Holiday Ideas: Christmas Dinner

Whoever cooks up your holiday meal probably gets sick of being in the kitchen by the time dinner is served. When it comes time to cleaning, some people opt for paper plates so they can throw them away and get back to spending time with the family.

This year, try to get the entire family involved. Yes, this will create a stir of complaints from anyone 20 and below [heck, maybe from everyone!], but set a kitchen timer for 7 minutes and have a tag-team type system. Seven minutes isn't full torture, but it is enough time for each team to get a few things done!

Pesticides in your food-TAKE ACTION by Dec 31.

By December 31st, Pesticide Action Network of North America is asking you to go to their website and speak out about Monsanto to the Department of Justice. If you Google Monsanto you'll notice there are more negative sites than positive... the word 'unethical' appearing several times.

Some of the sites get a little technical with their bio-chemistry lingo, but browse the sites before you send your email.





Thank you for this link, readers !

So Close...

...yet so far away.

Inspiring Story

I love to hear stories like this.

Happy Holidays!

Reusable water bottles

I tend to be a big water drinker. I have to carry around a huge water bottle with me to last the day because I'm on the go at all times and I'm never sure if I'll be somewhere where I can get water. My recycle bin was filled with empty water bottles every week.

Finally I did a little research and checked out some of the reusable water bottles out there. I was a little nervous about all the BPA talk, but I found one brand, Kleen Kanteen, that is made of stainless steel and does not have a plastic inner liner.

Since I'm also a huge tea drinker, I looked into getting a thermos that was environmentally friendly also. I found this brand called Aladdin at Wegman's which is made from around 25% post consumer content.

Here are some links to some water bottle reviews I looked at:
Tree Hugger
Safe Water Bottle Review

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving fellow Americans!

Enjoy your day of turkey and loved ones. Don't forget to give thanks for all that you have and are thankful for.

Feel free to comment on here for one thing you are thankful for!

Holiday Shopping Ideas #2

Gift certificates support local businesses!

Some people tend to think of gift cards as an easy way out, but who doesn't love receiving them? A gift card is a good way to get that person into whatever business you want to share with them because you think they would love it - or you know they already shop there!

• Guys... girls love pedicures. Go to a local salon and get a gift certificate for a pedicure.
  
• Have anyone on your list who loves to try new things? Get them a gift certificate for a horse back riding lesson!
• Do you have a coffee lover on your list? Get a gift certificate for a local coffee shop, and maybe also give them some gourmet coffee.
• For the serious music lover, try a local music store. As a music lover myself, I could always use more cds or vinyl. (Yes, vinyl!)
• If you have an athletic person on your 'to buy for' list, get them a gift certificate to go rock climbing or to take a yoga class.

Please feel free to share other good gift card ideas!

Alone in a field....

...and obviously have been for a very long time. Look! They're even mowed around.

Note worthy magazine

I don't usually have time to sit down and read through magazines, but there is one that does get me aching for a moment on the couch with a blanket and hot chocolate....

Ready Made magazine is a fantastic magazine aimed at getting people to use their brains and handyman skills rather than their wallets. It's filled with do it your self projects with labels for the skill level (ranging from monkey to craftsman) and amount of money (which is never much) you will have to spend to do this project. There are always reader contests to see who can come up with the best idea for a common item people usually throw in the trash.

It's a fantastic magazine I've found everywhere from Whole Foods to the library. And, when you're done with the magazine....

Broken Windshield to Shower Door

Who knew a chipped windshield would ever turn out to be a good thing?

As Ron Sundholm's windshield was being replaced after a run-in with a rock, he began to wonder if his old windshield could be salvaged into something else. Six years later Ron created a laminating process which secures old windshield glass into a nearly unbreakable and completely safe panel. These panels can be used for shower doors, partitions, art, etc. Each panel is completely unique, and creates a fascinating piece of art.

Check out the website for Second Glass here.

Holiday Shopping Ideas #1

It's that time again... where everyone starts stressing out about the approaching holidays. I thought I'd start a part of the blog that will appear once a week until the Christmas holiday is over.

Some of you are already finished all of your shopping, and maybe a few of you have gotten a few things marked off your list. Then... there are the rest of us. We are too busy to even think about the approaching holiday and annually wish that whoever planned out the holidays didn't smush a bunch of them in at the end of the year.

So if you fall into the second or third categories, these weekly blog posts will be for you!

One thing to think about as you're writing out your ideas for what to get people (or even for what to write on your own wish list) is where your gift is coming from. Are you buying something that has to be shipped across the country or even world? Is there an alternative that could be purchased closer to home?

Why not get something that starts off recycled? If you live near the Towsond, MD area, this is a fantastic store to visit. Everything at the Bluehouse has to meet one or more of several criteria. These criteria range from: the item has to be made by hand, the item has to be made locally, the item must be made of recycled products. Each product you click on shows you what criteria it meets.



If there are any stores like this near you, I would love to hear about them! Please email me with the store's name and website for future Holiday Shopping Idea posts!

Thank you Japan!

A reader sent me this very inspiring link. It's only 3 minutes long but please enjoy it!




I love that the money made from recycling goes back into the community. Separating your recyclables into 34 different categories may sound extreme...and tedious, but having zero waste is worth it.

I'm not sure why the video is covering the side information for this blog...but bear with me. :)

Tailgating with Pizza, Oysters and Diet Soda

Part of me wants to applaud someone for confining all the trash into these two grocery carts instead of letting the trash scatter over the parking lot.

The High Line

Upon saying good bye while visiting a friend on his lunch break in NYC, he asked me which way I was headed. I explained and he told me I should take the High Line instead of the route I was about to take. I was a bit confused, but after some explanation I was practically running to check the High Line out.

From the 1930's to 1980 the High Line was used to separate freight trains from the street level. Since lengthy structure hasn't been used in ages, it was under the threat of demolition. Some folks decided that it would make the perfect above street level park, for people to get away from the bustle of their walk down the West Side. For the entire history (which is very fascinating) click here.

While I was strolling about in awe, I took some photos with my cell phone.

You can see some of the old tracks are still there...

These were ingenious lounge "chairs" that I wish moved a little farther than they did. Still very awesome though.

This dreadfully blurry image was to just show the contrast of park and city.

You can see more photos at the High Line website, along with sketches for future sections of the tracks.

The Fun Theory

This is an amazing idea. Based in Sweden and backed by Volkswagen, the idea of this website is to see if people were rewarded for doing something they may not like doing, if they would do it more often and invite others to do the same. The website puts it as changing "people's behavior for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better."

As of now, the website has three social experiments for you to view. I'm not going to give away the experiments - I really want you reader, yes you, to go to the link and check it out. The videos aren't long and they're entertaining. Check back often to see if more videos are posted. You can also check the side of my page for a permanent link.


You can view entries submitted by visitors, and vote on their ideas. If you have your own, you can submit it and perhaps find your idea on the main page and 2500 Euros. (Check the rules before you get too excited about all those Euros!)

Welcome to America!

I am very excited to be getting reader submissions! This photo was sent to me by a couple who went to Europe on their honeymoon, surrounded by the typical small European cars, and returned only to take the above photo. I wanted to title the photo "Not only do we need larger vehicles here in America, but we need to take up more parking spaces than needed", but they suggested "Welcome to America" which is fitting, and has a lot less rage attached to the name.

A few years ago I participated in a research group regarding cars. The moderator began by asking each of us what car we owned and why we purchased this car. One conversation between the moderator and another participant went like this [yes I do remember this word-for-word, but the car name is left out]:

Moderator: And what do you drive?
Participant: A [SUV].
Moderator: And why did you choose a [SUV]?
Participant: So I have more room.
Moderator: Oh, do you tend to transport a lot of things in your [SUV]?
Participant: No, I hate crap in my car. I try to keep my car clean.
Moderator: Then why do you do need all the space?
Participant: I put my gym bag in my car sometimes.
Moderator: O-kay...

So... to summarize, an SUV was purchased to hold a gym bag - occasionally.


When you go to purchase your next car, please take a few things into consideration if you haven't already:

• What is the city MPG? Is it more than one digit or barely two?
• If you are thinking of buying a truck, how often will you really use the truck bed? Would it be cheaper to buy a smaller car, then rent a truck for the seldom times you need the space of a truck bed?
• Why are you choosing an SUV? If the only reason is because it looks cooler than a mini-van or any other four door vehicle, maybe you should reconsider.
  
• How much money will it cost to fill your tank? If it's enough money that it will force you to drive less, then maybe you should get a more fuel efficient car. (Although driving less isn't a bad thing!)
  

Scary but revealing site.

A friend sent me this site where you put in your zip code and get the 411 on air and water quality in your town, and also links for steps to reduce pollution.

If you poke around the site it lists what companies produce the most amount of pollution in the United States, compare pollution levels between towns, and seemingly more information than you can absorb with one visit. There is also a section which explains each air toxin, what causes it and it's effect on the body.

Check out Scorecard and see what it says about your neighborhood.

What's wrong with this picture?

If you guessed "it says no parking on the no outlet street, so what is that space even used for?" you are correct! If you aren't going to allow parking on the "street", at least rip up the pavement and create a green space. Any other suggestions?

Don't throw out those magazines!

Just because your neighborhood recycling program doesn't take glossy items [or maybe they do!], doesn't mean you should throw out your magazines.

• If you've ever noticed the schools or churches near you have yellow and green dumpsters, they're not for trash, they are for recycling and anyone can use them! Check out Paper Retriever to see if there is a bin near you. They accept magazines along with newspapers and catalogs. Check this page to see what additional items the bins near you accept.

• Your local library may take some magazines as long as they are in good quality. Call your library first before you haul off a years supply to Rolling Stone magazine.

• Your local retirement home might love some reading material! Doctor's offices and salons sometimes get free magazine subscriptions sent to them because the publishers know they have people in the waiting room looking for things to read, and hey, free advertising! Other places are sometimes overlooked and have old, outdated reading material. Call your dentist before your appointment, they may gladly accept a few issues in their waiting room - just make sure to cut your name out of the cover first.
  

Trashed

Philadelphia
by Rudyard Kipling

"Brother Square-Toes"--Rewards and Fairies.
If you're off to Philadelphia in the morning,
You mustn't take my stories for a guide.
There's little left, indeed, of the city you will read of,
And all the folk I write about have died.
Now few will understand if you mention Talleyrand,
Or remember what his cunning and his skill did;
And the cabmen at the wharf do not know Count Zinzendorf,
Nor the Church in Philadelphia he builded.

It is gone, gone, gone with lost Atlantis,
(Never say I didn't give you warning).
In Seventeen Ninety-three 'twas there for all to see,
But it's not in Philadelphia this morning.

If you're off to Philadelphia in the morning,
You mustn't go by anything I've said.
Bob Bicknell's Southern Stages have been laid aside for ages,
But the Limited will take you there instead.
Toby Hirte can't be seen at One Hundred and Eighteen
North Second Street--no matter when you call;
And I fear you'll search in vain for the wash-house down the lane
Where Pharaoh played the fiddle at the ball.

It is gone, gone, gone with Thebes the Golden,
(Never say I didn't give you warning).
In Seventeen Ninety-four 'twas a famous dancing floor--
But it's not in Philadelphia this morning.

If you're off to Philadelphia in the morning,
You must telegraph for rooms at some Hotel.
You needn't try your luck at Epply's or "The Buck,"
Though the Father of his Country liked them well.
It is not the slightest use to inquire for Adam Goos,
Or to ask where Pastor Meder has removed--so
You must treat as out of date the story I relate
Of the Church in Philadelphia he loved so.

He is gone, gone, gone with Martin Luther
(Never say I didn't give you warning)
In Seventeen Ninety-five he was, ( rest his soul! ) alive.
But he's not in Philadelphia this morning.

If you're off to Philadelphia this morning,
And wish to prove the truth of what I say,
I pledge my word you'll find the pleasant land behind
Unaltered since Red Jacket rode that way.
Still the pine-woods scent the noon; still the catbird sings his tune;
Still autumn sets the maple-forest blazing;
Still the grape-vine through the dusk flings her soul-compelling musk;
Still the fire-flies in the corn make night amazing!
They are there, there, there with Earth immortal
( Citizens, I give you friendly warning ). .
The thins that truly last when men and times have passed,
They are all in Pennsylvania this morning!

Food Recycling Law

San Francisco has implemented a food recycling law and encourages everyone to throw their food trash into a compost bin, rather than in the trash. This significantly cuts down the amount of trash sent to landfills, and stench on trash day.

Seattle began this in the beginning of 2009, but only requires residents to follow, not businesses or restaurants.

Hopefully this law catches on and spreads across the country.

Read the entire article here.

Thumbs Up!

I came across this community garden a few weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised that something like this existed. I searched the internet and found this website for community gardens across America. Every garden varies in depth - some gardens are acres upon acres, some gardens consist only of flowers and other non-edible vegetation, some exist only to preserve green space.

Look up a garden near you!

Freecycle

I am a major supporter of thrift stores. I love the treasure hunt they become, and I love the prices. I've picked up some really old cameras, old school Nintendo games, records [more so when I was a DJ], furniture and items for costume parties.

Whenever I go clothes shopping, I come home and make a thrift store pile to exchange say, 3 old things for the 3 new things I just bought. Of course it always ends up that I donate more than just an equal amount to my new purchases...or if I don't have a significant amount of stuff to donate I wait or ask friends if they want to add anything to my donation pile.

Anyway, back to the treasure hunt aspect of it all. There is a website out there that is the online version of thrift stores! It's called Freecycle and it's like trash picking on the internet. They want to give items a few more lives before they end up in the dumpster just because the owner doesn't want them anymore. So next time you come up empty handed after a thrift store visit or dumpster diving, go to Freecycle!

Please recycle your cardboard

Why recycle cardboard? Why not just throw it in the trash...

Doesn't a little part of you die inside when you throw something recyclable into the trash? Or is that just me?

The worst seems to be when people go on vacation - because it seems like people take a vacation from recycling also. They forget to have their papers stopped at home, so their newspapers gather on their driveways and get soggy. They buy paper plates for their mountain or beach homes and just throw away their dishes, because hey, who wants to do dishes while on vacation! I could go on and on but you see my point. I hope.

Recycle your bottle caps!

Aveda is an environmentally-aware company that produces a professional line of cosmetics including makeup, skin care and hair color. Their products are plant-based and can be found at Aveda salons and spas or retail stores. Check out some of these links for detailed information regarding their product line.

Aveda has realized that the caps on your plastic containers are not recycled, and end up in landfills or in streams, etc., where they sometimes are mistaken as food by animals. They are accepting these caps at select stores and salons.

"Join the Recycle Caps with Aveda campaign and feel great knowing that your plastic caps will be repurposed into new packaging and kept from entering our waterways and harming wildlife."

To find a location near you, click here.

Beautiful Creekside View

Beauty and sadness always go together.
Nature thought beauty too rich to go forth
Upon the earth without a meet alloy.


George MacDonald

Guerrilla Gardening

Guerrilla gardening is one of the most beautiful organizations I have ever heard of. A friend sent me a link to their site a long while back, and I was amazed and touched by their concept and concern.

These wonderful people come across a bare traffic island, a poorly landscaped park or a neglected planter, and take over! You can see before and after photos showing a cruddy little section of public property transformed into a wonderful little oasis. The first time I looked at their site it seemed they did their gardening at night and in secret. Now it looks like they aren't as sneaky about it and you can see photos of happy people planting during the day.

Checking out their site now, I am excited to see that it has expanded and that more troops have joined from around the world! If you go to the community section, you can search for established communities that you can join. If you don't see your own city listed [or a near by city], start one!

If anything, please check out their website and maybe even help by donating plants, gardening tools or money to buy plants and gardening tools.

Parking lot wasteland

Parking Lot Wasteland.

This parking lot, as many parking lots for American shopping centers, are built with more than enough parking spaces. If you notice, about half of any given parking lot is empty. Someone told me once that they plan out retail parking spots based on how many spaces they think they'll need for Christmas. I'm not sure how true this is but it seems silly to create all that run-off and spend all that extra money on paving just for one month of the year.

I remember back in my high school environmental science class learning about alternatives to the typical pavement options. My teacher talked about something similar to this, where one company used something comparable to cinder blocks on their side and planted grass in the voids. Instead of having a huge barren wasteland that had high maintenance costs and put off lots of heat in the summer, and run-off after storms, they had a lush grass that was stable enough to park your car on. The only maintenance was the occasional mowing.

Much to our disappointment, he concluded that the company had to revert back to blacktop because too many women were complaining about their high heels getting stuck in the grass.

Oil Photography Exhibit

Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky has the idea! Right now at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC, you can see an amazing exhibit aimed at opening awareness towards oil consumption with a political and artistic spin. The photos aren't just oil spill after oil spill and sad little seals covered in oil. He makes it even more interesting and enough to make you ditch your vehicle for a set of sneakers.

You can read more about the photographer here, and his exhibit here.

More Coming Soon!

This site was started to open your eyes. Don't forget to stop occasionally and look at your surroundings that you and your peers are creating. How many bags of trash does your household create each week? (Especially around holidays!) How full is your recycle bin each week? You may be eligible for recycling incentives (you get rewarded for recycling!) but you have to check in your area to see if a program is offered.

I want this site to inspire one reader to start a recycling program within their office, another reader to be religious about bringing their own reusable bags to the grocery store, another reader not to use so much wrapping paper for Christmas or birthdays, another reader to buy local produce or for a reader to stop throwing trash out the windows when they drive.

I hope it works and I hope you pass on the news.