Friday, July 29, 2011

Exciting FREE three week class on how to decrease your ecological footprint, foster community in your neighborhood and promote political action to defend the environment

The Ecology center in Berkeley, CA is have a free three session seminar starting Tuesday August 16th and going through Tuesday August 30th. The seminar is from 7-9PM and will offer tips on improving your eco-footprint, getting involved in your local community and helping drive political will towards laws that protect and improve the environment. This sound AWESOME! I almost want to postpone my vacation to go to it.......but you could go!
Check it out at:
http://www.ecologycenter.org/calendar/event.php?eventID=36131

Monday, July 25, 2011

week two, tossing things while others consume through "extreme couponing"

I know many of you have heard of the recent craze to extreme coupon, saving hundreds of dollars each week on groceries, getting thousands of rolls of toilet paper for free etc.....I just have found that so funny to witness as I work to SHED my stuff. Don't get me wrong, I think being price savvy is great, we could all do it a bit more.  But what strikes me as odd, is the COMPULSION to purchase in order to save. Seems a bit odd, right? Stockpiling things that you got for cheap. It just seems like a new name is being given to our culture's need to consume. Anyway, I think I will just stick to getting rid of things for now and leave the coupon clipping to the new experts....

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Another way to reduce what is on your home:

I went out to get the mail the other day, and.....nothing. At first I thought for some reason the mail did not come that day. But I saw that both my neighbors had mail, so what gives? Then it hit me-all that effort to call catalogs and other such sinners of blast mailings to get off of their lists-had paid off! I really only get the local coupon flyer, which I can not figure out how to get off of, and, well, bills. And sometimes a check from a client:) There are great sites like www.catalogchoice.com that have all the tools you need to get your name off of everyone's list. It does require a bit of effort on your part up front, and to be honest, you have to get back on it every now and then. But think of all that paper that did not have to get printed, sorted, mailed to your home, only to go straight into the recycle bin. And don't fool yourself; just because you recycled it, does not mean energy of all variety was not spent to produce and deliver that "junk" to your home! So, make a a little promise to yourself to finally get off of everyone's mailing list and one day you will run to the mailbox and rejoice at finding NOTHING!

Monday, July 18, 2011

tossing one a day.....thoughts

ok, so I am five days into getting rid of one thing a day and it has been more interesting than I thought. I think of myself as being really good at not keeping things that I don't use with some sort of regularity. But when it comes to things I spent a lot of money on or that seem REALLY useful, even though I haven't used them in years, I gotta tell you, I hesitated. BUT as soon as I talked myself into putting each of those items into the donate box, it was like I never owned it! The actual decision was hard, but the aftermath....a piece of cake! Crazy how our minds work. I'll keep ya posted on how it all goes, but I think I like this!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Shedding the extra stuff challenge

I don't know about you, but I look around my house and often wonder.."how did I end up with so much stuff?" I guess having a three year old, a husband who won't get rid of things and being an ex-mega consumer...well, it all adds up. So, I have decided to challenge myself to get rid of ONE thing EVERY day for a month. It can be large or small, but it has to go. To make the challenge more substantial, I also have decided that if I bring anything new into the home, then I have to get rid of the one item PLUS something to make up for the additional item brought into the house....this is gonna be interesting. I invite you to take up the challenge along with me-good luck!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Up and running with solar....

Doesn't feel any different yet-perhaps when we get the itty bitty bill!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Even the post office is going green!

I went to get stamps today and the post office has the COOLEST set of "green living" stamps. Things like "buy local produce" or "use public transportation" with cute little pictures on each of them...you KNOW that I chose those ones-very fun. The campaign is called USA Go Green. By the way, the stamps are made out of eco-friendly materials. One step at a time!

Cool new DIY book on green fashion

I am joining a group of mamas who want to have some kid free time doing "handiwork" or crafts. So I have researching what I want my first project to be. (I already know that in a few months I will be onto the halloween costume part) I came across this very cool book about making clothes and other such things out of thrift store finds.....here is the link to the book   http://www.amazon.com/ReSew-Thrift-Store-Finds-Fabulous-Designs/dp/160468027X
What a neat idea!!....My mind's wheels are spinning......I'll let you know what I come up with

Going solar!

Tomorrow is the big day-we go (mostly) off the power grid and onto the sun's grid! Should be up a running by mid day-I am so excited! I will keep an eye on the PGandE bill and keep you all informed........

Friday, July 1, 2011

Giving an old chair a second lease on life part two


Remember those Saarinan chairs I had re-upholstered and gave new life to? Well, this chair takes the cake for getting all jazzed up...check out my new and improved "pop" of color

Yes, I AM alive!

ok, so my hundreds of followers (not quite) are probably wondering what happened to me and my blog. Well, the short end of it is, I was very ill for several months and am now finally better! I have been busy with catching up on work and am excited to share some green designs of mine and a few green events I attended. check back in over the next few days to see some exciting stuff!
Glad to be back
Cheers,
Heather