Calculate your carbon footprint to find out how much greenhouse gas emissions you produce:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Saving the world one cloth napkin at a time
In attempt to reduce the amount of trash I produce at home, I have made an eco-friendly choice to switch to cloth napkins instead of using paper napkins or paper towels. I figured that I use 3 napkins per day on average, and switching to cloth napkins would not only save money on buying napkins, but it would also help reduce waste. I keep a stack of cute colorful cloth napkins on the table in a box and the used ones go in the hamper and get washed with the dish towels every week. I prefer cloth cocktail napkins because they are smaller, and I do not need such a big napkin when I eat dinner at home.
It is a change worth making and it is such a simple thing that will save you a lot of money and help reduce waste as well. I believe that even the smallest changes we make in our daily routines can have a large impact in our lives and the environment. When I was young I never used napkins---I used my sleeve, and my mom would yell at me, but she had no idea I was being so eco-friendly. I was way ahead of my time, except now a little more sophisticated using my detached sleeve aka cloth napkin.
Some sites with great selections:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/dining-and-entertaining/napkin/1
http://www.cb2.com/search.aspx?query=napkin
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3597465
It is a change worth making and it is such a simple thing that will save you a lot of money and help reduce waste as well. I believe that even the smallest changes we make in our daily routines can have a large impact in our lives and the environment. When I was young I never used napkins---I used my sleeve, and my mom would yell at me, but she had no idea I was being so eco-friendly. I was way ahead of my time, except now a little more sophisticated using my detached sleeve aka cloth napkin.
Some sites with great selections:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/dining-and-entertaining/napkin/1
http://www.cb2.com/search.aspx?query=napkin
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3597465
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Clean Green
I always wondered why cleaning gave me such a headache. But, now I realize that it wasn't the actual cleaning that gave me a headache----it was the chemicals I used to clean!
I have always used the classic cleaning products to clean --- Lysol, Tylex, Ajax, Windex, Clorox wipes, and the little scrubbing bubble guys. Recently, I did some research on the toxins that these products contain and I have come to the realization that I may be doing more harm than good by using these products---they contain toxic chemicals that could severely affect my respiratory system, cause skin and eye irritation, long-term negative affects on the environment, the toxic air quality they produce, and the toxic residue they leaves behind.
Certain cleaning products, detergents, fabric softeners, cleaning wipes, and air fresheners have chemicals that are not only toxic to inhale, but contain pesticides which are harmful for our health. I have always held the notion that if something smelt clean --- more chances than not it is clean, yet I never considered that just because something is clean ---doesn't mean that it is not harmful to my health.
I did some research on "green" cleaning products and non-toxic cleaning products from places like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods and even Target. Their "green" products use non-harmful chemicals and clean with a more "organic" and natural approach using natural cleaning agents. I also came across this cleaning product line that cleans with Enzymes instead of any chemicals and is only sold online. The company is called Wowgreen and their website is: http://www.wgresidential.com/. They sell completely toxin-free cleaning agents and even their packaging is green. They sell small packets of their concentrated cleaning enzymes and you mix the packet with water in a spray bottle and use the spray bottle to apply their product.
Below are some hidden dangers of typical cleaning products/fresheners that you may use everyday:
AIR FRESHENERS: interfere with your ability to smell by releasing nerve-deadening agents or coating nasal passages with an oil film, usually methoxychlor, a pesticide that accumulates in fat cells. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener are formaldehyde, a highly toxic, known carcinogen, and phenol.
ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS: may contain triclosan, which is absorbed through the skin and can be tied to liver damage.
DISHWASHER DETERGENTS: Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated. The #1 cause of household poisoning is dish detergent. Dishwashing liquids are labeled "harmful if swallowed." Each time you wash your dishes, some residue is left on them, which accumulates with each washing, and your food picks up part of the residue.
FURNITURE POLISH: contain petroleum distillates, which are highly flammable and can cause skin and lung cancer. They contain nitrobenzene, which is easily absorbed through the skin and extremely toxic.
LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS: Laundry detergents contain phosphorus, enzymes, ammonia, naphthalene, phenol, sodium nitilotriacetate and countless other chemicals. These substances can cause rashes, itches, allergies, sinus problems and more. The residue left on your clothes, bed sheets, etc. is absorbed through your skin, as is everything else you touch.
I urge you to give "green" cleaning ("greaning") a shot! Improve your air quality, limit the toxins and chemicals you absorb into your body, and clean your home with the ease that no toxic chemical residue is left behind.
I have always used the classic cleaning products to clean --- Lysol, Tylex, Ajax, Windex, Clorox wipes, and the little scrubbing bubble guys. Recently, I did some research on the toxins that these products contain and I have come to the realization that I may be doing more harm than good by using these products---they contain toxic chemicals that could severely affect my respiratory system, cause skin and eye irritation, long-term negative affects on the environment, the toxic air quality they produce, and the toxic residue they leaves behind.
Certain cleaning products, detergents, fabric softeners, cleaning wipes, and air fresheners have chemicals that are not only toxic to inhale, but contain pesticides which are harmful for our health. I have always held the notion that if something smelt clean --- more chances than not it is clean, yet I never considered that just because something is clean ---doesn't mean that it is not harmful to my health.
I did some research on "green" cleaning products and non-toxic cleaning products from places like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods and even Target. Their "green" products use non-harmful chemicals and clean with a more "organic" and natural approach using natural cleaning agents. I also came across this cleaning product line that cleans with Enzymes instead of any chemicals and is only sold online. The company is called Wowgreen and their website is: http://www.wgresidential.com/. They sell completely toxin-free cleaning agents and even their packaging is green. They sell small packets of their concentrated cleaning enzymes and you mix the packet with water in a spray bottle and use the spray bottle to apply their product.
Below are some hidden dangers of typical cleaning products/fresheners that you may use everyday:
AIR FRESHENERS: interfere with your ability to smell by releasing nerve-deadening agents or coating nasal passages with an oil film, usually methoxychlor, a pesticide that accumulates in fat cells. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener are formaldehyde, a highly toxic, known carcinogen, and phenol.
ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS: may contain triclosan, which is absorbed through the skin and can be tied to liver damage.
DISHWASHER DETERGENTS: Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated. The #1 cause of household poisoning is dish detergent. Dishwashing liquids are labeled "harmful if swallowed." Each time you wash your dishes, some residue is left on them, which accumulates with each washing, and your food picks up part of the residue.
FURNITURE POLISH: contain petroleum distillates, which are highly flammable and can cause skin and lung cancer. They contain nitrobenzene, which is easily absorbed through the skin and extremely toxic.
LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS: Laundry detergents contain phosphorus, enzymes, ammonia, naphthalene, phenol, sodium nitilotriacetate and countless other chemicals. These substances can cause rashes, itches, allergies, sinus problems and more. The residue left on your clothes, bed sheets, etc. is absorbed through your skin, as is everything else you touch.
I urge you to give "green" cleaning ("greaning") a shot! Improve your air quality, limit the toxins and chemicals you absorb into your body, and clean your home with the ease that no toxic chemical residue is left behind.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Speaking of Art
If anyone is interested in an original piece of art from yours truly--please contact me to commission your first piece. I work with watercolor, acrylic, pencils, and gouache. Below are a few samples of some previous paintings I did, please contact me if you are interested in seeing more of my work.
Art
I think the most common mistake people make when decorating their home is their art placement. There are several rules of thumb on how high to hang your art, and of course there are always exceptions to the rules, but for the most part, the following suggestions will help give you an idea about how to select and hang your Picasso.
I think art is more than just a mere accessory for your walls, they are statement pieces/conversation starters, they compliment your color schemes, they bring a sense of culture in a frame/on a canvas, they show a flare of personality, and they pull a room together as a composition. A room always feels empty without art, and art that is hung well is always a crowd pleaser, especially for the ladies. Haha.
1. Art should create a mood, inspire the viewer, or pull together a color scheme. Art should tell a story or create a sense of interest on a wall. The colors of your walls are a mere backdrop for the art that it displays, so always consider your wall colors when selecting art. Never underestimate a bold piece of art and what it can evoke from a room.
2. When it comes to hanging your art---it is almost an injustice to hang it at the wrong height. You want the art to be enjoyed at the most optimal viewing level, and unless the placement of your art is the statement you want to make, you generally want to hang your art at eye level. The general "eye level" height is around 62"-64" from the floor to the center of the art. You never want your viewer to have to look up to enjoy your art---unless you are a masseuse/chiropractor and want to give your guests a stiff neck looking at your art so that you can give them your business card to come see you to fix their neck...then that would just be good marketing, and like I said, there is always an exception to the rule.
3. When selecting art for a room, always keep your wall proportions and ceiling heights in mind. If you have low ceilings---do not select tall pieces of art, but rather hang a series of small pieces of art in a row with bold frames. The exception to this rule could make a dramatic statement by placing a tall framed piece of art or a tall framed mirror on the floor and leaning in on the wall which will create the opposite affect by accentuating the low ceilings and creates a more intimate feel to the space.
4. The best hooks to use when hanging art: OOK Classic Pro Hangers. These can be purchased from Target, Home Depot, on-line, or your local hardware store. Use this link below to locate your closest retailer: http://www.ooks.com/t-AboutUsRetail.aspx
5. Art should reflect your personal style and even the simplest piece of art can be striking if it is framed in an interesting frame or placed behind a matte that compliments the color composition. Art is always one of the biggest statements in a room, and is usually the first thing someone sees when they walk into a room (especially if it is hung at the perfect height), so always consider the following when selecting your art: select art that reflects the statement you want to make, color and composition can dictate the mood of the room, hang it at the right height, and always consider the scale of your walls and ceilings.
I think art is more than just a mere accessory for your walls, they are statement pieces/conversation starters, they compliment your color schemes, they bring a sense of culture in a frame/on a canvas, they show a flare of personality, and they pull a room together as a composition. A room always feels empty without art, and art that is hung well is always a crowd pleaser, especially for the ladies. Haha.
1. Art should create a mood, inspire the viewer, or pull together a color scheme. Art should tell a story or create a sense of interest on a wall. The colors of your walls are a mere backdrop for the art that it displays, so always consider your wall colors when selecting art. Never underestimate a bold piece of art and what it can evoke from a room.
2. When it comes to hanging your art---it is almost an injustice to hang it at the wrong height. You want the art to be enjoyed at the most optimal viewing level, and unless the placement of your art is the statement you want to make, you generally want to hang your art at eye level. The general "eye level" height is around 62"-64" from the floor to the center of the art. You never want your viewer to have to look up to enjoy your art---unless you are a masseuse/chiropractor and want to give your guests a stiff neck looking at your art so that you can give them your business card to come see you to fix their neck...then that would just be good marketing, and like I said, there is always an exception to the rule.
3. When selecting art for a room, always keep your wall proportions and ceiling heights in mind. If you have low ceilings---do not select tall pieces of art, but rather hang a series of small pieces of art in a row with bold frames. The exception to this rule could make a dramatic statement by placing a tall framed piece of art or a tall framed mirror on the floor and leaning in on the wall which will create the opposite affect by accentuating the low ceilings and creates a more intimate feel to the space.
5. Art should reflect your personal style and even the simplest piece of art can be striking if it is framed in an interesting frame or placed behind a matte that compliments the color composition. Art is always one of the biggest statements in a room, and is usually the first thing someone sees when they walk into a room (especially if it is hung at the perfect height), so always consider the following when selecting your art: select art that reflects the statement you want to make, color and composition can dictate the mood of the room, hang it at the right height, and always consider the scale of your walls and ceilings.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Staying in the closet
A lot of us have this issue, the problem does exist, and no matter how hard we try, the inevitable always happens. Whether it is a chair in your bedroom, the foot of your bed, a pile on the floor, or for my mom---her treadmill, it's a big issue that people have a hard time resolving. When you get home and change, or when you can't decide what to wear and try on different outfits, or when you get ready in the mornings and don't have time to hang up your discarded clothing---they all end up piling up on some piece of furniture in your bedroom or get piled in a designated space on the floor or on your bed.
Working in retail for many years, I am an avid believer in hanging all of my clothes and I can fold clothes with the best of them, but I still battle with this same issue of keeping my clothes in my closet and drawers. When I worked at Macy's we would call the clothes in the fitting room that people tried on and needed to be put back: "dump"---wasn't just a clever name. No one liked putting away "dump".
I have come up with some options to help resolve this never ending cycle of clothing congregations on whatever your designated pile space is:
1. Wherever your pile is leave some hangers there to help remind you to just hang it up right away to avoid the pile.
2. Move your pile collection into your closet by putting a hamper for clean clothes in your closet where you can toss your discarded clothing and once the hamper is full---you know it's time to start hanging and folding those bad boys.
3. Train yourself to take off clothing---hang clothing, remove pants---fold pants. We all know how difficult it is to teach an old dog new tricks, so if you know you are untrainable to do this---skip this option.
If you are thinking that it takes too much time to hang up my clothes right away when I am in a rush to leave to work and I am switching outfits and it is easier to just throw it in a pile and do it "later"---if you think about it---it takes a mere amount of seconds to put a piece of clothing back on a hanger. As opposed to letting it collect under a pile, which creates more wrinkles, and having to not only hang it up later, but chances are the item will have to be ironed as well which consumes much more time.
4. Get a small clothing rack on wheels and fill it with hangers. Instead of creating a pile, hang it on the rack and deal with putting it back in the closet later. The purpose of this rack is to hang clothes on it, which might make you more inclined to want to hang it on the rack right away instead of having to find a spot in your closet for it. Also, these racks work great to hang-dry clothes when you are doing laundry or if you are one of those people who like to lay out their clothes the night before you can use this rack to pull your outfit together for the next day.
5. If you are absolutely unable to do any of the above options and just cannot avoid throwing clothes into a pile, consider joining a nudist colony---you'll never have to worry about clothing again. Haha.
A folding chair that looks like a hanger...function versus form, very clever.
Working in retail for many years, I am an avid believer in hanging all of my clothes and I can fold clothes with the best of them, but I still battle with this same issue of keeping my clothes in my closet and drawers. When I worked at Macy's we would call the clothes in the fitting room that people tried on and needed to be put back: "dump"---wasn't just a clever name. No one liked putting away "dump".
I have come up with some options to help resolve this never ending cycle of clothing congregations on whatever your designated pile space is:
1. Wherever your pile is leave some hangers there to help remind you to just hang it up right away to avoid the pile.
2. Move your pile collection into your closet by putting a hamper for clean clothes in your closet where you can toss your discarded clothing and once the hamper is full---you know it's time to start hanging and folding those bad boys.
3. Train yourself to take off clothing---hang clothing, remove pants---fold pants. We all know how difficult it is to teach an old dog new tricks, so if you know you are untrainable to do this---skip this option.
If you are thinking that it takes too much time to hang up my clothes right away when I am in a rush to leave to work and I am switching outfits and it is easier to just throw it in a pile and do it "later"---if you think about it---it takes a mere amount of seconds to put a piece of clothing back on a hanger. As opposed to letting it collect under a pile, which creates more wrinkles, and having to not only hang it up later, but chances are the item will have to be ironed as well which consumes much more time.
4. Get a small clothing rack on wheels and fill it with hangers. Instead of creating a pile, hang it on the rack and deal with putting it back in the closet later. The purpose of this rack is to hang clothes on it, which might make you more inclined to want to hang it on the rack right away instead of having to find a spot in your closet for it. Also, these racks work great to hang-dry clothes when you are doing laundry or if you are one of those people who like to lay out their clothes the night before you can use this rack to pull your outfit together for the next day.
5. If you are absolutely unable to do any of the above options and just cannot avoid throwing clothes into a pile, consider joining a nudist colony---you'll never have to worry about clothing again. Haha.
The infamous pile chair
Clothing rack on wheels
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