Apple Jackets, A love story

When I first saw these at http://jacquelineknits,etsy.com/ I thought "what a cute and logical idea!' When I carry fruit in my bag, its usually just got its skin to protect itself; which means it gets covered in 'purse debris' like make up, poked with bobbi pins, powder, and other random debris lurking in there. It ends up trashed and bruised and I dont want to eat it after that. These are perfect for such occasions. Who doesnt love stylish fruit? Kudos to jacquelineknits for such adorable and fruit jackets - very clever indeed!

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Food, Gas, and the High Cost of Everyday Living - what to do?

All over the world we are seeing truckers striking, Food and fuel skyrocketing, the global economy getting worse, and all for what? So these oil bastards can make more money. So this is my counteraction to the oil problem...and money problem...and environment problem..etc. I know Im just one person, so i encourage anyone to do any of these that they are able to...

1. Take public transportation; trains, busses, L's. Cheap and reliable. Its better to put money into these than in the pockets of the oil companies. All the time public trans get in financial trouble ...lets make it impossible for that to happen.


2. Buy food locally; farmers markets are great for this. You can get tons of produce, grains, herbs, etc. The reason food is high is because we get so much of said foods from mexico or far parts of the US that truckers bring - and deisel gas is $5 a gallon! You may think farmers markets may be a bit pricey but they are willing negotiators - just bring a reasonable price.


3. Make it yourself; whatever you are capable of making, do it! If you can sew, make the things you need, if you can bake, make your own bread and baked goods; make your own cleaning products (see other blog Greening your Cleaning). There is so much we can do ourselves. The plan is to be as self sufficient as possible.


4. Buy American; this is obviously for Americans. Our country is falling apart from plants moving to other countries, outsourcing, everything under the sun is imported from China-made from children in sweatshops. Nothing bothers me more than calling up my local phone company to talk to an obviously foreign man I cant understand named "Kevin". Who do they think they're kidding???


5. Drive only when necessary; if you can find people to carpool with or public trans that goes to where you need to go, then do it.


6. Bring bags when shopping. If you need to shop, bring your own large bags and avoid using plastic ones. Most places have canvas bags for cheap for you to reuse. Plus, you dont have to worry about the bag ripping or cutting off your circulation when theres something heavy in it.


7. Around the house; Shut off lights in rooms you leave. Wash your dishes by hand, dont use a dishwasher. If you have the space to hand wash / hang dry your clothes, do that. I hang dry clothes indoors - we live in an apt - by putting them on hangers and hanging them on the curtain rods. Less electricity wasted is less toxic waste! And save some $ too.


8. Recycle! We were amazed at how much more the garbage stinks now that we put all the recycleables in a seperate bag. yikes! But I think everyone knows the benefits of recycling - just do it!

These are just a few simple ideas. Somethings will become more obvious the more you involve yourself in a more self sufficient and eco-friendly lifestyle.

Picture above is from the etsy shop of http://rls2131.etsy.com/

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Currently Coveting: BoyGirlParty's Etsy Shop

I love stationary. I especially love the stationary...and all cool items...found at boygirlparty.etsy.com. Currently, I want, nay, need these recipe cards. I should just break down and get them but I have about $3.58 left in my paypal, so Im not getting anything til I get more sales. But I love this shop. The shirts, the magnets, everything. Rarely do i find a shop where everything tickles my fancy. Its so fun and unique. But look at these cards, they are adorable and should be in my kitchen right now! Ive been trying to find recipe cards for all the recipes I find on the internet and want to have them written on somthing a bit more functional than a raggety post-it note I found under the desk, or on the back of an old envelope. One day. ONe day i will get these.

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Greening my cleaning

We went to the library yesterday so I could look for a few sewing books to get some new ideas...too bad most of the books were lame with ideas from the 90's {cringe} I didnt exxactly feel like making that giant beaded shirt with the tapered pleather pants. I did find a few good ones, luckily. As I was browsing thru the books, maddy started taking ones off the shelf to look at - im sure its every librarian's nightmare. She was smart enough to stack them in a neat pile at the bottom of the shelf, so that made their job a little easier. As I was telling her to stop, my eyes gazed at a book she took halfway out of the shelf called Green Up your Cleanup by Jill Potvin Schoff. I've been wanting to do exactly that so i took the book, flipped thru it, and decided it was worth checking out. So at home, im reading thru it - going in shock from how incredibly harmful cleaners are. If you look at the back of most household cleaners, the ingredients are not even listed because they're so harmful and can get away with not having to display them. The book says to avaoid disinfectants with: Cresol, phenol, ethanol, kerosesne, formaldehyde, ammonia, chlorine bleach, sodium hydroxide, and phosphoric acid. Instead of using cleaers with said toxins, it gives a very simple recipe as a natural alternative. Its called the Mildew and Germ Killer and all you need is:
1 - 16oz spray bottle
2 cups of water
1/4 tsp of tea tree oil
1/4 tsp of lavender oil
Shake before each use and use on anything you want to disinfect / kill germs on. You spray on a surface and let dry - dont wipe.
there are recipes for Laundry soap, glass cleaner,dishwasher soap (which is good to use since most dishwasher cleaners are still allowed to use phosphates, which are extremely toxic for people and environment), All surface cleaner, Scrubs, etc.
The ingredients for most of these are:

• Liquid soap -#1 pick is Dr. Bronners Castile Soap (cheap and at trader joes!)
• Borax - a mineral similar to baking soda
• Baking soda
• Washing Soda - found in the laundry section of stores (where you'd find Borax)
• White distilled Vinegar
• Lemon Juice
• Oxygen Bleach (usually a mix of hydrogen peroxide and washing soda)
• Club Soda
• Essential oils like tea tree, lavender, lemon,orange, peppermint.

All these are super cheap and safe - though anything can be harmful if used the wrong way. I've taken all our harmful cleaners and took them out of under the sink and hid them high up in the pantry, away from everything. Ive so far made glass cleaner (1/2 water, 1/2 vinegar) I need to get crazy stuff like borax and washing soda and I'll be set.

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