GO Greener With Tracey ODonnell

Live a simpler life.  Use less and buy less. Do you really need to buy that?  Can you rent it instead?  “Renting and Reusing” is an awesome motto to live by for greener living.      Shop at thrift store, junk yards, yard sales, salvage yards, etc. Don't knock it until you try it.  Many treasures can be found in the least expected places.  Buy locally grown or locally owned products, produce and beverages. Inquire about the use of pesticides prior to purchasing.  Stop catalogs, junk mail and phone book deliveries-internet shopping is very inexpensive if you need to make purchases-you can buy used items or new items.  My favorite tried and true is Ebay.com. When you are making purchases, read labels to ensure the product was manufactured by an environmentally conscious business.  

Its that time of year again!  Trying to come up with creative and original ideas for your Halloween events.  This is a great time to continue with your Green lifestyle and recycle & reuse. Take a look at some of the costumes here that have been recycled.  

'Oatmeal Skin Salve' Oatmeal can be very soothing to the skin and have  anti-inflammatory properties due to its content of Beta Glucan. The oatmeal creates a thin barrier on the skin that keeps the moisture in the skin from escaping-Locking in moisture! Great for folks with dry skin. recipe: washcloth 1 cup of dry oatmeal warm water rubber-band Place the cup of oatmeal into the center of the washcloth. Bring up the corners of the washcloth to close it up and rubber band to cause closure. Take the washcloth and dip the oatmeal portion into warm water and squeeze out the excess water. Do this several times (4-5x's) until the water that rinses out is cloudy. Now that the water is cloudy, take a handful of the warm cloudy oatmeal water and apply to your face as if you were rinsing off your soapy face.  Splash the oatmeal water onto your face two times without rubbing or drying it.  Let your face air dry. 'Super simple Loofa Scrub'

windshield wiper fluid -vinegar, water and a splash of rubbing alcohol.  Metal Cleane r Brass -ketchup for polishing. Silver -baking soda, water, salt and aluminum foil makes a cleansing bath for silver products. Copper -rub item lightly with fine table salt dampened with vinegar and lemon juice. Chrome -rubbing alcohol & hot water OR ammonia & hot water OR white flour on a damp towel.   Carpet stain remover -club soda & salt  OR 1:3 part mixture of vinegar and water. Pour either mixture onto the stains-let sit for 5 minutes and dab dry. Wooden furniture - 1 gallon water, 2 cap fulls of baby oil and 1/2 cup of vinegar. Air Fresheners-   Simmer: cinnamon sticks, orange peel, cloves and water for a wonderful natural scent throughout your house.  To absorb odors-use baking soda in small bowl or dish and place in your refridgerator, bathroom, garbage can, anywhere there is a tendency to capture odors.  Garbage disposal f...

I was stunned to see this statistic, what do you think?  When you are leaving your office, desk, home, or other location with a computer or other electrical items; flip off the switch on your power strip OR turn off the computer, stereo, tv, etc...  In the United States alone - businesses' waste $1,000,000,000. worth of electricity per year. When leaving to play golf - shut it off !! Have the day off - shut it off !! Going to Lunch-put it to sleep!! During the day, setting your computer to sleep mode during lunch and other breaks can cut energy use 70%. Screen savers do not save energy ~ 

Do your part in living green - here are a few ideas of simple changes that can be made around the house to conserve. Plant a garden Unplug unused electric items  Change lightbulbs to CFL's Create homemade compost bin for fifteen dollars switch one appliance to energy efficient with the intent of changing all. D/C using disposable bags, use reusable or make your own. Stop bying plastic bottles and use reusable water bottles. wash laundry in cold water vs. hot water  keep lights off and use natural lights for as long as daylight hang out by candle light walk or bike to replace one errand/week pay bills online stop receiving paper mail use both sides of your paper reuse your paper/magazines/newspaper as wrapping paper, kids crafts, shipping, gerbal, hamster...

A star-forming region in a nearby galaxy, imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope Image. Interesting article I found; "The Universe forms fewer stars than it used to, and a CSIRO study has now shown why—the galaxies are running out of gas".   For more info:  http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-Lights-of-the-Universe-Going-Out-082311.aspx?et_cid=1984637&et_rid=259373412&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.laboratoryequipment.com%2fnews-Lights-of-the-Universe-Going-Out-082311.aspx