Earth Week!

Earth Week is almost over. The today show focused on things that can help you go green all week. I have been trying to come up with the easiest ways to go green that everyone can do.

1. Recycle your plastic grocery bags. I know that realistically we all forget our reusable bags at least sometimes so we have the thin plastic grocery bags laying around. You can reuse these bags as trash bags for small trash cans, for putting wet/dirty laundry in while on vacation, for putting wet toiletries in while on vacation, to tie extra stinky trash in, and you can use them to take lunch to work in. If you can find no other use for your used bags you can recycle them. Most major supermarkets and mass market retailers offer plastic bag recycling.
I personally recycle mine at Target because it is convenient for me.

2. Refill your soap dispensers even if you don't have one specifically made for refilling. You can buy large refill bottles and use them to refill your smaller soap dispensers. This saves on packaging and it works out to saving you money.
You can even refill foaming soap dispensers (like you can buy at Bath and Body Works) with the same soap as your regular soap dispensers. Just fill the bottom with maybe like 1 1/2 inches of soap and slowly add warm water. Replace the top and shake. This is a great thing to do because again you are saving on money and packaging by buying the refill size soaps AND you are saving on soap because not as much soap is being used per pump.

3. Use a refillable container for you coffee, tea, water, pop etc. Many different options are available. Choose the one that works best for you. I personally am a fan of the BPA free plastic water bottle options. Many of these won't stain or absorb flavors so you can use them for whatever cold drink you choose.

4. Use a rag to wipe up spills not a napkin or paper towel. A rag can be reused many many times. Paper towels and napkins just get put in the trash. The only time I will use paper towels or napkins to wipe something up is when I already used it and was going to throw it out anyways.

5. Conserve energy :-) Use a power strip to plug your TV and its' associated devices into. Power strips can actually save on energy. Unplug things that you are not using. Just having your things plugged in draws energy...so when you're not using them UNPLUG them. Turn lights out when you leave rooms. Make sure faucets are not leaking. Keep closet doors shut (that way you're not heating/cooling them as much). Use a cooler setting on the washer when you do laundry.
Make fewer trips out into town or pick things up on the way home/to work. The less unnecessary traveling you do the more gas you save.


Do your part to help our environment. This Earth is the only one we have.

Springtime :-)

Spring is here! I can't believe it was over 80 degrees out yesterday and it isn't even May :-D I am so excited for warm and hot weather. I love being able to open the windows and get fresh air...plus no having to pay to heat the apartment :-D

This year will be my first time planting a "porch garden"...and i'm hoping it will be a success. If anyone has any tips, hints, or tricks that they have used and had success with feel free to let me know.

I'm also getting ready to make some chocolates to take to Easter dinner with me. I did a little bit of practice last week and am enjoying eating the goodies that the hubby and I made. I can't wait to make more to take and share with my friends and family.

Have a blessed and beautiful day!

Thursday!

Ok...so the vinegar and baking soda seems to have worked. My plastic pitcher no longer smells like arnold palmer :-) thank goodness!

Last night I watched the Oprah show which was about being vegan and other such issues. They showed how a cow goes from a farm to a table. It was very interesting. Since I helped raise a couple of cows, I already knew how that process went, but I really enjoyed hearing about how Oprah's staff did with the "vegan challenge." All of the staff at Harpo Studios had the opportunity to go vegan for a week. Many of the staff noticed significant changes in there level of energy, lost weight, and had healthier b.ms

I am a meat eater and an a strong supporter of Animal Rights. Today the ASPCA posted a link on their facebook about Iowa wanting to ban undercover videotaping in places such as large factory farms and puppy mills. I think that such a ban would be devastating for the animals in Iowa.

Here is a link to the ASPCA's article. http://www.aspca.org/Blog/proposed-ban-on-undercover-video-will-protect-abusers.aspx

First Post!

Ok...so I am a newly wed and I am new to the area I live in. I'm trying to get started with couponing. I can't find somewhere close that has good sales that match up with the coupons I have. I mainly get my coupons from coupons.com and other online sources, but I also get them from my mom, through the mail, and on certain products from time to time.

It's so frustrating being somewhere where I am not as familiar with the stores or their coupon policies. I've been trying to find other blogs and websites that are for my area, but I am not having much luck. Hopefully I will be able to find someone who can help me out :-)

Other than that, I am also looking for 'greener' ways to do cleaning around the house. Today I tried out vinegar and baking soda for removing odor from a plastic pitcher. We will see how it worked in the morning.