I’ve recently read the book, A Walk Around the Block by Spike Carlsen and, I recommend it if you are a geek like me that likes weird information about random things in our lives. In the book he has much useful information, and I’d like to pass on his, “Ten Things You Should NEVER Flush” list (Chapter 7- Sewers). Flushable baby wipes. Even if they say, “flushable”, they do not break down easily and can clog sewer systems. Dental floss. Carlsen says, “It acts as a lasso, binding together debris that can clog sewer pipes and equipment. Kitty litter and dried poop. According to waste management e ..read more

We’ve all heard the term, eco-conscious however, do we really know what that means and how it can apply to our own lives? We can’t all go off and save the whales or stop the killing of wolves. Merriam-Webster defines eco-consciousness as, “marked by or showing concern for the environment”. It is an adjective. What if we became more proactive and used it as an adverb? To do that we need to act, to be aware and informed as best as we can be on what and how we are doing that impacts the planet. What we do does not have to be expensive; keeping things simple is key to helping lessen our footp ..read more

Where I live, it’s summertime and that means parties, picnics, beach time, great friends, food, and drink. It is so easy to go to the local discount store and get paper, plastic or Styrofoam plates and cups. We tend to lean towards plastic cutlery and paper napkins because we see all these festive designs but, our fun does not have to hurt the environment.  I ask you to consider the various options for outdoor parties and picnics: Use cloth napkins or rags. Want them to be festive? Check with friends and relatives that make quilts, sew or just have old fabric around from years past. You ..read more

Life throws us all kinds of things that can be very stressful. Here are some free and simple ways to help relieve some stress. I also highly recommend, as do medical professionals, that you limit your time on electronic devices of any kind as well as watching TV due to the effects blue light has on our bodies and psyche.  Get outside in nature. Put your phone on silent as you get out and breathe in fresh air and take in the sights and sounds of nature. Walk, jog take it slow, so you are able to be more aware of what is around you. Be with a pet, observe them (they can be funny), pe ..read more

Recently, I have been helping some people declutter. This came about because although I have always considered myself a free spirit, I am uber organized. I’ve done blogs on minimalism and I believe living simply can bring about some minimalistic aspects, but there is a difference (see my blog, Simple Vs. Minimalistic – August 11, 2020). Regardless, the word is spreading, and I am more than willing to help others. So, a friend told another friend, and her comment was that decluttering is bad for the environment. This surprised me in the fact that donating can help others in need, brighten ..read more

This blog is all about being eco-friendly and thrifty and, one way to save money is to share information. (The old librarian in me is coming out I guess!) So, today I want to share a few helpful resources that I have received. The first is a link to how to recycle old cookware: https://earth911.com/home-garden/how-to-recycle-your-old-cookware/ Next, are some books to aid children in becoming more eco-conscious as well as helping them learn in ways that do not cost you a ton of money. Here are three books by author, Jodi Dee that may assist you in doing just that. The Little Green Jacket  ..read more

Gift giving is a big part of the holiday season but, it does not have to cost a lot or, any money.  If this bizarre year has shown us anything, it is that those we love are more important than things, status, and stressing to create huge financial gain. All but one thing can be taken away at a moment’s notice, and that one important thing that stays is, love. Whether we are physically here or not, the love we shared is what remains. The greatest gifts come from the heart and I’m going to suggest we go back to the innocence of our childhood to give gifts this year. Offerings from the heart ..read more

Finding ways to celebrate and give this Christmas while remaining thrifty and eco-friendly is much simpler than it may first seem. Here’s a few simple steps to have a natural and beautiful Christmas while honoring the true meaning of the season- giving joy and happiness, love and compassion to others.                    Try decorating this year with nature. Use pine boughs and cones that the wind and trees have gifted to you by laying them right at your feet as you take a nature walk. You can m ..read more

Tis the season for gratitude and that certainly is important however, I would like to speak on judgment, compassion, acceptance and love over fear. These are equally important to help find gratitude for those whom we may not agree with, especially at the holidays when we spend time with family we may not see as often, these issues may arise. In the spirit of this, I’d like to tell you a story of something that happened this week and how a simple squirrel taught me an important lesson. Two days ago, I looked outside to find a squirrel laying oddly on the ground next to my back porch. I steppe ..read more

With the kids being home more (and longer) than expected in most areas of the world, you may need to find creative ways to keep them busy. Why not make that a learning experience as well? Got milk? Juice? Any empty paper cartons will do. They make fun blocks that turn into towers or, you can create a train or car tunnel by cutting an arch out of the carton, to use with small cars, trains or trucks. Empty juice/milk cartons can also become a doll house or a drum. It just takes a bit of imagination and use of scrap wrapping paper, construction paper, ribbons, glitter, whatever you have around ..read more