DIY Bookmarks

Genius!

Recycle your old paint chips to make a super cute bookmark!

I found this idea on Care2.com.

I'll be doing this with all of the paint chips I've collected over the years for colors that the HH vetoed, like purple for the living room and lime green for the bedroom.

Maybe he was right about that, but now I can enjoy the colors on a much smaller scale.

Biggest Waste of Paper--EVER

In this day 'n' age is there a bigger waste of paper (and trees for that matter) than phone books? I argue "no."

These big, heavy books exemplify the waste of days gone by. And I don't like being reminded.

Every time I get a yellow-paged, cluttertastic waste-of-space dropped at my door, I shake my head as I drop it into the recycling bin.

Except for today.

Today, I decided that I wanted my address this piece of junk head on, and tell AT&T that I want my address off their list.

And that's where my adventure began.

AT&T has created the perfect system for avoiding these calls. It's the cul de sac of corporate avoidance. They are well practiced in this area.

(To be fair, their profits depend on the wide reach of their distribution. But it's only ethical to allow people to easily remove their names from the list.)

First, I went online, and sent a message--which I'm sure will go directly into the "trash folder" of some inbox that no one checks.

After calls to at least four different numbers and enough runaround that would make AT&T proud, I finally reached their distributor, DBA, who took my information to remove me from the list.

To stop receiving AT&T Yellow Pages, call (800) 792-2665.

I'm not completely confident that I won't trip over a phone book at my door in another six months, but it's worth a try.

Swirl, Tap & Buff for Less

A girl can't live without make up.

So when, I ran out of concealer, foundation, bronzer and mineral veil all at the same time, I knew I needed to act fast.

Only I wore Bare Escentuals, and buying what I needed was going to cost more than $100. And I was out of fun money for the month.

So, I decided to try the next best thing, which was the drug-store version of mineral make up: L'Oreal Bare Naturale.

It took me two trips to Ulta to get the right shade. (Fortunately, Ulta takes returns.) But once I did, I was pleasantly surprised! It worked just a well, and was half the price.

The only drawback is that the brush is built in to the lid, so when you dip the brush directly into the jar, too much powder gets on your brush.

To solve this problem, I used an old lid from one of my Bare Escentual jars, to tap the powder out, then I used my original brushes to buff it on to my face.

It was well worth it to me, because I love saving money in places where no one can tell!

As I explained in yesterday's blog, the HH loves saving money.

One of his slickest tricks is comparing offers for electric companies and switching our providers to get the best deal.

Thepowertochoose.org, is an excellent Web site to help Texans review and compare energy plans.
Here are some of the HH's suggestions on how to be a savvy switcher:

1. If you're currently on a month-to-month plan, check the site every three months to check for new offers. If you don't know what your plan is, then this is likely what you have.

2. If you're currently locked in to a six or 12-month contract, beware of penalties for switching too soon.

3. Allow 30 days to switch from one provider to the next. This gives plenty of notice to your old and new providers, and can help you avoid a household black out.

4. Watch out for metering fees; some have them, some don't.

5. Right now, $.09/kilowatt hour is inexpensive. If you find a good deal, signing a six or 12-month contract locks in the rate can, and can protect you from rate hikes.

The best way to save on electricity is to go green, limit your use, and make your home energy efficient.

Sea of Debris

Imagine my horror when I learned that there is a collection of trash the size of Texas in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. In some areas, the trash is 90 feet deep. I had no idea.


It was on Oprah’s Earth Day special yesterday.

The birds, turtles, fish and other creatures are dying because they mistake the garbage for food or they get tangled in the mess of human waste, mostly plastic.

This is not just a problem for the animals. Humans are affected, too.

Many have heard of mercury contaminantion in fish. It's the reason pregnant women are advised to limit fish consumption.

Did you ever wonder how that happened?

Here’s one cause; when I throw away an electronic device, like a battery, cell phone, or computer, it goes to a landfill.

When it reaches to the landfill, it’s buried. After a short while, the mercury and other toxic waste from the trash seep in to the soil.

From the soil, it reaches the water, where it meanders its way to a lake or ocean. The fish live in the water. People eat the fish and drink the water.

Humans are a part of the ecosystem, too. The lives of our children and grandchildren depend on it.

No one can be eco-friendly all the time, but if we all make small changes some of the time, we can make a big difference together.

And if you won’t listen to me, listen to Oprah she'll tell you what the good people at Greenpeace have been preaching this for years.

Happy Earth Day

Here's a bright idea.

Switch out your regular lightbulbs for energy efficient compact flourescents.

You don't have to install solar panels or wear hemp to be green. If everyone does a little something, the impact can be tremendous.

Here are ten more tips from Good Housekeeping:

1.Save money in the bathroomBuy water-efficient showerheads. With low-flow models, a family of four can cut water usage by as much as 280 gallons a month — and yet not feel much difference in water pressure. Two we like: Kohler's Master Shower Eco (kohler.com) and Niagara Conservation's Earth Massage (niagaraconservation.com).

2.Bring home superhero plants. Certain greens can help remove indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene.

Don't have the gardening gene? Golden pothos, English ivy, and peace lilies are all easy-to-grow toxin fighters.

3.Recycle rechargeables Cell phones, digital cameras, and camcorders have made these batteries more popular than ever, but in certain states — Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Vermont — it's illegal to throw them away.

Wherever you live, you can find a nearby store that will recycle them for you; just go to rbrc.org.

4.Adjust fridge and freezer tempsRefrigerators eat up the most electricity in the household. Maximize efficiency by keeping the fridge at 37° F. and the freezer at 0° F.

5.Lighten up with energy savings Consider using compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). They cost a bit more than regular bulbs, but you'll lower your electric bill and pay less in the long run — CFLs last up to 10 times longer than traditional ones.

Worried that fluorescents will fill your house with a greenish glow? That's no longer a problem. When we compared a regular bulb with a GE Energy Star Qualified CFL, testers couldn't tell the difference. You can buy CFLs at most hardware and home stores. To save more on lighting, install dimmer switches and use timers, indoors and out.

6.Recycle smart From furniture to electronics, one person's trash is another's treasure — so when you want to dispose of an old item, don't make the dump your first stop. Two sites with alternatives: freecycle.org and earth911.org.

7.Mow-ercise!Today's non-gasoline-powered reel lawn mowers are easier to push than the old models. Their eco-benefit: zero emissions (plus, you're getting great exercise). If you prefer a power mower, consider a quiet, battery-operated model from Black & Decker.

8.Warm up to solar energyYou may not be ready for a totally sun-powered home, but you can get a taste of the technology by using solar-powered lighting in your yard or on your patio. We like Malibu's Solar Floodlight (intermatic.com)

9.Go native Plant flowers and shrubs that are well suited to your climate (the staff at your local nursery can help). The benefit: You'll use less fertilizer and pesticides.

10.Get off junk mail listsRegister with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service (dmaconsumers.org) and you'll see a significant reduction in mail after three months.

Vote with Your Dollars

In the movie, Milk, Harvey Milk organized the San-Francisco gay movement by encouraging gay people to only patron businesses that were friendly to them.

Businesses that were nice to gay people flourished. While those that weren’t floundered.

The same can be applied to today; when you spend money, you’re sending a message.

Corporations have a lot of influence in this country, so its important to buy from those that support your values and give back to the community in a valuable way.

Febreeze au Naturale

The list of products that were once sold to Americans as "safe" only to be found years later that they have life-threatening is long. Not the least of which are lead paint, asbestos, and cigarettes.

Do you ever wonder if some of the products you use are really "safe?"

You can't always assume that just because a product is sold that it's harmless to you, your children, or your pets.

Many mass-produced products have pleasant scents to mask the chemicals that you shouldn't be inhaling at all. You can learn more about this here.

On of my favorite products is Febreeze. But what's really in Febreeze? I have no idea. So, instead, I make my own Febreeze with a recipe I found at veria.com.

Lavender Linen Spray

• 1 cup of distilled water
• 5-10 drops of Lavender essential oil (or any essential oil of your choice)

Pour into a spray bottle, and spray on clothing, curtains, carpet, or anything you want to smell naturally delicious.

I made for my co-workers as a Christmas gift one year. I found a clear glass spray bottle at this Web site, and made my own label.

It's a Lunch Purse

My BFF at work, carries food in what she calls a "lunch purse." You might laugh, but after seeing it, I think you'll agree that the cute brown and pink damask is far above any lunch box you've ever seen.

Bringing your lunch to work or school is a smart way to save money and eat healthy.

Here's a few funky lunch purses that I liked at ThePolkaDotAlley.com. You can even add your monogram:

Sewing’s Not Just for Grandma

If you’re going to have a stylish life without spending too much, sewing is a necessity. Why? Because you can give your home a Horchow look on a Tuesday Morning budget.

And there are places where you can learn to make trendy things you’ll actually like. I took the Project Make class at Make in Dallas. The class is inspired by Project Runway, and it did a lot for helping to increase my confidence in taking on new projects.

I also worked from the book Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp. This book is great for beginners because it starts with learning the parts of the machine and ends with patterns and projects for different skill levels. The projects are very cute, too. They include pillows, skirts, curtains, pajama pants, and more. The author, Diana Rupp is the founder of Make Workshop in NYC, which is another great place to learn.

So, channel your inner craftress and city girl resourcefulness to create something beautiful with needle and thread.

A Dirty Job

A smart girl’s gotta know when it’s time get her hands dirty − and that’s what I did this weekend when the Happy Husband and I topped off our radiant barrier by adding recycled insulation in our attic.

Surprised are you?

Well, don’t get me wrong. There’s a part of me that would have much preferred watching my DVR’d episodes of the The Real Housewives with a tall glass of red, but it is an important part of making our house more green.

There are so many ways you can make your house a greener, cleaner place, and you don’t even have to get your hands dirty.

Stop Buying Toxic Cleaners. It’s bad for your health, and the natural alternatives clean just as well. Baking soda and vinegar can work miracles.

Limit Your Plastic. Plastic is bad for a lot of reasons. Plus, it’s tacky. But, I’ll admit that many times there is no suitable alternative. Buy and recycle glass when you can. Rinse out plastic baggies with soap and water and reuse them. Use Pyrex dishes to tote your lunch.

Don’t Buy Bottled Water. Use an aluminum or glass bottle and refill it. I bought a Voss bottled water and refill it at work. It’s weird, but people compliment me on it all the time.

Unplug your cell phone charger. It’s known as one of the energy “vampires,” sucking electricity when not in use.

Fresh air. Open your windows at home on a nice day to let the fresh air clean out the toxins lurking in your house.

It’s so very eco chic.