Monday, November 28, 2011

Simplify Your Life By Saying NO!!!

I was that person who said yes to everything. If someone asked me to do something I said yes. I was never able to say no because I wanted to please people. I wanted to be accepted and wanted people to like me. It got to the point where I asked myself, “Am I doing this because I want to do this?” It also got to the point where I didn’t have time for myself.
The simple answer to this is to do what you love. Don’t do something because someone wants you to do it. People will take advantage of you and walk all over you.
Think about what is important to you. Cut out all the rest that distracts you and keeps you from doing what is important. Simplify your life. Our lives are so overloaded. Don’t worry…cutting something out of your life will not leave an empty hole!
Learning to say no:
1.       Examine all of your commitments. Ask yourself if they are really important to you and if they give you value for your time.
2.        Take guilt out of the equation. Don’t agree to do something you would rather decline because of feelings of guilt or obligation. This will likely lead to added stress and resentment.
3.       When saying no, be direct, honest, and brief.  
4.       Realize it is okay to say no.
Things you may cut from your life:
1.       Hours of surfing the web
2.       Television
3.       Gambling
4.       Going to the mall
5.       Negative people and people who are disrespectful to you
6.   A job that doesn't make you happy
7.       Social engagements you don’t want to go to
8.       Volunteer work that doesn’t support your values and goals
9.       Reading an entire book when you’ve already decided you don’t like it by Chapter 3
10.   Birthday parties, afterschool activities, sports or events that you deem unnecessary or are simply too much to handle logistically.
I realize no one is perfect. I know that it is easier said than done. I know I could watch less television and spend less time on facebook. I am going to start asking myself, “Am I doing anything meaningful right now?” “If I were to die tomorrow, would I be proud of what I did today?”


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

No need to buy new gifts; Re-gift!

It is almost black Friday and there are going to be many people out shopping. It will be a mad shopping frenzy! Do you want to rack up credit card debt? Do you want to stress out about giving gifts? Do you really want to make a negative impact on the environment? This is the beginning of the worst season for consumerism!
Many people have things lying around the house that they don’t use. Why buy new gifts for the holiday season when you can simply re-gift things around the house?
Re-gift: To give an unwanted gift to someone else; to give as a gift something one previously received as a gift.
Tips when re-gifting:
1.       The gift should not look as though it has been used.
2.       DO NOT give the gift back to the original giver.
3.       Never re-gift handmade items.
4.       Don’t re-gift signed books or monogrammed items.
5.       Be sure that the recipient will appreciate the item.
6.       Don’t reuse gift wrap.
7.       Don’t mention to the recipient that the gift is a re-gift.
Gifts that are good for re-gifting:
1.       Unopened bottles of wine
2.       Jewelry
3.       New household items
4.       Candles
5.       Bath sets
6.       Vases
7.       Books
8.       Exercise equipment
9.       Workshop tools

Pros of re-gifting:
1.       It’s cheaper in difficult economic times
2.       It’s a way to get around annoyingly high expectations about gift-giving.
3.       You don’t feel guilty about stuff going into the landfill.
4.       It reduces the amount of stuff you have.
5.       You don’t have to spend time shopping.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Going Green with Shampoo

Many shampoos have chemicals that go back into the environment. They typically contain artificial colors, fragrances and ingredients that haven’t been specifically tested for safety. Many of these shampoos come in plastic bottles that cannot be recycled. That’s why you should go with “green shampoo”. Green shampoo can come in a recyclable bottle, is sulfate-free, is DEA free, is free of synthetic dyes, is 100% Vegan, 100% Biodegradable, 100% Alcohol free and organic.
Everyone thinks that all those foamy bubbles clean your hair and scalp. Wrong! The lather is created by sulfates. If you want to go green, go with a sulfate-free shampoo. Even though there is no lather, it is still cleaning.
Make sure to read the label. Get a shampoo that doesn’t contain salt (sodium chloride). Salt is abrasive and creates friction on your hair.
Shampoo cannot exist without have some kind of preservative in the formula to keep the product from separating and going bad. The bad preservatives are called parabens and DMDM hydantoin. Watch out for sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate.
Great shampoos:
1.       BY Framesi Shampoo: Packaged in a recyclable container, safe to use on color treated hair and is water soluble.

2.       Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo: This shampoo tames flyaways with babassu oil, aloe, and guar bean. It’s produced using wind energy and comes in recycled packaging.

3.       Tasmanian Lavendar Shampoo from Sea Chai Organics: This shampoo is great for all hair types. It does not contain any solvents or sodium laureth sulfates. It contains natural ingredients like seaweed extract, calendula blossoms, and kombucha tea.

4.       Lavender Rosemary Shampoo from John Masters Organics: It contains 13 certified organic ingredients and is cruelty-free.

5.       Clarifying Shampoo from Alba Botanica: This shampoo has a pleasant fruity scent. It is made with eucalyptus, which has antiseptic and cooling qualities. It contains 100% vegetarian ingredients.

Another option is to not use shampoo. Shampoo isn’t really necessary. There are many claims that hair is healthier and more manageable without shampoo. Shampoo strips the coating off of the hair follicles causing them to dry out, and then the scalp over produces oil. It can take up to 2 months for the oil production to balance out once starting the no shampoo method. My husband does not use shampoo and it works for him, but he has really short hair. I tried it for a couple of weeks, but my hair was greasy. I then went to baking soda and that worked for a couple of months. Honestly, it was annoying after awhile and I am now using Aveda. However, my hair has a lot of tangles and it takes a lot of work to brush. I am still going to experiment.
Make your own shampoo! You can make your own shampoo using baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of peppermint and chamomile essential oils.
1.       Wet your hair.
2.       Make a paste with a couple teaspoons of baking soda and water.
3.       Spread it through your hair.
4.       Rinse.
5.       Get a reusable bottle. Put 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in it and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Add a few drops of peppermint and chamomile.
6.       Squirt a few tablespoons of the solution on hair and rinse.
*You can also use lemon juice instead of the vinegar.
Organic shampoos are extremely safe on hair as well as the environment. By using shampoos made from natural ingredients you can play a very important role in protecting the environment as there are no harsh chemicals released in the process.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

15 Ways to Reduce Your Water Footprint

The United Nations has identified water shortages as one of the two most serious problems facing the world today.
A faucet leaking one drop a second wastes 2,700 gallons a year.
If all Earth’s water were in a one-gallon jug, a little more than a tablespoonful would be available for human use.
It takes 24 gallons of water to make one pound of plastic.
What you can do:
Anyone can make a difference even if it is reducing your shower time from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. You don’t have to do everything on this list. Try doing just one thing and then work your way up.
1.       Wash dishes in a dishpan using biodegradable soap, then empty the water on flowers and plants in your home or outside.
2.       Don’t flush the toilet unless you poop.
3.       Take shorter showers. Try taking a shower every other day or every 3-4 days or longer!
4.       Insulate hot water pipes. It saves water because you don’t have to let the water run as long to get hot water to the faucet.
5.       Instead of an in-sink garbage disposal, start a compost bin.
6.       Run the dishwasher and the laundry machine only when full.
7.       Regularly look for and fix leaks.
8.       Wash cars rarely or take them to a carwash. Commercial carwashes use less water per wash than home washers.
9.       Upgrade older toilets with water efficient models.
10.   Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle.
11.   Use a water-efficient showerhead.
12.   Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
13.   Let pots and pans soak in water instead of letting the water run and scrubbing food particles off.
14.   While soaping up your hands, turn off the water.
15.   Fill a jug of water and put it in the fridge for when you want a cool drink.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Buy Green: Toothpaste

Do you know why they tell you not to swallow toothpaste? Because there are so many chemicals that it is unsafe to swallow.  Should we really be putting this in our mouths? Some of the ingredients in toothpaste have been proven to be linked to the development of breast cancer and damage to the gums and skin. Lucky for you, there are some great alternatives:

1.       Tom’s of Maine: In this toothpaste, flavor oils take the place of artificial sweeteners. Silica is used instead of bleach. This company uses renewable energy, implements green practices in its factory, and packages products with recycled, sustainable materials. Their toothpastes come in 100% aluminum tubes, not plastic.

2.       Sea Fresh Plus Toothpaste from Jason Natural Products: This toothpaste uses natural ingredients such as sea salts, minerals, bamboo powder, and grapefruit sea extract. The company has found a replacement for synthetic ingredients found in conventional toothpastes. There is no animal testing.

3.       Peelu Toothpaste: This toothpaste contains natural flavors and no sweetener. There is no animal testing nor are there animal products in the toothpaste. They use fibers from the peelu plant which makes for a non-abrasive cleaner.

4.       Sensitive Aloe Vera Toothpaste From Kiss My Face: The aloe in this toothpaste soothes teeth and gums. Instead of using artificial ingredients, they use olive leaf extract, Iceland moss and tea tree oil.

5.       Natural Toothpaste from Nature’s Gate: This toothpaste uses bamboo powder, stevia extracts, silica, baking soda and other natural ingredients. Flavorings come from oils and extracts instead of artificial chemicals. The company supports WaterAid to help provide clean water to Africa and Asia.

6.       Burt’s Bees: This toothpaste contains cranberry extract, silica, and natural peppermint flavor.

7.       Herbal Choice: They don’t test their pastes on animals. They use 100% recyclable packaging. The toothpaste contains organic ingredients, and is chemical, additive, and paraben free.

OR
Make Your Own Toothpaste!!!
The greenest toothpaste is homemade. You don’t waste as much packaging and it costs less.
Ingredients:
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. sea salt (finely ground)
1 drop peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, clove, or cinnamon bark essential oil
A few drops of water
Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix them thoroughly with a toothbrush, your finger, or a small spoon until a smooth, thick paste forms. The paste shouldn’t be too runny. Dip your toothbrush into the paste and use as you would regular commercial toothpaste.


Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Dangers of Health and Beauty Products

I think it is very important to know what goes into your body. Make-up, shampoo, face wash, and soap are many things that people use. Have you ever wondered what are in these products? The things we put on our body is as important as what we put in our body. The things we put on our body is absorbed. This blog will go into detail about soap, lotion, facial cleansers, lip balm, toothpaste, deodorant, and makeup.
Deodorant: Aluminum based compounds are the active ingredients in antiperspirants. These compounds form a block within the sweat duct. Researchers debate as to whether or not there is a link between the daily use of aluminum and breast cancer and Alzheimer’s. Conventional products also contain hormone disrupters, petrochemicals, lung irritants, and other suspect ingredients. Look at the list of ingredients and make sure to avoid the deodorants that have aluminum, parabens, and petrochemicals like propylene glycol. Applying antiperspirants is also harmful to your body because it prevents the release of toxins, and keeps your body from utilizing its natural built-in air conditioner.
Suggested products to use: J.A.S.O.N., Aubrey Organics, Weleda, Lafe’s, Terressentials, Bubble and Bee, and Miessence
DIY: In a reusable container, mix 1 part baking soda with 6 parts cornstarch. Shake the container to mix. Dab a small amount to the skin of your armpits with a soft cotton cloth or cotton ball.

Monday, November 7, 2011

7 Things You Don't Need!

I am not trying to be a Debbie downer. I just think that we can save our money, reduce our waste and simplify our lives. You don’t have to stop doing all of these things. Take it in baby steps. If you get coffee every morning, try and go three times a week instead and work your way up so that you only go once every couple of weeks. You don't need to stop doing all of these things. Pick one and start with that.
1.       You don’t need to go to the movies. Going to the movies is a lot of fun but it can be very expensive especially if you buy popcorn, candy, pop, etc. If you still want to go to the movies, opt out of going to the concession stand. My mom would pop popcorn ahead of time and put it in her big purse. She would also bring drinks. If we brought pop we would wait until it got loud and then we would open it so that no one would notice. Find out if there is a cheap movie place in your area. Some places only charge $2 for a movie!!! That’s a great dealJ
2.       You don’t need to buy new books. Books are expensive. Go to a library. You can even download books on your computer from the library. If you want to own books, go to a used bookstore or buy used books on amazon.com.
3.       You don’t need to eat out. Going out to eat can be a lot of fun but it can also be expensive if you go out a lot. I’m not saying that you should never go to a restaurant again. Just try to cut back.
4.       You don’t need to buy a coffee every morning. Think about all those cups you’re wasting! If you go to a coffee place bring your own mug. Getting coffee at a place should be a treat not a norm. Try and cut back.
5.       You don’t need to buy new clothes. Buy your clothes at a thrift store or a consignment store. There are some nice consignment stores that sell slightly used clothes. One example is Plato’s Closet. Ross is also a great place.
6.       You don’t need cable television. Chances are you don’t have that much time to watch television anyways. I know for me it is a pain to surf through all of the channels! When I do find a show I want to watch, I surf through the channels at the commercial break and then I forget about the original show I was watching. Either get the local channels or don’t have a television at all! I have lived without television for a month and I don’t miss it! I watch shows on hulu.com and I go to the library to get DVD’s. You can also go to redbox or try Netflix.
7.       You don’t need magazine prescriptions. Often times you read the magazine and then never read it again. Instead, read your favorite magazine at the library or go online and read articles for free!
Once you cut these things out of your life you will notice that you will be happier. You will have a simpler life and will have more money that you can spend on more important things.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

10 Ways to Get Rid of Your Stuff!!!

1.       Sell your used books at sellusedbooks.com. Go to the website, enter the ISBN and get a free quote. They even pay for the shipping!
2.       Take your used furniture, clothes, books, etc. to a consignment store in your area. They will sell the items and give you a percentage of the sale.
3.       Sell your stuff on craiglist.org (cars, bikes, appliances, etc), amazon.com (CD’s, DVD’s, books), ebay.com (rare stuff that there is a niche market for), or etsy.com.  
4.       Hold a garage sale. This is good for stuff that isn’t worth shipping or would be hard to ship.
5.       List good quality stuff in the newspaper classifieds.
6.       Take your stuff to a pawn shop. They take instruments, dvds, video games, guns, jewelry, electronics, kitchen appliances, etc. If you are selling jewelry they will usually only take silver and gold.
7.       Donate your stuff to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, ARC, or any other thrift store. You will get a tax deduction for your donation.
8.       Put your stuff outside with a FREE sign.
9.       Give your stuff to friends or family members.
10.   Freecycle.org. You post things you want to give away and people come get it.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Simplify your Life!!!

Are you unhappy because you have a complicated and cluttered life? You will be happier if you simplify and unclutter your life. I just moved from Fort Collins, CO to Stowe, VT. We had furniture, books, odds and ends, etc. We needed all of our stuff to fit in one car because we didn't want to rent a moving van. We took our furniture to consignment stores and sold our books. The stuff we couldn't sell, we gave to Goodwill. We felt very free and liberated once we got rid of all that stuff. We don't realize that we only need a couple of things to live. If you haven't used something in the past month, you should get rid of it. Things to get rid of:

1. Old textbooks
2. Papers from college
3. Books and DVDs (You can get them at the library)
4. Nick nacks, decorative things (Keep a couple of things that mean a lot to you, but people tend to collect too many)
5. Overabundance of kitchen stuff (You don't need 20 knives, tons of mixing bowls, etc.)
6. Toiletries (Do you really need 5 bottles of lotion?)

Can you fit all of your belonging into one car? If not, get rid of some stuff! We don't need things in order to be happy. The people and experiences you have in your life are the things that matter:)

Living with little money

I am not someon who has been sucked into this consumerist world. I have always lived frugally but have fun at the same time. Here are some tips to saving money especially in this recession.

1. Choose between a cell phone or a landline. If you decide to go with the cell phone, stick to talking at night so that you don't exceed your minutes.
2. Credit cards can get you into a lot of debt. Switch to a debit card if you think you will spend more money than you have.
3. When going to the bars, bring cash so that you don't overspend.
4. Go to free concerts, events, and happy hours. Also, going to the park, hiking, and running are usually free.
5. Ride the bus or ride your bike when you can.
6. Go to the library instead of buying books, DVD's and CD's.
7. Go to a cheaper place to buy clothes such as Ross, TJ Maxx and Plato's closet.
8. Try to cut out something in your life you can live without such as buying a coffee every day, going out to eat, going to the movies, or buying a newspaper or magazine. You can go to he cheap movies, read the news online, and make coffee and food at home.
9. Cut down your electric bill by lowering your thermostat, or use oil lamps instead of lights.
10. When shopping, buy the store brand and buy in bulk if you can. Sunflower market and City market have great bulk sections. You can even get spices in bulk. Also, use coupons and try to drink tap water instead of buying expensive water and soda.
11. DIY: Make your own shampoo out of baking soda, make your own dish soap, cleaners, deodorant, face wash, bread, tomato sauce, bagels, pizza crust, etc.
12. When traveling, use coushsurfing or camp.
13. Use reusable cleaning cloths instead of paper towels.
14. Buy seasonal produce.
15. Make homemade cards.
16. Grow your own vegetables and fruits.

Going Green

1. Use reusable cleaning cloths instead of paper towels. Use reusable napkins.
2. Change lightbulbs to compact fluorescent lights.
3. Use rechargeable batteries.
4. Shade windows in the summer.
5. Use less toilet paper.
6. Only flush the toilet after pooping.
7. Pay bills online.
8. Drive through a parking spot. (uses less gas)
9. Ride your bike or walk whenever possible.
10. Fill the dishwasher as full as possible.
11. Turn thermostat down.
12. Unplug things when not in use.
13. Take shorter showers.
14. Buy in bulk.
15. Recycle.
16. Bring your own bags to the grocery store.
17. Don't buy bottled water.
18. Bring your own coffee cup to coffee places.
19. Use oil lamps instead of lights.