17 Things

I promised a little while back that I would share more with you about the 17 things that have been found could make a very big difference if every household engaged in them. Turns out, this information is harder to find than I would like. National Geographic covered it a little bit on their blog. And if you are in for some exciting (please sense the sarcasm here) reading, you can peruse the journal article that was published on the subject.

And this all brings me back to the idea that I suggested earlier this year of 9 in 2009. As we look forward to New Year's resolutions, I ask that you look at this list again and try to find 10 for 2010. Doable?

What did you do to become kinder to the Earth this year? What are you planning for next year?

New Preserve New Deal

I have raved about Preserve (Nothing wasted. Everything gained.) in the past. They are great for toothbrushes, kitchen ware, and now, tableware, all made out of recycled material. And now they have gotten even better with the launch of their new website. Easy to navigate, it features new products and helpful information on how to recycle through Preserve. And to make it even better, they are offering free shipping through the end of the year with the coupon code, "HOLIDAY09".

Jodi's Adventures In Natural Cleaning!

Raise your hand if your house is a little dirty after this weekend! Ok, well lucky for you that my friend Jodi has come to the rescue with tales of her adventures in natural cleaning. Jodi recently tried some homemade green cleaning recipes for her shower and oven (Hello! Oven!). Here is how it worked out in Jodi's own words:

pic #1 - some hard water stains on the floor in my standing shower. I covered them in salt and squeezed some fresh lime juice on it (cut a lime in half, squeezed it over the stains). Let it sit for 10 min or so.pic #2 - viola! scrub (with the lime rind), rinse with water, and gone!
pic #3 - My gross oven door on the inside (so embarrassing!!!). I did a little area to test my scrubbing solution and then took this pic to compare. I did a mix of 3/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup water. I let the mix sit overnight. In the morning I scrubbed. It was pretty caked on there, but it didn't take a TON of arm work to scrub it off. So in this pic you can see the corner I did the first night, and the rest of the oven door.
pics #4 and #5 - I then covered the rest of the oven door with the mixture, the next night, let it sit, and then scrubbed in the morning. In the 5th pic you can see it coming off as I scrubbed with the sponge.
pic #6 - the door now. It could probably use another coating of the mix on there to completely clear it off, but I haven't done that yet. You can totally tell the difference now.

Jodi deals with hard rusty water, a hunter husband, and three kids and is slowly but surely learning that even with all of that-maybe because of it-green works!

(Holiday) Lights Out

It's that time of year when we are getting out and putting away holiday decorations. Every once in a while you come across a strand of lights, like I did last winter and this fall, that is kaput. Please reconsider before you trash them. I found this great light recycling program (not too far from me in Jackson, MI) that you can send your lights into. This company takes the lights and recycles them for you. Best part is, if you include your email address, they'll send you a coupon for 15% off a new light purchase!

The program is open every year from the beginning of October through February. So collect all those misfit lights, send them in, and save a couple kinds of green!

Natural Home Products

I have been in need of some measuring cups. And I have tried the consignment store and Craigslist to no avail. So when I was at Target the other day, I decided to take a look at what they had. It was like a little present to discover these Natural Home measuring spoons for the same price as the other spoons being offered (around $14).

These spoons are made of at least 93% recycled stainless steel and natural (fast-growing) bamboo. They are from a line of products from "Natural Home" magazine. I quickly learned from the tag (the only packaging and printed on recycled paper) that they support safe and healthy work environments, fair labor practices, and environmental protection! And if that wasn't enough, a portion of proceeds goes towards American Forests to help offset the carbon footprint used to manufacture and transport the product! Seriously!?! Does it get better?

Well for you it does! Because you can now register to win the entire line of Natural Home products! Hop on over there and get registered. And if any of you happens to subscribe to this magazine I would love to hear about your experience. I think I am going to have to get myself on that list!

P.S. I tried to find y'all a link to purchase the spoons but it appears my Target carries the only set :( Ok, not really, but I couldn't find a link anywhere! So if anyone comes across one, please share!

Buy It Used Home Tour: Last Day Loft

On this last day of the tour, I will take you upstairs to our loft. This is about 300 sq. feet of space we use to hang out, watch videos, and as a spare bedroom. The daybed above was mine in my childhood home.

This couch was given to us by my dad and stepmom. The table and lamp next to it were swooped up that sale I mentioned on previous days. That was a good sale!

Finally, this chest is something I found on Ebay for $40. It houses all of our board games. It's the perfect storage/coffee table combo. You can find chests like this for sale at almost any thrift store in almost any style to suit your home.

Well, that's it for the tour. Hope you enjoyed!

Buy It Used Home Tour: Bedroom and Bathroom

Today I take you to my youngest son, Everett's, bedroom. Here you will find the toy chest above. This traveled to my home from my mother's. She bought this one, and the same one in green (which is in Tucker's room) about 20 years ago. It's the place where she stored school projects, report cards, etc...for my brother and me. These now house toys in the boys' rooms, but every time I see them they make me happy and bring back memories. Plus I think they are pretty cute for toy storage.

This changing table is almost 30 years old! It was my husband's when he was a baby and it has now been through both our boys. When the youngest gets potty trained, I am planning on repurposing it (maybe as craft storage or more toy storage, suggestions?). Hopefully we can keep it around long enough for our kids to use it too if they so choose.

The last thing I want to show you in Everett's room is this dresser. This was passed down to my mom, was in my childhood bedroom, and has now been in both boys rooms at some point. I think it's a beautiful piece and another one I hope to keep around.

And there is one more thing I want to share with you today, which is not in a bedroom. It is actually this piece we picked up at the same sale where we got the living room table. We used it originally in our first home where we had no storage in the bathroom. We now live in the home built for storage, but I still love using this piece. It's in the hall bathroom (the boys' bathroom) where it holds a laundry basket for guests, little extras, etc...It just goes to show you that when you find a great piece, you can use it, reuse it, and repurpose it anywhere.

Any stories from your home? Any pictures? Anything? Bueller?

Buy It Used Home Tour: Living Room

My living room is the largest room in my home, and therefore, the one with the most furnishings and used furnishings. Let's start with the table above. My husband and I got the the table itself for our first home before we were even married at an upscale consignment shop boutique place that was moving for 1/2 off! The clock on it was given to us and I have had the lantern since high school. This is another great way to do environmental good. Treat the stuff you love well and hang onto it forever.

This frame hangs above that table. I found it on Craigslist for $10 and use it as a bulletin board for all my son's art work. This way his creations can be displayed as the true works of art they are and when he makes new stuff, I can take a picture and recycle what was there.

I found this end table at a garage sale for $50 about 3 years ago. If you are thinking "Willo, that sounds a little expensive for a garage sale." I was totally with you. But here's why it is completely worth it; it's sturdy, I like the look of it, and it just wipes clean when someone sets a drink on it/my kids spill the milk they aren't supposed to have in the living room all over it.These two chest were acquired about 6 months ago from my local village consignment shop. I had been looking for something that would hide the kid's toys nicely but they could still access easily and I wanted something that loosely matched the afore mentioned end table, but not exactly. When I found these I knew they were perfect. I got them both for $40. The tiny wooden rocking chair was given to my oldest when he was about 1 by a family friend. It was a family heirloom that had reached the end of the line in that family and gained new life in ours.

This bookshelf is a recent Craigslist find and for $30 it was the addition to this space. Someday I may get something bigger that takes up more of the wall, but right now the kids play there. The lamp was given to us by my husband's Grandma who wasn't using it in her home.

So there you have it, the living room. What do you have in yours that's used and you love?

Buy It Used Home Tour: "Dining Room"

One of the pieces of feedback I got on what y'all would like to see more of is that you wanted to see my place and how we do things around here. That spurred this idea in me that I could share with all of you, all of the things in my house that I bought used (or was given) and LOVE using every day. Now you can see I practice what I preach. And while my house will never be in Better Homes & Gardens, it works for us. And buying (or getting) used can work for you too. You just need a little patience, a love of the environment, and/or a real appreciation of the story inside each item.

So to start our Buy It Used Home Tour, let's hit my "dining room" (pictured above). I say that because we do not have a formal dining room. This table sits in our large kitchen...but it is the dining room as we know it. This table and chairs were given to us for free (can't beat that price tag) by some friends who were getting a new one. I am big on not spending a lot on furniture while my kids are young. I don't want to pay a ton of money for anything, let alone anything that's going to be drawn on, oatmeal encrusted, and sneezed all over before 7:00 am everyday.

The wooden high chair like, well, chair is something I picked up at a garage sale over 3 years ago for $3. It has been through two kids. The light fixture was here when we moved in. The birch branch candle holder was given to me by mom who got it from a friend who was giving it away. All these people giving great stuff away. Turns out that thing they say about one person's trash being another's treasure is true!

Now I want you to share your pictures this week too! Today take a look around your kitchen/dining room. Any great finds from garage sales? Craigslist? Consignment stores? Stuff you were given? Please share!

Come on Baby Light My Fire

Brrrr! It is COLD here in Michigan! And I hear rumors that it is going to be the coldest winter in 10 years. Yikes! I know I have mentioned that around here we heat primarily with wood stove. There are some definite positives to heating wood, especially when you heat (as we do) with fallen trees. But like anything, that can be debated.

Whether you heat primarily with wood, or you just like a nice toasty fire in your hearth, there are greener ways to light your fire. You can make your very own fire starters using materials found in nature.

• On a dry fall day gather small sticks, pine cones, pine needles, and dry leaves in a bucket.
• Wrap them in little bundles with paper-you can use newspaper, or I used packaging paper. Make sure each bundle has a little bit of everything and tie with raffia or small string.

These little packages serve as kindling and paper all in one and make a wonderful smelling, family and earth friendly alternative for starting cozy fires.

Has anyone tried this? Something similar?

Product Review: Twist Sponge

Sorry I have been a little absent. Life happens you know? I am trying.

A while back I purchased a set of Twist sponges when they were featured on Delight. Twist is special because they make their sponges out of natural products, often without using dyes, and they are biodegradable. Not only that, but I found when I received mine that they ship without using plastic, primarily in recycled and recyclable packaging materials.

In my set I received a couple loofah sponges, a Euro sponge, and a pack of sponge cloths. Quite frankly I loved them all, but if you are looking for the most bang for your sponge use buck, I would go with the loofah sponge. Especially if you are someone like me who doesn't have a dishwasher and is doing them daily by hand. I feel much better about my planetary impact when I am using one of these.

Now I have seen a couple other bloggers who did not care for the loofah sponge. I will be honest, it doesn't work just like your traditional toxic sponge. It doesn't quite have the same bubbling action. That's a trade-off I am willing to make. You will have to decide for yourself. But if you are in the market for some better-for-the-Earth cleaning tools, I would highly recommend these. You can of course order online, but they are also available in many health-food-like stores.

Has anyone else tried these? What did you think? What do you use instead?

A word on product review

Coal: By the Numbers

Sometimes something as purely simple as a few digits can show us what we are doing to our world. A while back I came across some such numbers in the Sierra Club magazine which really made things more clear to me and at least got me thinking, if not changing behavior. I thought sharing them with you might do the same.

162

Pounds of coal it takes to light a house with incandescent lightbulbs for just a month.

79

Pounds of coal it takes to run an electric dryer for a month.

170

Pounds of coal it takes to heat water for the average U.S. household for a month.

235

Pounds of coal it would take to warm the average U.S. household for a month.

1,140

Total pounds of coal the average U.S. household uses in coal each month, resulting in...

3,369

Pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

What are you thinking? Are you inspired to change anything? What can you change?

Green Gracious Flea Market 8.28.09

I am jetting off to NYC for a meeting this weekend. But I wanted to leave you with some eco-eye candy so here is another edition of the Green Gracious Flea Market, featuring green products to ogle over.

In the market for a new TV? Is your husband? Steer him in the direction of this green screen which uses only 67 watts which is about half of a regular LCD, and the set is lead free.

I have some great friends and colleagues that love to bike. I am not into the trend yet. But that doesn't keep me from eyeing this awesome fold up bike. Especially in my very favorite color-orange!

Have you ever started your shower and sat there staring at the water going down the drain while waiting for the water to warm up and wondered about the wasted water? If you thought there has to be a better way, you were right, and now there is. One answer is this shower adapter from Evolve which keeps the water off until it gets warm. It then starts a slow trickle to let you know it's ready. A quick pull of the cord gives you full pressure and peace of mind.

Dry-cleaning is obviously not the the greenest solution, but sometimes it's still a necessary evil. One way to make your dry-cleaning experience more earth-friendly is by getting rid of the plastic. This bag is a brilliant multi-tasker which you can use as a tote to take your clothes in and a laundry bag to take them home.

Anything catch your fancy? Seen anything green and great out there lately?

Fall Shopping Cart: The Used

On Tuesday I featured some sites with brand spankin' new eco-finds, but today in the fall shopping cart you will find my pure happiness. Nothing gets my motor running like a great second hand find on something I really need or want. Here are some great places I have used or can't wait to:

• I just discovered Shop Goodwill. It has listings for Goodwill items from all over. You can search easily by desired category. I recently ordered a whole dish set through here. Although I do have to warn to watch out for shipping and handling. It can add a lot, although it may still be less then a new item.
• Another one in the interest of home remodel. Check out Aged Woods. A great website that sells reclaimed wood flooring. Beautiful!
• The Demolition Depot is super cool place just to look around if nothing else. But if you are in the market for things to spruce up or make your home more functional, by all means this is your place.
• You have heard me rave about I Like It Mama and thanks to a reader's suggestion, I have found another online consignment store. 143 Kids is kid's stuff only but there are some great deals to be found. I just got my son 4 pairs of jeans for under $10.You can't beat that, especially with the way they grow!

I am dying to hear about your favorite online second-hand sites. Where do you go? What do you love? Which of these are you eager to try now?

Fall Shopping Cart: The New

I have recently come across a number of websites that are great for shopping green. Real Simple magazine featured a number of these in it's August issue. I am going to feature these sites this week in a couple different groups.

Today I am featuring websites that sell new eco-items. As most of you faithful readers know by now, buying new isn't always my top choice. But I know sometimes it is necessary, like when you are buying gifts, maybe you just can't find what you need resale, or maybe someone wants to buy a gift for you and is looking for a wish list. Here are some great sites to go to for those occasions.

• If you're looking to redecorate this fall, check out Graham & Brown's eco-collection of adorable wallpapers!
• For unique, earth-friendly finds buzz on over to Beehive Co-op for great stuff handmade by artisans.
• More decorating and entertaining ideas can be found at Branch. This site features everything you need for your home from rugs to lighting.

Go check them out and let me know what you think. Tell me what's on your wish list (I have both this yellow necklace and that tunic on mine). Have you come across any other great sites for new and green?