit stop?
The Bite
Make it fast, and keep on truckin'. When you're on the road, fast-food restaurants aren't usually the greenest or healthiest option - but no matter where you stop, you can make your meal a little bit better for you and the planet.
The Benefits
· A tidier big rig. Take just what you need; how many of the 11 billion Heinz ketchup packets sold annually are just collecting dust in your glove box?
· Three honks for less gas use. American drivers use more than 2 billion gallons of fuel each year while idling (in drive-throughs and otherwise) - and idling creates twice the emissions of a car in motion.
· Truck-stopping global warming. Some major fast-food chains are switching to wind power for their energy, use only sustainable wood for stores, and incorporate organic ingredients.
Personally Speaking
At LAX on business, a starving Heather caved and went to McDonald's for fries (sans big bag and ketchup) for the first time in at least five years...and she has to admit they were better than she remembered.
Wanna Try?
1. Go inside. Your legs will get a stretch, and you'll use less fuel than driving-through. It's often faster too.
2. Order "for here," even if you're taking out to avoid the bag and excess napkins.
3. Grab just what you need. How much mustard do you want on your burger, anyway?
· Au Bon Pain, Chipotle, and Starbucks - better options when you're on the go, featuring some local and/or organic ingredients, recycled paper products, and more.
If 10,000 Biters take one fewer napkin at fast-food restaurants, in a year we'll conserve the total annual paper use of 25 Americans.
A Reminder that little by little, you'll get to your goal
I've heard this story before, but it's a good one and one that comes at a good time. From Everyday Cheapskate.
A Little Bit Here, A Little Bit There
I love to knit. That is not to say that I am a fast knitter or even that good at it. Mostly I make things that turn out marginally well; then I tear them out and start over on something else. But here's the funny thing: It's not the finished product that I find so enjoyable. It's the process. It's the gentle rhythm, the pulling of one loop of yarn through another, over and over again.
Curiously in all of knitting—and I'm talking about the most complicated and breathtakingly beautiful works of knitted wear—there exist only two stitches: knit and purl. That's it. And no matter how fast I knit, or how slow—how intricate or ordinary the pattern—one thing is sure: I can make only one stitch at a time. And one stitch makes absolutely no visual difference in whatever it is I'm working on at the moment.
Now and then I come to the last stitch, bind it off and surprise even myself by what I've created. How did that happen? It's remarkable really that just one stitch at a time can bring such pleasing results.
I love the story author Jaroldeen Edwards (Things I Wish I'd Known Sooner, Pocket Books, 1997) tells of the trip she took with her daughter one bleak and rainy day. She wasn't that thrilled to drive more than two hours to see flowers some woman had planted. But her daughter was insistent—"You're going to love this, Mom!" And tell me what mom could resist going along with that kind of enthusiasm.
They drove along the Rim of the World Highway, inching their way toward Lake Arrowhead through fog and drizzle. Jaroldeen now was certain she was being kidnapped by her daughter! Eventually Carolyn parked next to a small stone church and announced they would need to walk along a path, through huge, black-green evergreens and over a thick blanket of old pine needles.
Just as they turned the corner of the path, Jaroldeen stopped dead—literally gasping in amazement. "There before me was a most incredible and glorious sight! So unexpected and unimagined."
From the top of the mountain, sloping down several acres across folds and valleys, between the trees and bushes, following the natural flow of the terrain, were rivers of daffodils in radiant bloom. Every color of the spectrum of yellow—blazed like a carpet before us. Why? How? Her mind flooded with questions for how this could be.
As they approached the mountain home situated in the sea of yellow, she saw a sign posted clearly by someone tired of answering the same questions:
"Answers to the Questions I Know You are Asking: One Woman, Two Hands, Two Feet, and Very Little Brain. One at a Time. Started in 1958."
A little bit here, a little bit there.
Today I received a photo of the most darling little boy, Joshua Michael, who is approaching his first birthday. He's the first grandchild of my college roommate. Almost as adorable, is the hat he's wearing. Why? How? One woman, two hands, two needles and very little brain. One stitch at a time. Started about ten months ago.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
planet green channel & website
Jun 5, 2008
planet green channel & website
It's not easy being green?
Planet Green started yesterday, so last night I was watching it. I like it – I'm always looking for tips for turning green.
Green tip for today (from the Planet Green website):
if you already own your home and are trying to go green with your next set of renovations, don't feel like you have to tear down a bedroom or a bathroom to green your property. There are many steps you can take to downsize your lifestyle and to shrink your eco-footprint in the process:
· Don't Duplicate. You can downsize in more ways than one. By selling or giving away anything you've got more than one of (or that you'll never use) you're keeping another person from going out and buying a newly manufactured version of that product, which helps the environment tremendously.
Working on it!
· Out of Sight, Out of Mind. If you've got one or two rooms in your home that hardly ever get used, downsize your home and its eco-footprint by shutting off the heating and cooling to these areas and keep the windows and door shut with the cracks sealed. Even if it's just a seasonal shutdown (like an unused sunroom in the winter), by pretending like the rooms aren't there your energy bills will be much lower.
The vents are closed in the guest room – that's about the only room we don't use.
· Stop Buying. One more way to downsize is to stop filling your home with more stuff! Do you really need all those plastic and battery-filled electronics that you may use once and then ignore? If you must have something, purchase used or rent the item… your wallet and your storage closets will be relieved.
I try to get used items when I can. This is something that I really need to work on. I've signed up for paperbackswap.com – I actually have a book coming to me this week! No one is interested in my books (yet).
· Go Digital. Downsize your paper trail and go paperless by requesting electronic statements, by paying your bills on line, and by using a computer-based fax machine. Tons of trees will thank you as you shrink your eco-footprint.
I have been trying to go paperless for awhile – I'm so tired of all of the paper files that I (feel like I) have to keep. I've been scanning in paper after paper after paper to reduce the files. It's a never ending job, but is getting better. I have been paying our bills online for awhile and love it. And we also receive bills online – there are still a couple that I need to sign up for.
planet green channel & website
It's not easy being green?
Planet Green started yesterday, so last night I was watching it. I like it – I'm always looking for tips for turning green.
Green tip for today (from the Planet Green website):
if you already own your home and are trying to go green with your next set of renovations, don't feel like you have to tear down a bedroom or a bathroom to green your property. There are many steps you can take to downsize your lifestyle and to shrink your eco-footprint in the process:
· Don't Duplicate. You can downsize in more ways than one. By selling or giving away anything you've got more than one of (or that you'll never use) you're keeping another person from going out and buying a newly manufactured version of that product, which helps the environment tremendously.
Working on it!
· Out of Sight, Out of Mind. If you've got one or two rooms in your home that hardly ever get used, downsize your home and its eco-footprint by shutting off the heating and cooling to these areas and keep the windows and door shut with the cracks sealed. Even if it's just a seasonal shutdown (like an unused sunroom in the winter), by pretending like the rooms aren't there your energy bills will be much lower.
The vents are closed in the guest room – that's about the only room we don't use.
· Stop Buying. One more way to downsize is to stop filling your home with more stuff! Do you really need all those plastic and battery-filled electronics that you may use once and then ignore? If you must have something, purchase used or rent the item… your wallet and your storage closets will be relieved.
I try to get used items when I can. This is something that I really need to work on. I've signed up for paperbackswap.com – I actually have a book coming to me this week! No one is interested in my books (yet).
· Go Digital. Downsize your paper trail and go paperless by requesting electronic statements, by paying your bills on line, and by using a computer-based fax machine. Tons of trees will thank you as you shrink your eco-footprint.
I have been trying to go paperless for awhile – I'm so tired of all of the paper files that I (feel like I) have to keep. I've been scanning in paper after paper after paper to reduce the files. It's a never ending job, but is getting better. I have been paying our bills online for awhile and love it. And we also receive bills online – there are still a couple that I need to sign up for.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
catching up on the blogging - jokes, money, living green, countdown, memories, worthy causes
Apr 20, 2008
catching up on the blogging - jokes, money, living green, countdown, memories, worthy causes
Saving Money
I added some pictures to my online yardsale last night and posted some ads on Craig's list. No bites yet.
From Everyday Cheapskate
How to Prepare for a Recession With all the talk of a recession these days, I'm not surprised that most people believe the U.S. is experiencing a catastrophic economic crisis. But that is not true. The U.S. economy is not in a recession.
A recession by definition occurs when the U.S. gross national product (GNP) declines for two calendar quarters in a row. We have not yet experienced even a one quarter decline for nearly seven years running. So let me repeat ... we are not in a recession.The economy does appear to be slowing, however, so the possibility of a declining quarter is likely, and sooner rather than later. Still it would take two quarters in a row to qualify as a recession. Since the 1940s (about 60 years) the U.S. has gone through only 10 recessions, averaging ten months in length.
A recession is the way that a free market economy corrects its mistakes. Think back to the mid-1980s when the stock market lost more than 30 percent of its value. The Dow Jones dropped 500 points in one day and went from about 2,600 to 1,600 before it stopped its freefall. I remember that day. You would have thought the world had come to an end.
But guess what? The economy corrected itself. It fixed its mistakes. And 26 years later the Dow Jones hit 14,000. Just imagine if you'd started building your retirement accounts on that day in October when the U.S. stock market crashed … uh, I mean corrected itself. Imagine if you would have had $10,000 to invest when the Dow Jones hit 1,600 and then added another $1,000 each year. Today you would be wealthy.
Without a doubt the U.S. will go through a recession in the future, but that doesn't have to mean doom and gloom.
Both the U.S. economy and your personal economy are wise when they anticipate an economic slowdown. And that is where the U.S. is right now. It's time to get ready ...
How to prepare for a financial downturn:
1. Live below your means. There, I said it again, and believe me it won't be the last time. Do not buy stuff you cannot afford.
2. Control your spending. Stay away from malls, online shopping sites or other places that allow you to overspend with ease.
3. Reduce your expenses. Everything from the water you use to the gasoline you burn. Start tracking your expenses, then employ every possible tactic imaginable to cut some from every area.
4. Pay off your credit cards every month. If you are carrying balances, get those cards out of your possession so you are not tempted to use them. Once paid in full, carry only one card with you and clear it every month as if your life depended on it.
5. Save. Save. Save. You need a good, healthy cushion of cash set aside to carry you through the unknown that lies ahead.
6. Pay off your home mortgage as quickly as possible. Once your unsecured debts are paid, tackle the home mortgage with a vengeance. This is the only assurance you will ever have for a rent-free retirement.
If you do all six of these things, you will recession-proof your life. That means you will be so well prepared, so financially fortified, that you will be able to not only survive, but also thrive, during any coming recession.
So much easier said than done. Especially 2! I keep reminding myself (and Dan) that it's the bigger goal (of retiring early) that I'm working towards instead of today's impulse items.
Living Green
Crap – I got the following e-mail from Idealbite today.
Got a stink that won't let you unplug your nose?The Bite
No need to "plug-it-in, plug-it-in." Instead, hit that stink with a stick: reed aromatherapy diffusers, which work like lightly-scented candles or air fresheners, but last longer and let you stick it to energy waste.
The Benefits· Not "plugging it in." At about 2.1 watts, those plug-in deodorizers don't use tons of energy, but none is even better.
· Sticking to what's essential. Some of those air fresheners are kinda dirty, containing chems such as carcinogenic phthalates; most reed diffusers use only essential oils.
· The scents stick around. Diffusers last hundreds of hours - way longer than your average scented candle.
· Hitting rooms with the pretty stick. Plug-in fresheners don't always go with your décor, whereas natural reeds in a beautiful glass look good anywhere.
Personally Speaking
One of us on the team (who prefers to go unnamed) asks guests to shake the Botura bamboo reeds in her bathroom after they go.
Wanna Try?· Botura - great earthy floral scent with geranium and patchouli ($43).
· Dani Eco Diffuser - comes in six nature-inspired scents, such as clover and fresh fir, and its packaging is biodegradable ($30).
· Ilio Modern Air - made using sustainably grown rattan reeds; also in six fragrance choices, including clean- and sweet-smelling D'anjou Pear ($29).
· Method Aroma Sticks - choose from cut-grass or sweet-water scents; has darker reeds and a ceramic vase ($15).
· VI Reed & Cane Reeds - just reeds if you wanna create your own scent-and-bottle combo ($10-$16/100).
· DIY Bite: Mix 15-20 drops of your fave essential oil with 3 cups of H2O in a spray bottle to use as a room spritzer.
If 10,000 Biters unplug their PlugIns for a month, we'll save enough energy to power a typical American house for about 17 months.
So, something simple that I can do – remove the plug-ins and I figure I can start using candles – I have a ton of them anyway!
From the Treehugger e-mail:
Eat Your Greens(wash)
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04.16.08
Subway riders have had this bizarre ad staring them in the face all week. A big bowl of frozen french fries with the tag line "Eat Your greens." But McCain's doesn't mean that a serving of Rustic Oven Chips is as good as fresh vegetables. According to a spokesman "That's not the idea at all." Apparently it is all about the 4 green "traffic lights" on the right hand side of the ad. They are part of the Food Standards Agency's new food labelling scheme which indicates how healthy different foods are according to their rating system. The chips have scored "green" on four different categories. So the green means the traffic lights, not that they are vegetables. Get it?
Not everyone does. So far there have been three complaints about the Rustic Oven Chips ad claiming that it is misleading because potatoes do not count towards the required five portions of fruit and vegetables and do not count as "greens". McCain's is launching this upmarket premium brand to try and resurrect the failing french fry industry now that people have started to understand more about healthy diets. They say that their new Rustic Oven Chips are the only ones to score "green" on all four counts: low in fat, saturates, sugar and salt. Treehuggers are familiar with the concept of greenwashing but this one takes the cake, oops, vegetable.
Sorry Greenies – this is all good for me! I consider fries a vegetable!
Gasoline tip from Treehugger:
Today's Tip from Planet Green: Don't top off your tank
While you may be tempted to add a little more gas to your car to round off your dollar sale- even at the risk of overfilling the tank-this is one instance when you shouldn't go with the flow.
Topping off the gas tank isn't just bad for the environment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it's also detrimental for your wallet. Because the gas nozzle automatically clicks off when your tank is full, topping off can result in your paying for gasoline that is fed back into the station's tanks via the pump's vapor-recovery system, which prevents gas vapors from escaping into the air and contributing to air pollution. In fact, topping off might even foul up the mechanism and cause not only a gas-pump failure, but also a potential air-pollution problem.
Cool – I stopped topping off awhile ago. Didn't know I was doing something good for the environment!
Recycling/saving water tip from Ideal Bite
Need help getting the lime wedge out of your beer bottle?
The Bite
Don't bother - you can recycle it with the lime still inside. In fact, none of your recyclables need to be spotless, since most "contaminants" get cleaned out or burned away during remanufacturing. We'll drink to that.
The Benefits· Recycling's even easier. What will the waste management people think up next?
· Cheers for less water waste. It takes about two glasses of water to clean out a glass jar; you'll save a lotta water by not rinsing your recyclables until they're spick-and-span.
Personally Speaking
Bite team member Hilary used to suck the limes out of her Corona bottles before recycling them until we researched this tip and set her straight.
Wanna Try?· Don't chuck a container full of moldy cream cheese into the bin - but you don't have to scrape and rinse it 'til it's totally clean either.
If 10,000 Biters rinse out one fewer glass bottle before recycling it, we'll save enough water to run a dishwasher 139 times.
Thank goodness – I hate rinsing out recycling items!
Saving Energy tip from Ideal Bite
Do you wipe your hands on your pants after using a public sink?The Bite
We know you just wanna save resources (ahem), but c'mon. Air hand-dryers aren't that energy-intensive, and if you gotta choose between them and paper towels, they're definitely the eco-friendliest (and nonembarassing) way to go.
The Benefits· Earth-friendly etiquette. De-wetting your hands with an electric hand-dryer uses about 1/3 of the electricity needed to produce paper towels (and obviously, no trees get the axe).
· Not soiling the earth. Those paper towels you used to dry your hands aren't recycled after you throw them away, people.
· Less clean-up for biz-owners after you do your business. Hand-dryers require less maintenance than paper towels, which need constant refilling and don't always make it into the trash can.
Personally Speaking
Toshio, a former germophobe/litterbug, used to use an extra paper towel to shield his hand from public-restroom doorknobs, then leave it on the floor.
Wanna Try?· Forego the paper, and dry your mitts with a hand-dryer.
· Hand Dryer Calculator business owners: Find out how much you can save by installing an electric hand-dryer.
At home, your best bet is a cloth towel, but if 10,000 Biters use a hand-dryer instead of paper towels next time they're in a public restroom, we'll keep the weight of 83 (dry) pants in paper waste outta landfills.
Been using and towel at home and the majority of the time, I use a hand dryer in the bathroom! Woohoo! Saving the environment and money!
The countdown
So last night I was flipping channels and what do I see on the guide – a show named "The Big 4-0". Who knew there was a show? Like I mentioned before, I don't feel the anxiousness of the number (yet). Here's the website – http://www.tvland.com/originals/thebig40/ - I'm going to have to check it out. Maybe apply for the show. LOL!
Memories of the past
Funny how certain things remind you of your past. The following was a Washington Postpoints "parents & kids" tip for today.
Footwear BasicsCheck your children's shoe fit frequently to avoid foot problems. Children's feet often grow faster than parents expect, and tight shoes can lead to lasting foot problems. Make a point of checking shoe fit every few weeks, experts recommend. Check shoe fit while a child is standing.
Philip Wilson, an orthopedic surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center, tells parents to allow for half the length of an adult thumbnail between the tips of the toes and the front of the shoes. If there's less space, buy new shoes. Infants generally don't need shoes except in cold weather.
--Health section
So the memory – which has nothing to do with my childhood, except I remember getting measured all of the time, standing on the metal foot measurement thingy – is of a comment that someone (family member) said during a rough patch in our family (after my parents deaths). The comment was my dad would not let my mom purchase shoes that fit my brother's (maybe both brothers) feet therefore that is the reason why his (or their) pinky toe is on top of the next toe. All of this is hearsay since it wasn't said directly to me, but it's something I remember and obviously it bugged me for me to remember it all of these years. Maybe because I never remember going without as a kid – even though my dad didn't make much. Maybe my brothers' memories are different though.
For Fun
On the first day, God created the dog and said: 'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'
The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?'
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.'
The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.'
The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'
And again God agreed.
On the fourth day, God created man and said: 'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.'
But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'
'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
Another for fun
YOUR AGE BY BAR AND SALOON MATH
DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read .
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.
1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to
go out to eat. (more than once but less than 10)
2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)
3. Add 5
4. Multiply it by 50
5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1758...If you haven't, add 1757.
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.
You should have a three digit number
The first digit of this was your original number. (I.e., How many times
you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)
The next two numbers are
YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!)
THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2008) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS
For a cause
The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating $0.40 to Autism Speaks for *each time* the video is viewed. When you have a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video and pass it along to your friends and family. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal. Please help!http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214
catching up on the blogging - jokes, money, living green, countdown, memories, worthy causes
Saving Money
I added some pictures to my online yardsale last night and posted some ads on Craig's list. No bites yet.
From Everyday Cheapskate
How to Prepare for a Recession With all the talk of a recession these days, I'm not surprised that most people believe the U.S. is experiencing a catastrophic economic crisis. But that is not true. The U.S. economy is not in a recession.
A recession by definition occurs when the U.S. gross national product (GNP) declines for two calendar quarters in a row. We have not yet experienced even a one quarter decline for nearly seven years running. So let me repeat ... we are not in a recession.The economy does appear to be slowing, however, so the possibility of a declining quarter is likely, and sooner rather than later. Still it would take two quarters in a row to qualify as a recession. Since the 1940s (about 60 years) the U.S. has gone through only 10 recessions, averaging ten months in length.
A recession is the way that a free market economy corrects its mistakes. Think back to the mid-1980s when the stock market lost more than 30 percent of its value. The Dow Jones dropped 500 points in one day and went from about 2,600 to 1,600 before it stopped its freefall. I remember that day. You would have thought the world had come to an end.
But guess what? The economy corrected itself. It fixed its mistakes. And 26 years later the Dow Jones hit 14,000. Just imagine if you'd started building your retirement accounts on that day in October when the U.S. stock market crashed … uh, I mean corrected itself. Imagine if you would have had $10,000 to invest when the Dow Jones hit 1,600 and then added another $1,000 each year. Today you would be wealthy.
Without a doubt the U.S. will go through a recession in the future, but that doesn't have to mean doom and gloom.
Both the U.S. economy and your personal economy are wise when they anticipate an economic slowdown. And that is where the U.S. is right now. It's time to get ready ...
How to prepare for a financial downturn:
1. Live below your means. There, I said it again, and believe me it won't be the last time. Do not buy stuff you cannot afford.
2. Control your spending. Stay away from malls, online shopping sites or other places that allow you to overspend with ease.
3. Reduce your expenses. Everything from the water you use to the gasoline you burn. Start tracking your expenses, then employ every possible tactic imaginable to cut some from every area.
4. Pay off your credit cards every month. If you are carrying balances, get those cards out of your possession so you are not tempted to use them. Once paid in full, carry only one card with you and clear it every month as if your life depended on it.
5. Save. Save. Save. You need a good, healthy cushion of cash set aside to carry you through the unknown that lies ahead.
6. Pay off your home mortgage as quickly as possible. Once your unsecured debts are paid, tackle the home mortgage with a vengeance. This is the only assurance you will ever have for a rent-free retirement.
If you do all six of these things, you will recession-proof your life. That means you will be so well prepared, so financially fortified, that you will be able to not only survive, but also thrive, during any coming recession.
So much easier said than done. Especially 2! I keep reminding myself (and Dan) that it's the bigger goal (of retiring early) that I'm working towards instead of today's impulse items.
Living Green
Crap – I got the following e-mail from Idealbite today.
Got a stink that won't let you unplug your nose?The Bite
No need to "plug-it-in, plug-it-in." Instead, hit that stink with a stick: reed aromatherapy diffusers, which work like lightly-scented candles or air fresheners, but last longer and let you stick it to energy waste.
The Benefits· Not "plugging it in." At about 2.1 watts, those plug-in deodorizers don't use tons of energy, but none is even better.
· Sticking to what's essential. Some of those air fresheners are kinda dirty, containing chems such as carcinogenic phthalates; most reed diffusers use only essential oils.
· The scents stick around. Diffusers last hundreds of hours - way longer than your average scented candle.
· Hitting rooms with the pretty stick. Plug-in fresheners don't always go with your décor, whereas natural reeds in a beautiful glass look good anywhere.
Personally Speaking
One of us on the team (who prefers to go unnamed) asks guests to shake the Botura bamboo reeds in her bathroom after they go.
Wanna Try?· Botura - great earthy floral scent with geranium and patchouli ($43).
· Dani Eco Diffuser - comes in six nature-inspired scents, such as clover and fresh fir, and its packaging is biodegradable ($30).
· Ilio Modern Air - made using sustainably grown rattan reeds; also in six fragrance choices, including clean- and sweet-smelling D'anjou Pear ($29).
· Method Aroma Sticks - choose from cut-grass or sweet-water scents; has darker reeds and a ceramic vase ($15).
· VI Reed & Cane Reeds - just reeds if you wanna create your own scent-and-bottle combo ($10-$16/100).
· DIY Bite: Mix 15-20 drops of your fave essential oil with 3 cups of H2O in a spray bottle to use as a room spritzer.
If 10,000 Biters unplug their PlugIns for a month, we'll save enough energy to power a typical American house for about 17 months.
So, something simple that I can do – remove the plug-ins and I figure I can start using candles – I have a ton of them anyway!
From the Treehugger e-mail:
Eat Your Greens(wash)
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04.16.08
Subway riders have had this bizarre ad staring them in the face all week. A big bowl of frozen french fries with the tag line "Eat Your greens." But McCain's doesn't mean that a serving of Rustic Oven Chips is as good as fresh vegetables. According to a spokesman "That's not the idea at all." Apparently it is all about the 4 green "traffic lights" on the right hand side of the ad. They are part of the Food Standards Agency's new food labelling scheme which indicates how healthy different foods are according to their rating system. The chips have scored "green" on four different categories. So the green means the traffic lights, not that they are vegetables. Get it?
Not everyone does. So far there have been three complaints about the Rustic Oven Chips ad claiming that it is misleading because potatoes do not count towards the required five portions of fruit and vegetables and do not count as "greens". McCain's is launching this upmarket premium brand to try and resurrect the failing french fry industry now that people have started to understand more about healthy diets. They say that their new Rustic Oven Chips are the only ones to score "green" on all four counts: low in fat, saturates, sugar and salt. Treehuggers are familiar with the concept of greenwashing but this one takes the cake, oops, vegetable.
Sorry Greenies – this is all good for me! I consider fries a vegetable!
Gasoline tip from Treehugger:
Today's Tip from Planet Green: Don't top off your tank
While you may be tempted to add a little more gas to your car to round off your dollar sale- even at the risk of overfilling the tank-this is one instance when you shouldn't go with the flow.
Topping off the gas tank isn't just bad for the environment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it's also detrimental for your wallet. Because the gas nozzle automatically clicks off when your tank is full, topping off can result in your paying for gasoline that is fed back into the station's tanks via the pump's vapor-recovery system, which prevents gas vapors from escaping into the air and contributing to air pollution. In fact, topping off might even foul up the mechanism and cause not only a gas-pump failure, but also a potential air-pollution problem.
Cool – I stopped topping off awhile ago. Didn't know I was doing something good for the environment!
Recycling/saving water tip from Ideal Bite
Need help getting the lime wedge out of your beer bottle?
The Bite
Don't bother - you can recycle it with the lime still inside. In fact, none of your recyclables need to be spotless, since most "contaminants" get cleaned out or burned away during remanufacturing. We'll drink to that.
The Benefits· Recycling's even easier. What will the waste management people think up next?
· Cheers for less water waste. It takes about two glasses of water to clean out a glass jar; you'll save a lotta water by not rinsing your recyclables until they're spick-and-span.
Personally Speaking
Bite team member Hilary used to suck the limes out of her Corona bottles before recycling them until we researched this tip and set her straight.
Wanna Try?· Don't chuck a container full of moldy cream cheese into the bin - but you don't have to scrape and rinse it 'til it's totally clean either.
If 10,000 Biters rinse out one fewer glass bottle before recycling it, we'll save enough water to run a dishwasher 139 times.
Thank goodness – I hate rinsing out recycling items!
Saving Energy tip from Ideal Bite
Do you wipe your hands on your pants after using a public sink?The Bite
We know you just wanna save resources (ahem), but c'mon. Air hand-dryers aren't that energy-intensive, and if you gotta choose between them and paper towels, they're definitely the eco-friendliest (and nonembarassing) way to go.
The Benefits· Earth-friendly etiquette. De-wetting your hands with an electric hand-dryer uses about 1/3 of the electricity needed to produce paper towels (and obviously, no trees get the axe).
· Not soiling the earth. Those paper towels you used to dry your hands aren't recycled after you throw them away, people.
· Less clean-up for biz-owners after you do your business. Hand-dryers require less maintenance than paper towels, which need constant refilling and don't always make it into the trash can.
Personally Speaking
Toshio, a former germophobe/litterbug, used to use an extra paper towel to shield his hand from public-restroom doorknobs, then leave it on the floor.
Wanna Try?· Forego the paper, and dry your mitts with a hand-dryer.
· Hand Dryer Calculator business owners: Find out how much you can save by installing an electric hand-dryer.
At home, your best bet is a cloth towel, but if 10,000 Biters use a hand-dryer instead of paper towels next time they're in a public restroom, we'll keep the weight of 83 (dry) pants in paper waste outta landfills.
Been using and towel at home and the majority of the time, I use a hand dryer in the bathroom! Woohoo! Saving the environment and money!
The countdown
So last night I was flipping channels and what do I see on the guide – a show named "The Big 4-0". Who knew there was a show? Like I mentioned before, I don't feel the anxiousness of the number (yet). Here's the website – http://www.tvland.com/originals/thebig40/ - I'm going to have to check it out. Maybe apply for the show. LOL!
Memories of the past
Funny how certain things remind you of your past. The following was a Washington Postpoints "parents & kids" tip for today.
Footwear BasicsCheck your children's shoe fit frequently to avoid foot problems. Children's feet often grow faster than parents expect, and tight shoes can lead to lasting foot problems. Make a point of checking shoe fit every few weeks, experts recommend. Check shoe fit while a child is standing.
Philip Wilson, an orthopedic surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center, tells parents to allow for half the length of an adult thumbnail between the tips of the toes and the front of the shoes. If there's less space, buy new shoes. Infants generally don't need shoes except in cold weather.
--Health section
So the memory – which has nothing to do with my childhood, except I remember getting measured all of the time, standing on the metal foot measurement thingy – is of a comment that someone (family member) said during a rough patch in our family (after my parents deaths). The comment was my dad would not let my mom purchase shoes that fit my brother's (maybe both brothers) feet therefore that is the reason why his (or their) pinky toe is on top of the next toe. All of this is hearsay since it wasn't said directly to me, but it's something I remember and obviously it bugged me for me to remember it all of these years. Maybe because I never remember going without as a kid – even though my dad didn't make much. Maybe my brothers' memories are different though.
For Fun
On the first day, God created the dog and said: 'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'
The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?'
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.'
The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.'
The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'
And again God agreed.
On the fourth day, God created man and said: 'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.'
But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'
'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
Another for fun
YOUR AGE BY BAR AND SALOON MATH
DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read .
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.
1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to
go out to eat. (more than once but less than 10)
2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)
3. Add 5
4. Multiply it by 50
5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1758...If you haven't, add 1757.
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.
You should have a three digit number
The first digit of this was your original number. (I.e., How many times
you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)
The next two numbers are
YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!)
THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2008) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS
For a cause
The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating $0.40 to Autism Speaks for *each time* the video is viewed. When you have a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video and pass it along to your friends and family. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal. Please help!http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214
Friday, July 6, 2007
Entry for July 06, 2007
Entry for July 06, 2007
.07/06/2007 09:50 pm
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Woohoo - Friday!
I've been busy this evening making Chex Mix for a cookout that we are going to tomorrow. Dan's best friend, Tom, has an annual 4th of July party - or as he calls it - 4th-ish of July party since usally it's not actually on the 4th. Usually only about 10-15 people show up, but he always invites like 40. WELL - this year is different - about 40 people have RSVP'd!
Next in line for the making is Pasta Salad. Now, I'm not a cook - I hate cooking, but these two things are my specialty. Easy and pretty fast.
Living green has been going well at work. I've been piling up my coke bottles and was (yes, was) going to bring them home tonight. Well, I get in the office and the cleaning crew had tossed them. So, tonight, I brought what bottles I had drank home today and also the pile of paper that I have collected in the last 2 weeks.
Oh - I have a new online friend. Someone posted on Craig's list regarding dog toys and how their puppy is chewing EVERYTHING. I can so relate, so I e-mailed her with my ideas. We've been e-mailing quite a bit. Hopefully, we'll eventually get together.
.07/06/2007 09:50 pm
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Woohoo - Friday!
I've been busy this evening making Chex Mix for a cookout that we are going to tomorrow. Dan's best friend, Tom, has an annual 4th of July party - or as he calls it - 4th-ish of July party since usally it's not actually on the 4th. Usually only about 10-15 people show up, but he always invites like 40. WELL - this year is different - about 40 people have RSVP'd!
Next in line for the making is Pasta Salad. Now, I'm not a cook - I hate cooking, but these two things are my specialty. Easy and pretty fast.
Living green has been going well at work. I've been piling up my coke bottles and was (yes, was) going to bring them home tonight. Well, I get in the office and the cleaning crew had tossed them. So, tonight, I brought what bottles I had drank home today and also the pile of paper that I have collected in the last 2 weeks.
Oh - I have a new online friend. Someone posted on Craig's list regarding dog toys and how their puppy is chewing EVERYTHING. I can so relate, so I e-mailed her with my ideas. We've been e-mailing quite a bit. Hopefully, we'll eventually get together.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Living -- and Blogging -- the Green Life.
Living -- and Blogging -- the Green Life.
06/25/2007 11:53 am
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0 Pageviews..Washington Post
Sunday, June 24, 2007; M06
Just how planet-friendly can you get in 2007? Is it possible to live without producing trash or using appliances? A handful of bloggers are finding out. The intimate details of their adventures are a helpful -- and often hilarious -- way to learn what you can do for the planet, as well as what you probably aren't ready to do.
The most famous blogger of the bunch, writer Colin Beavan of No Impact Man ( http://noimpactman.typepad.com), not only composts his own excrement and eschews electricity, but he does so while living in Manhattan (a book and documentary are in the works) with his wife and 2-year-old.
Among the anecdotes about stomping laundry in the bathtub are serious musings on such topics as the future of capitalism and the relationship between goods and happiness -- grappling with, as the 43-year-old Beavan puts it, "finding a sense of meaning in living in a way that I feel isn't all about me, but reflects my concern for my planet and my community."
Toronto journalist Vanessa Farquharson, 28 -- who has vowed to make one small change in her lifestyle every day, from trading tissues for hankies to unplugging her refrigerator -- writes Green as a Thistle ( http://www.greenasathistle.com). The site has garnered a following for its candid product reviews and amusingly snarky tone: An organic body wash is deemed "craptastic"; an entry on the perils of airline food is called "No Steaks on a Plane."
"It's been much easier figuring out how to make spinach last more than a day [without a refrigerator] than it has been finding a way to effectively wash my hair without sodium lauryl sulfate," she says.
Though these two sites receive thousands of hits a day, they're not the only ones worth reading. So many eco-blogs are out there that there's even a blog about the blogs: Best Green Blogs ( http://www.bestgreenblogs.com).
-- Eviana Hartman
06/25/2007 11:53 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..Washington Post
Sunday, June 24, 2007; M06
Just how planet-friendly can you get in 2007? Is it possible to live without producing trash or using appliances? A handful of bloggers are finding out. The intimate details of their adventures are a helpful -- and often hilarious -- way to learn what you can do for the planet, as well as what you probably aren't ready to do.
The most famous blogger of the bunch, writer Colin Beavan of No Impact Man ( http://noimpactman.typepad.com), not only composts his own excrement and eschews electricity, but he does so while living in Manhattan (a book and documentary are in the works) with his wife and 2-year-old.
Among the anecdotes about stomping laundry in the bathtub are serious musings on such topics as the future of capitalism and the relationship between goods and happiness -- grappling with, as the 43-year-old Beavan puts it, "finding a sense of meaning in living in a way that I feel isn't all about me, but reflects my concern for my planet and my community."
Toronto journalist Vanessa Farquharson, 28 -- who has vowed to make one small change in her lifestyle every day, from trading tissues for hankies to unplugging her refrigerator -- writes Green as a Thistle ( http://www.greenasathistle.com). The site has garnered a following for its candid product reviews and amusingly snarky tone: An organic body wash is deemed "craptastic"; an entry on the perils of airline food is called "No Steaks on a Plane."
"It's been much easier figuring out how to make spinach last more than a day [without a refrigerator] than it has been finding a way to effectively wash my hair without sodium lauryl sulfate," she says.
Though these two sites receive thousands of hits a day, they're not the only ones worth reading. So many eco-blogs are out there that there's even a blog about the blogs: Best Green Blogs ( http://www.bestgreenblogs.com).
-- Eviana Hartman
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Trying to go Green.....
Trying to go Green.....
06/06/2007 10:45 am
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0 Pageviews..So this week, I've made a conscious effort to recycle/go green. This week I'm doing the following at work:
•taking home my coke & water bottles for recycling .
•I've created a scrap paper pile from the paper that would have originally gone in the trash. - update 6/26 - I'm taking home my paper for recycling. The pile was too much and I was never going to get through it!
•using the hand air dryer in the bathroom instead of papertowels. Using Energy, but saving trees.
The airport is just now getting into recycling more than just cardboard. The effort hasn't started yet, but should (in one concourse only) next month.
I'm pretty good at recycling at home - plastics, paper, cardboard, using towels instead of papertowels, use rags for cleaning, etc. I've started to replace the regular lightbulbs with the energy saving ones - as they go out, so it's taking time. I check out Craig's List, I signed up for Freecycle and Ideal Bite this week. It's a lot of work, but the feeling is good.
I'm always so amazed when we go to Canada - there are recycle bins EVERYWHERE. It's awesome.
Last night went pretty good, until I stopped paying attention to Esa. That's when she starts nipping or when I'm on the floor playing with her. This week the walking away isn't working. She just keeps coming after me. I think I'm acting different though - not just getting up and walking away, but looking at her and talking - which you aren't supposed to do. So, need to make a conscious effort on that. We went for an hour walk. Esa loses her focus a lot on the walk - just so much to take in. I'm thinking about getting the long leash and working with her in the yard to get her to pay attention to us better.
We were looking at the next class in the training - it's basically reinforcing of the same thing we're going over in this class. I'm thinking we should just wait and get her to "perfect" (or as close as we can to it) the current lessons and then go to the intermediate class. She's quite a ways from perfecting any of the lessons when outside. She's pretty good inside, but outside there are way too many distractions.
******
June 13, 2007 - going green update -
An ideal just came to me while I was fixing my lunch at work - why not start bringing my own silverware and cloth napkin? Silverware is easy - we have plenty of it and I always sent it with Dan. I'll have to dig up some cloth napkins. Something simple, but yet, a big impact. We go through a lot of plastic silverware & papertowels here.
*****
June 25, 2007 - going green update -
Charging my cell phone today, and just thought - I have a solar charger for my phone , why don't I use it!
*****
June 26, 2007 - going green update
I just read an article that says that recycled paper napkins are better than cloth when you put the energy to make and wash them into the equation - and some recycled napkins can be composted.
Also, I read about using graywater - basically reusing any water that you can to water plants. This should come in handy since I have to water the outside plants every day lately!
06/06/2007 10:45 am
0 comments
0 trackbacks
0 Pageviews..So this week, I've made a conscious effort to recycle/go green. This week I'm doing the following at work:
•taking home my coke & water bottles for recycling .
•I've created a scrap paper pile from the paper that would have originally gone in the trash. - update 6/26 - I'm taking home my paper for recycling. The pile was too much and I was never going to get through it!
•using the hand air dryer in the bathroom instead of papertowels. Using Energy, but saving trees.
The airport is just now getting into recycling more than just cardboard. The effort hasn't started yet, but should (in one concourse only) next month.
I'm pretty good at recycling at home - plastics, paper, cardboard, using towels instead of papertowels, use rags for cleaning, etc. I've started to replace the regular lightbulbs with the energy saving ones - as they go out, so it's taking time. I check out Craig's List, I signed up for Freecycle and Ideal Bite this week. It's a lot of work, but the feeling is good.
I'm always so amazed when we go to Canada - there are recycle bins EVERYWHERE. It's awesome.
Last night went pretty good, until I stopped paying attention to Esa. That's when she starts nipping or when I'm on the floor playing with her. This week the walking away isn't working. She just keeps coming after me. I think I'm acting different though - not just getting up and walking away, but looking at her and talking - which you aren't supposed to do. So, need to make a conscious effort on that. We went for an hour walk. Esa loses her focus a lot on the walk - just so much to take in. I'm thinking about getting the long leash and working with her in the yard to get her to pay attention to us better.
We were looking at the next class in the training - it's basically reinforcing of the same thing we're going over in this class. I'm thinking we should just wait and get her to "perfect" (or as close as we can to it) the current lessons and then go to the intermediate class. She's quite a ways from perfecting any of the lessons when outside. She's pretty good inside, but outside there are way too many distractions.
******
June 13, 2007 - going green update -
An ideal just came to me while I was fixing my lunch at work - why not start bringing my own silverware and cloth napkin? Silverware is easy - we have plenty of it and I always sent it with Dan. I'll have to dig up some cloth napkins. Something simple, but yet, a big impact. We go through a lot of plastic silverware & papertowels here.
*****
June 25, 2007 - going green update -
Charging my cell phone today, and just thought - I have a solar charger for my phone , why don't I use it!
*****
June 26, 2007 - going green update
I just read an article that says that recycled paper napkins are better than cloth when you put the energy to make and wash them into the equation - and some recycled napkins can be composted.
Also, I read about using graywater - basically reusing any water that you can to water plants. This should come in handy since I have to water the outside plants every day lately!
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