Looking for Sustainability ideas

I thought I find a way to keep costs down while still trying to stay eco-friendly. Trying to keep striving for sustainability. This a record of that journey.

Sometimes blunt and straight forward then sometimes sarcastic

This frugal crunchy hipster single momma is doing what she can to save Mother Earth while not breaking the bank!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Join the Green Blog Hop

Check out some Green blogs with this linky blog hop. It was started by Eco-Friendly and Frugal

But the rules are ... hey they are easy...

1. Add your name... simple! It's ok if it past Friday. It open for the whole week

2. Visit as many blogs as you can/want/ have time for....

3. Post a blog about it, ok you don't have to do that but then we are bloggers right? I had to blog about something I have written a blog in a while...



ivy

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Bad Egg

Eggs recalled? It is up to nearly 400 million eggs! Wow..

But the company has had long record of violations

Having 20 Years of reprimands, penalties and complaints about its performance in several states.
Including animal cruelty, with undercover videos of workers abusing the chickens.  Violations of human rights and using illegal undocumented foreign workers. Sexuality assaulting the females... Have them live in unhealthy conditions.  .. Doing things that endanger their life like going into a collapsed buildings.   Handling dead chickens and manure with their bare hands and this is the first time that there has been a huge recall?? Makes me wonder... how did they get so lucky this long... with the unhealthy living conditions and disregard for humans rights that something like this didn't happen before now. 


BUT the dollar screams loudly in this country. They can afford to pay over 3.6 million in 1986, 1.5 million in 2001, $345,810 in violations, along with 3.2 million settling a lawsuit..in 2002, and $2.1 million as part of a plea agreement in 2008.  They can continue  to do what they want to who they want....

But also on egg offense the company does fix the wrongs fast according to some of the  state regulators. 



ivy

Friday, August 20, 2010

My carpet is gone....

Well years of stains from spills from crazy teens (after they were pre-teens)  and animal accidents having been driving me crazy about my carpet in the living room..... Part of my birthday present Miss Animal Rights and Tech was to rip up the carpet. See they did Miss Animal rights bedroom... and found realy nice hardwood floor... BUT I told them that seeing how I saw the floor when we drilled the hole for the cable for the TV.

      Carpet is most of the time made of nylon, acrylic, polypropylene, or polyester, and is frequently backed with synthetic SB latex, polyurethane, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The backing or padding is made with SB latex containing  the toxin styrene—considered to to be a  carcinogen. Plus the VOC-containing adhesives that they help tack the carpet down to the floor with.... it's not the healthiest thing to replace.  Plus the carpet holds the dust, dirt and pet dander.  (plus more then just their hair.... You know they keep using the accidents spots cause they can smell it..)... The cleaners that are toxic we use to try to remove the stains  can be overpowering. They leave a residue and some can effect your pets and children.   Plus the stains come right back. All that and they don't disappear?


Oh yea I got one of those $1,000 machines that where suppose to clean the carpet  better than any other machine... They shampooed  my carpet and said if I just keep using their machine the stains will be cleaned.  Because they said regular machine just grind the dirt in. WELL it didn't work and I am glad I didn't pay the extra for the carpet shampooing  tray.... Most carpet holds the dirt and grime cause it is in the padding.

So the green person in me had to find out where I can recycle this.  I found a site that can help you find a center... Carpet America Recovery Effort  is a site to check. The first place to start if you are buying new carpet is the dealer they may recycle your old carpet.

I now have large rugs I use to cover my floors.  You can just throw the rugs in the washing machine and better cleaning.... Sometimes you don't need to wash you can just hang on the line outside and beat the dirt out... I loved doing that when I was younger....

It feels cooler in here but it could just be me cause I don't look down at the stains and the cream colored carpet that has so many discolored spots that make me crazy...... LOL

Now it just the rugs that get balled up from the crazy animals running threw the house........... the four legged too.....


ivy

Saturday, August 7, 2010

A Clean Giveaway!!

Giveaway closed.......... 
Congratulations to Michele P!




So one night I was just losing time and surfing the web. I found myself at this Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop site.. it was getting late....

I thought wow how great is that mop.... it's a wet mop that you can refill PLUS you can use your own homemade cleaners. You have a removable cleaning pad that made of microfiber and you could wash it.... Saving you more money...  I wanted one! Plus it is Rubbermaid it is well built.

I have one of those other mops that you need to buy cleaning wipes for. The wipes that are too strong smelling for me.. Yea I know you can green them... I have used old towels or washcloths instead of the cleaning cloths . yea that worked but you know part of me wanted someone to come up with a great mop to make life easier. Where I didn't need to wring out the mop or  washcloth and I  could still use my own homemade cleaners!   

The cleaning fairies that live in my house somehow got the wonderful  people at Rubbermaid  to email me like a couple days later and ask if I would like to review the new Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop. Well I answered YES!! Yes!! I am drooling!  I want to...Pick me.. pick me...

So when I got my mop I was on the way to work... LOL I was upset I couldn't use it right away.... But I did put it together that night...... The ones that are shipped for reviews and winners of the giveaways have the mop handle in 2 pieces. The ones that are being sold at the stores starting  in August are one piece.

SO at first it was different then that other spray mop. The spray isn't as close to the floor.  I had the mop at an angle so it did spray pretty far!! LOL. But that worked to my advance in the bathroom. It cleaned so well!  I have a corner that I use to have to scrub clean with a cloth after mopping; but not with the Reveal! Hey something that is easy to use and I don't have to do extra cleaning to finish the job!


Plus no more opps I forgot to get to buy the  cloths for that other spray mop and I have a mess to clean up!! All you have to do is use 2 tablespoons of your favorite eco-friendly cleaner... and hot water. Or make your own cleaner by adding things like vinegar, lemon juice,  baking soda, borax or dish-washing soap.  Please follow all manufacture recommendations when choosing products to clean your floor.  For scented cleaners add a few drops of lemon juice or your favorite scented oil to the mix!

I wasn't sure about the microfiber but I was thinking $$ Store microfiber cleaning cloth...  I hate the way those cloths feels... But I do have a allergy to polyester. But the cleaning pad is like a thick bathroom rug, but very light feeling. It is very thin fibers tightly woven to help soak up water.  I had a spot of dried  up yuck that I poured some of the cleaner (before I put the bottle on the mop) on the yuck to help soften it. The microfiber cloth picked up the mess  like it was nothing.  I also removed the pad thinking that it would drip maybe a little..... nope it wasn't going to drip at all! And really had fun trying to get it to drip....Shaking the pad, swinging around and playing catch and no drips. SO afterward you just throw it in the washer with towels. SO easy to clean. 

 Save money, the environment, your floors and your back.  I know you want one..    So today is my Birthday but I am going to share my present.... NO you get your own  Reveal!
However Rubbermaid can only ship to the U.S. and Canada. Please note that Canadian winners might get charged C.O.D. Rubbermaid cannot do anything to refund the charges.

First visit the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop site..


For extra entries;
Sign up for Rubbermaid's RSS feed
Follow Turning Shades of Green

Grab my Button.

Leave a comment for each action. Sorry you do have to remind me these things sometimes...
The winner will be pick by random.org I let others do the dirty work.
Drawing will be held August 15. 


I received this product for an honest review. Everything was my own thoughts and feelings.

ivy

Friday, August 6, 2010

Natural Dyes



Hey a summer project or something you can do at camp is tie dye.  Remember tie dye? Ok maybe some of you weren't around then ok.. snicker all you want.... Here are some ideas for natural dyes without chemicals and additives........ only alum or cream of tartar, which can be found at the grocery store in the spice area.Or washing Soda that is found in the laundry area.  If you have some citrus acid that help as a mordant (helps keep the color) I get mine from the health food store.Then I found that salt for berries and vinegar for roots and leaves......

Mordant is something you add to water and wet down the fabric before you dye the cloth. It helps the dye bond with the fabric.   Dry thoroughly before using any dye. 

Lavender
Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice
Violet Blossoms plus 2 tsp Lemon Juice
Red Zinger Tea

Violet Blue
Violet Blossoms
Small Quantity of Red Onions Skins (boiled)
Hibiscus Tea
Red Wine

Blue
Canned Blueberries
Red Cabbage Leaves (boiled)
Purple Grape Juice

Green
Spinach Leaves (boiled)
Liquid Chlorophyll
Greenish Yellow
Yellow Delicious Apple Peels (boiled)

Yellow
Orange or Lemon Peels (boiled)
Carrot Tops (boiled)
Celery Seed (boiled)
Ground Cumin (boiled)
Ground Turmeric (boiled)
Chamomile Tea
Green Tea
Golden Brown
Dill Seeds

Brown
Strong Coffee
Instant Coffee
Black Walnut Shells (boiled)
Black Tea

Orange
Yellow Onion Skins (boiled)
Cooked Carrots
Chili Powder
Paprika

Pink
Beets
Cranberries or Juice
Raspberries
Red Grape Juice
Juice from Pickled Beets

Red
Lots of Red Onions Skins (boiled)
Canned Cherries with Juice
Pomegranate Juice
Raspberries

And remember that  mixing colors makes different colors.
Red+ yellow= orange
Blue+ yellow= green
Red + blue = purple
Red+ yellow+ blue = mud... I mean a muddy brown color


ivy

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