The Little Things
- By Author Unknown
As you might know, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't get a taxi.
The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.
Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone ... all the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment..
Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated; God is at work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.
Kids
If your young children are pining for expensive gifts, it's hard to deny them (not that a bit of denial isn't good for us!). A few solutions--there are others--just say no, find ways for your child to raise some cash toward the dream or see whether you can find a used gift. (You might be surprised that a clean, used toy without the packaging is just fine with most kids.)
To find a previously loved toy:
Help your child contribute toward the purchase by going through his current toys, selecting as many as you like and selling them on your local Craigslist.
Another idea is to discuss the situation with your child and ask, "Would you be happy if you only get this one gift this year?" If the answer is "yes," and you have friends and relatives who normally gift your child, ask for a contribution towards her heart's desire.
Teens
When it comes to teens, think "downloads." What teen doesn't love music or movies? Purchasing music and movies online is inexpensive and eco-friendly.
Ask your teen to give you a list of chores she doesn't like to do. Your gift can be doing one or more for a limited period of time. (We know this won't be a favorite of yours, but it costs nothing but your pride and patience!)
Teenagers also may be much more willing than you anticipate, to help others. Especially when times are tough, learning that there are others worse off than you are can help quell the self-centered longings adolescents experience. You can give teens a real gift by inviting them to participate in one or more volunteer activities during the holiday season. Let them experience the real meaning of giving. We know one teen who, after volunteering at a home for abused kids, told his parents he didn't want anything for Hanukkah except to make a contribution to the organization.
Adults
Of course, if you're crafty, you already know that amazing gifts can cost next to nothing. Short on ideas? Two great sites are Instructables and eHow, though you can google just about any item and find out how to make it.
And if you're "all thumbs," great green gifts are available by the truckload, many for under $25. There are many sites featuring inexpensive gifts. Here are a few. Find more by doing a search for "green gifts under $25."
But the best buys from an eco-perspective, are those made and purchased locally. Check out local eco-friendly stores as well of course, as holiday craft fairs.
Other excellent eco-friendly gift buying habits:
My grandmother and I in front of her real Christmas tree last year...
Yep, I rarely put pictures of myself on the blog, but there it is: me and my sweet grandmother in front of her “Charlie Brown Christmas Tree” last year.
It was one of those scrawny trees that are full of holes and personality. And, it was one of the last ones on the lot. She, of course, fell in love with it. In fact, she insisted we bring it home simply because she felt so sorry for it.
And as you can see in the picture, it turned out beautiful. That scrawny tree made her entire home smell like a fresh forest, and it gave her weeks of delight. I can’t wait to go pick out another one with her this year.
When it comes to Christmas trees, there are two camps: those who think real trees are better for the environment, and those who think fake trees are better.
So what’s the truth?
Well, I have to admit I used to be on the fake side. I used to abhor the thought of “cutting down a tree”, just for Christmas. It seemed so, murderous. So, I bought a fake one and reused it year after year.
But, that’s before I started this blog. Now? Now I know better. Real Christmas trees are actually better for the environment. Let’s look at why.
It’s really astonishing how bad fake Christmas trees are for both our health, and the environment.
Strike One: Christmastree.org reports that almost all fake trees come from China. PVC chips (one of the most dangerous forms of plastic) are melted down to form the tree “needles”. Several carcinogens like dioxin, ethylene dichloride, and vinyl chloride are produced during the production of PVC, and these pollute neighborhoods, as well as the food chain, around the factory where the trees are made.
The workers who make artificial trees only get paid around $100 per week. They work in dirty, horrendous factories, and spend all day breathing in fumes from this melting plastic.
Strike Two: ABC News reports that some artificial trees may be made with lead. And when they heat up (with lights, a fireplace, or a sunny window), that lead can release fumes into your home. Not good. And it’s not just the lead you have to worry about: several other chemicals found in the plastic can end up in your home.
Need another piece of horrifying information? Yeah, I thought so! The State of California puts warning labels on all plastic trees, warning of lead poisoning, and they advise people to wash their hands after handling. Do you really want something like that in your home? Yikes.
Strike Three: Earth 911 reports that artificial Christmas trees are made from non-recyclable plastic. Which means that once its life is over, it’s over. Yes, you get to reuse it for years, but every time an artificial tree gets sent to a landfill, it’s going to stay there.
Are there benefits? Sure there are.
Like I said earlier, artificial trees are reused year after year. The longer you keep using one, the better. And, reusing your artificial tree also saves you money each year when you don’t have to go out and buy a new one.
Ok, I know it can be hard to walk around a Christmas tree lot and look at all those cut down trees. But hear me out here…
Perk One: Christmas tree farmers grow trees. Which means that for each tree that’s cut down, Christmas tree farmers plant 1-3 seedlings in its place. And while these trees grow (usually over 8 years), they’re helping remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Perk Two: When you buy a live Christmas tree, you’re supporting a farmer. And, probably a local one. Instead of helping support the Chinese economy, live Christmas trees keep your money local. The Smithsonian reports that the Christmas tree farming industry helps support over 100,000 American jobs. This industry makes a big difference to a lot of families.
Perk Three: Live Christmas trees are recyclable. Most cities pick up trees after the holidays and chip them up for mulch, which is repurposed elsewhere. If you don’t live in an area that picks up your tree curbside, you can check Earth911.com to find a local recycling facility.
Perk Four: The smell. You just can’t beat that wonderful, live Christmas tree smell. I’d way rather breathe in the natural fumes of a Spruce than the plastic off-gassing from an artifical tree.
Perk Five: When you buy a live tree you also cut down on the gas and pollution it takes to haul those fake trees all the way from China.
So, what are the downsides to live Christmas trees?
Well, many farmers do spray pesticides on their trees each year to help them grow better. These pesticides, just like with any crop, run off into the local watershed.
Plus, you have to buy a new one each year, which adds up.
Compared to all the negative consequences of artificial trees, I think live trees still come out way ahead. I’m going out to buy a live tree this week, and I have to admit I’m super excited.
One tip: If you want to do double good when buying a live tree, see if any local charities are selling them. For instance, here in my neck of the woods the Howell Nature Center is selling Christmas trees. The Howell Nature Center takes hurt animals (like squirrels hit by cars, foxes that are shot by hunters, or birds that fly into windows) and rehabilitates them so they can be set free again.
Proceeds from their Christmas tree sales go to help fund their animal infirmary. So, my dollars are doing double-duty when I go buy my tree from them.
Check your local paper or do a Google search to see if any local charities in your area are selling trees to raise money.
It started with a scratchy throat on Friday and has progressed to a nasty cough. I won't get sick without putting up a fight. I was tempted to call out of work today, but forged ahead thinking that getting back into the daily routine would help me feel better (it didn't).
How to Love Cooking
Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: you’ve worked all day and just walked in the door. You’re tired, and you’ve love nothing more than to collapse on the couch for an hour with a glass of wine and just chill.
But, you’re hungry. Which means you’ve got to drag yourself into the kitchen and actually cook something. This requires finding a recipe, assembling the ingredients (if you have all of them on-hand), prep time, and then cook time.
Gack.
What do you do? You drag yourself out the door and hit Wendy’s/Jimmy Johns/Taco Bell to save yourself the trouble. Which means you’ve spent money on something that’s completely unhealthy.
Is your hand raised? Mine sure is. I can’t tell you how many meals I’ve eaten standing up, in my kitchen, eating odds and ends (like olives, leftover noodles, and cheese) simply because I couldn’t muster up the panache to cook something I actually wanted.
So why the heck am I writing an article about how to love cooking? Because I’ve been experiencing a change of heart lately. And I realized last night that I’ve taken a few subconscious actions that have led to this change of heart.
And there it was: a blog post was born.
So what have I been doing lately to put cooking in a new light?
Image courtesy of seller "stilettoheights" on Etsy.com
Over the past few months I’ve made some changes to my kitchen. The first thing I did was paint it a very cheerful, bright orange.
This might not sound like it’d do anything for my cooking, but the truth is that it did. I really like being in my kitchen now. That orange just brightens up my day.
You know what else I did? I bought some really cool artwork off of Etsy, and hung it right where I do most of my chopping. An example of the art I bought is on the right, from StilettoHeights. For $18 I got two completely unique prints.
I also hung up a ton of pictures from our Barcelona trip on another wall.
These small changes (the color, the artwork, and the pictures) have completely changed the personality of my kitchen. I used to see this space as a place to do stuff I wasn’t crazy about doing. Now, it’s turning into a room of mystery and character. It’s a room I really love hanging out in.
The Lesson: If your kitchen is actually a place where you like spending time, then you’re more apt to want to go in there to cook something.
To Do: If you’re not crazy about your kitchen, then find out why. Do you hate the paint? Is it too dark? Is it lacking some character?
Make some effort to turn your kitchen into a place where you really feel comfortable. If you want to hang up some crazy artwork, do it! Etsy.com is a wonderful place to find some really amazing artwork for bargain prices. And, you can feel good about supporting artists directly.
Add light. Add plants. Add color. Add some of yourself. And I guarantee you’ll be drawn to this room more than you were before.
You might be surprised to find out I used to be a professional organizer. And you know what? Hands down, kitchens were always the most cluttered rooms in the house.
So who were the culprits?
Pampered Chef tools. The Magic Bullet. The Williams-Sonoma avocado slicer. The Black and Decker chicken rotisserie. The Kitchen Aid monster mixer. The towering pile of plastic and paper shopping bags.
You know what I’m talking about here. Many people have their kitchens stuffed with more appliances and cooking tools than they know what to do with. These appliances take up a ton of space, and probably only get used a few times per year, if that.
As a result, a lot of clutter ends up on the counters because there’s simply nowhere else for it to go. And, this can make cooking a stressful and frustrating experience.
I’ve been going through my own kitchen the past few months, donating and organizing, and I now have a lot more space than I used to. And you know what? I haven’t yet missed anything I’ve gotten rid of, and my kitchen feels much more open and inviting.
The Lesson: The less cluttered and more organized your kitchen is, the more you’re going to want to go in there to cook and have fun.
To Do: If your kitchen is overflowing with plastic bags, old appliances, faded Tupperware, and defunct Magic Bullet accessories, then it might be time to go an organizing binge. Donate whatever you can that still works, and find a local recycling facility (use Earth911.com) for everything that’s broken.
Photo courtesy Erika Rudolph
3. Cook to music.
I find that if I’m listening to music that I really love when I’m cooking, it’s much more enjoyable. I have a funky old radio that stays in there, but I also have a little boombox for my iPod that I bring in when I’m cooking.
And you know what?
I have a blast.
Lesson: Music makes anything funner.
To Do: Find a way to get music into your kitchen. Whether you click on NPR to catch up on the news or jam out to Elton John, cooking is more enjoyable when you’ve got something to listen to.
My biggest hangup with cooking was my mindset. I always approached cooking as the necessary evil I had to go through in order to get the prize (ie: something tasty).
But, cooking is an experience. Every step, from measuring out flour to pulling cupcakes out of the oven, is something I should pay attention to and enjoy. If I can have the mindset that cooking is just as relaxing as other things I enjoy, like running or gardening, then I can fully put myself into the experience.
The Lesson: If you can look at cooking as a journey, not a destination, you might find you enjoy the process more.
To Do: The next meal you cook, really pay attention to what you’re doing. Don’t look at those vegetables that need chopping as just something you’ve got to get done before you can proceed to step two. Really focus on chopping them up. Relax while you’re doing it. Let your mind wander and daydream.
I’m here to tell you cooking really can be relaxing. But, it takes the right mindset. I’m still working on this myself, but it’s getting easier!
Cooking is way, way more enjoyable if I’ve got a glass of wine in my hand. Yes, I buy the cheap stuff (eco-friendly Corbet Canyon: it’s tasty, frugal, and every part of the box and bladder can be recycled…), it’s a great way to relax as I get going.
Lesson: Wine or other drinks can be a great addition to the cooking process. After all, even cleaning toilets would be enjoyable after a couple of glasses…
To Do: Buy a bottle or box of wine for your next meal. But, don’t save it for the meal itself. Celebrate the act of cooking with a glass while you cook.
I’ve been getting bolder in the kitchen. Sometimes my experiments turn out great. Sometimes, they bomb (like the vegetarian crock pot stew I made last week. I was going to write a whole post about that frugal recipe if it turned out. But, it didn’t turn out…we ended up eating pizza…)
The point here is that I’ve learned to let go of the expectation that each meal needs to be perfect. And letting that go has been really liberating. I’ve been trying more recipes as a result because I’m not afraid to try them. Cooking has actually gotten a bit, dare I say it, fun.
I’m still not into long, drawn out recipes. I don’t know if I’ll ever be. But I have gotten a bit more adventurous.
Lesson: You don’t have to perfect, can you believe it? Every meal isn’t going to turn out with Martha Stewart perfection. I know, I was shocked too.
To Do: Embrace the inherent fun of cooking. Experiment with different styles and flavors. For instance, A and I made tapas for the first time on Halloween. Did we know what we were doing? Not really. But they turned out really great! And we had just as much fun making them as we did eating them.
You don’t need me to tell you that cooking at home saves far more money than going out to eat. I’ve had my digressions, but I really am trying to cook at home more lately. I need to save that money, and it really is healthier. But, I think I’m doing good so far!
How about you? Do you have any tips to help me and other readers enjoy the cooking process? Any tips you have to keep yourself motivated? Please share!
I was browsing through Runner’s World today looking up training tips (half-marathon here I come!) when I stumbled onto an article about what to do with your old running shoes. EUREKA!
First, the Life of a Running Shoe…
Running shoes, unlike regular shoes, have a fairly limited shelf life if you run regularly. They’re good for about 300-400 miles. After that, support breaks down and the risk of injury goes up. So even if they look good on the outside, it might be time to send them packing.
This is always a tough thing, at least for me. I love running, and my shoes are like little friends. My current pair is getting close (if not over) the 400 mile mark. So it’s almost time to say goodbye. Sigh.
How do you know when your shoes need replacing?
Donate Your Running Shoes!
Most organizations like Salvation Army will take “gently used” shoes. But if you’re a runner, then you know that often your shoes are much more than “gently used”.
The good news is that you can donate your old running shoes to organizations that either recycle them, or send them to people all over the world.
Here’s part of the list I found on Runner’s World:
Soles4Souls
Shoe companies, retailers, and individuals can donate footwear both new and used to those in need around the world. Soles4Souls has coordinated relief efforts for the Asian Tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike, netting over 1 Million pairs donated for these disasters.
Send your old running shoes to:
Alabama (Primary Warehouse Facility)
Soles4Souls, Inc.
315 Airport Road
Roanoke, AL 36274
Tennessee
Soles4Souls, Inc.
619 Old Hickory Blvd.
Old Hickory, TN 37138
Nevada
Soles4Souls, Inc.
Foreign Trade Zone #89
6620 Escondido Street
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
For more information, go to www.soles4souls.org, call (615) 391-5723, or e-mail info@giveshoes.org.
Nike Reuse-A-Shoe
Grinds your old running shoes into material that makes athletics and playground surfaces.
Send your old running shoes to:
Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070
For more information about Nike Reuse-A-Shoe, go to: nikereuseashoe.com or call 800-344-6453.
The complete list, posted here at Runner’s World, is really comprehensive. Please visit their site to see all the options-they did a really great job covering all the bases. Thanks Runner’s World!
Making every celebration more about people and less about things is a key to celebrating green. When we focus on relationships, we tend to spend less, eat less, have less left over and end up putting less into landfills.
So this Thanksgiving, take a look at your rituals and seek out ways to enhance their meaning. Here are some suggestions.
If you host a large gathering for which it's difficult to supply enough china, here's a twist on the idea above. Ask each guest to bring their own place setting along with a story about the plates. At the table, ask guests to explain what is special about the setting. Did the china belong to a great grandmother who brought it when she immigrated? Was this place setting a gift from a beloved friend? Are you especially proud that you bought it for pennies? The stories don't matter. Sharing them does.Whatever you do this Thanksgiving, focus on those you care about and you will make priceless memories. What is more eco-friendly than that?
Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net
Whew, I've been quite the slacker lately. What else is new? I just haven't been in the mood to write.
After a leisurely trip to Home Depot, we ended up coming home with plastic window sealers and an item to prevent door drafts. The window kit includes double-sided tape and sheets of plastic (does it get any easier?)
s
I'm pretty neurotic about this one. I'll take the same dryer sheet and reuse it 3-4 times. It gets clothes just as soft and I save around $10 (cost of two additional boxes of dryer sheets).
I was doing research online for a client today and came across some really amazing websites that I had to share with all of you. These websites all offer one thing: free advice or free services that will help us save money.
Yahoo!
1. Mint.com
Mint.com is a financial planning site that helps users track their spending by pulling information from their online bank account, and then uses that detailed information to graph exactly where their money goes.
Yeah, I can hear your heart drop from here, because when I first heard about Mint.com last year, my heart did the same thing. But I decided to give the site a try anyway, because it had gotten amazing reviews from Kiplinger.com, who named it the best budgeting site out there, and Money Magazine, who gave it a 5-Star Top Pick.
Well, I got all the way to the part where I enter my bank account and routing number and then I chickened out. I was just too afraid that someone would hack the site and have instant access to my bank account.
I forgot all about Mint.com until today. I browsed through the site again, and have decided to give it another go. After all, if Kiplinger and Money Magazine have endorsed the site, it has to be secure. And, Mint.com uses the same security that many major financial institutions do. So, it’s at least as safe as my online banking.
How can Mint.com help you save money? Well, the site will help you to:
Pretty nifty, right? And, it’s completely free.
2. TheLaw.com
Are you getting an uncontested divorce? Need some advice on filing for bankruptcy? Need to figure out how to create a living will, or get out of the lease agreement you just signed with your landlord?
TheLaw.com is a website that offers people and businesses free legal advice on everything from child custody to real estate deals to immigration. Their forums are divided up by very specific topics, and lawyers from all over the country volunteer their time to answer questions.
The site also has an amazing list of free, downloadable legal forms that everyone can access, and there are tons of well-written, well-sourced legal articles that you can use for research.
3. Flickr’s Creative Commons Site
If you have a blog or business and need some copyright-free photos to use (like the one shown on the right), then check out Flickr’s site of photos that fall under Creative Commons License.
The Creative Commons License is a way for people to share their work with others under certain conditions without the strictness of full copyright.
For instance, some photos on the site are available for anyone to use for any reason, but only if you give that photographer credit for the image.
Fair, right?
Other photos can be used without giving credit at all. And still others can be used without credit, as long as they’re not sold or used for commercial reasons.
Flickr gives a very clear explanation of what photos can be used in what ways. So if you want to save money on photos, this is a great way to find some great images without paying a dime.
The full site address is: http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/
4. TechGuy.org
If you’ve ever had to pay someone to come out to fix your computer, create a network for your business, figure out why Vista won’t work EVER, or clean up your hard drive from viruses, then you know how expensive it can be.
Well, TechGuy.org is a website that offers free, yes free, tech support to people and business owners. Techies from all over the world volunteer their time on the site to help non-tech people (like me) do everything from update software to solve incredibly mysterious and complicated computer problems.
TechGuy.org has been around for ten years and they’ve been featured on The Today Show, the BBC, in PC World Magazine, and in Reader’s Digest, just to name a few.
5. Wix.com
If you’re starting a small or home-based business you’re going to need a website. But, you probably can’t afford to hire someone to make you a nice one.
This is where Wix.com comes in. Wix.com is a site that allows you to build sleek, professional-looking Flash sites for free. And, it’s practically fool-proof.
The site was designed specifically for people who don’t know how to build websites. So don’t worry if you don’t know what the heck you’re doing; Wix.com has made it really, really easy to build a great site. And again, it’s all free.
Last Word…
I have to admit that I was overjoyed about the Flickr discovery. It’s so time-consuming to look for photos I can legally use on this blog, and I’m over the moon that so many photographers have generously donated their photos for public use!
I’m also going to sign up for Mint.com today (and yes, I’m really going to go through with it this time!). I’ll post a review of the site within the next week to let you all know how I like the service, and if I think it’s going to help save me money.
Do any of you know some great sites like these that help you save money? Want to share? I’d love to hear about them!
How often do you get spending money out of the ATM each week? I try to limit myself to once a week (unless something unexpected comes up, like one of the kids has a class trip and I need to use cash). Usually I'll take $40 out and try to get that to last the whole week (Sunday through Saturday). I use this cash mainly for breakfast and lunch. However, if I make or bring breakfast and lunch to work each day, I can basically 'save' that spending money towards something else.In reality, there is no need to purchase decor. This is a definite area of want. And while we know that most people are short on cash this year, many will still want to make some purchases. If you're one of those, keep these ideas in mind while spending green to celebrate green.
A great solution to the decor challenge is to go DIY (do-it-yourself), preferably using materials you already have on hand, can secure via swap or, best of all, select from nature. This is the perfect time of year to pull together items from nuts to branches to leaves and use them to brighten your home (see activities below). If you feel challenged when coming up with ideas, of course the internet is an incredible resource. Just do a search for "recycled Halloween crafts." Here are a few to get you started:
(Frankenstein as pictured above, is made from a paper towel roll and fabric scraps. The original comes from www.GPurse.com Let it inspire you.)
When it comes to table decor, simply bringing in a selection of natural items and arranging them in containers or even directly on the table, can create a stunning tableau. Best of all, everything can (and should) be returned to where you found it for totally wastefree decor.
If you're itching to purchase new lighting, look for LEDs or solar. (Get rid of the old ones by recycling them through www.HolidayLEDs.com.
Bonus craft: Shadow box picture frame chandelier Here's a project that's easy to assemble, but packs plenty of punch.
Gather:
Directions:
Note: If you prefer, make without screw eyes and wire and simply place in the center of your table.
Of course, when it comes to Halloween activities, trick-or-treat can't be beat. But for parents who are green-leaning, this traditional activity presents challenges. They don't want their kids to miss out on the fun, but neither do they want them eating all the candy. If you're facing this conundrum, you might want to consider inviting the Halloween Fairy/Witch to your home.
Eco-friendly activities before and after the holiday can engage your kids and help them learn about green issues as well. For instance:
