Make Living Naturally Second Nature at Home
(ARA) – Many families are interested in adopting a more natural lifestyle, especially when they’re met by life-changing moments, such as welcoming a new baby, adopting a pet, or buying a new home. According to a recent survey, however, while 78 percent of parents want their families to do more to live naturally, almost as many (63 percent) think that making changes would be difficult.
“Families don’t have to overhaul their entire lifestyles to go natural,” said Jen Singer, lifestyle expert, author and founder of Mommasaid.net, an online resource for moms. “Instead, you can take small steps that are easy, convenient and affordable. Even small changes can have a big impact on our homes and the world we live in.”
Singer offers the following five tips to help families live more naturally.
* Leave it at the door. Make it a household rule to kick off shoes when entering the home. Preventing outdoor pollutants and loose surface dirt from coming inside can save water and energy because it means less mopping and vacuuming.
* Conquer cleaning naturally and effectively. Try cleaning your home with natural cleaners, such as the new Nature’s Source line from SC Johnson. The products are powerful cleaners made with 99-plus percent natural and naturally-derived ingredients. What’s more, the products are affordable and available in many grocery and mass merchandise stores.
* Pull the plug. Unplug electronics that aren’t in use. If the phone charger is sticking out of the electrical outlet without a phone on the other end, it’s still using energy. Encourage other family members to unplug their phone chargers, laptops and handheld game chargers when they’re not in use.
* Carry a full load. Maximize the efficiency of appliances and conserve water and electricity by operating the washer, dryer and dishwasher with full loads. In some areas, electric companies may offer less expensive nighttime rates, so it’s possible to save money by running electrical appliances at night.
* Hang it to dry. In the long run, a dryer does more damage breaking down clothing fibers than the washer. Hanging clean laundry on a line will save energy and that favorite pair of jeans.
Using these savvy tips will make it easier to live a more natural lifestyle at home without paying a premium. For more tips to live naturally, visit www.NaturesSourceCleaners.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Resolved to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint in 2009? Think Packaging
(ARA) – You conserved energy in 2007 by installing programmable thermostats in your home. In 2008, you replaced your home’s incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights. If you’re wondering what you can do in 2009 to further reduce your carbon footprint, just take a look at product packaging.
Americans generated 60 billion pounds of plastic waste in 2006, and recycled just 7 percent of it. Despite our noble efforts, Americans still recycle less than we should. Every day, one landfill closes somewhere in the United States, so reducing the amount of materials that need to be disposed of is a critical part of environmental efforts.
From milk cartons and cereal boxes to household cleaner bottles, the packaging we use in our daily lives generates a lot of waste. In 2009, consider focusing your eco-friendly efforts on reducing the amount of packaging you and your family use and – ultimately – dispose of. Here are a few tips to keep in mind the next time you visit the grocery store.
Household Cleaners
Traditional cleaners may become passé as more people opt for natural products over harsh chemicals. Even if you are using natural cleaners, however, you can still do more for the environment — by choosing products that come in environmentally sensible packaging.
Some cleaning product manufacturers, like Arm & Hammer, are offering ways to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging. The company’s new Essentials Cleaners use plant-based cleaners (with other biodegradable ingredients) with a twist — the “starter kit” includes an empty, reusable trigger-spray bottle and a cartridge of cleaner concentrate. Consumers fill the bottle with tap water, twist in the cartridge and are ready to clean. When they run out, they purchase a refill cartridge and reuse the same bottle.
The bottles can be reused, extending the usable life of the packaging — and keeping them out of the waste stream. The refill cartridges are also smaller and lighter than a full bottle of traditional cleaner, so it’s less costly to manufacture and transport them, reducing fuel expenditure and carbon emissions. The two-pack refill cartridge system uses 80 percent less packaging than two traditional 32-ounce cleaners.
“Plastic from household cleaners and containers can generate more waste than many people suspect- 28 billion pounds in 2006 alone,” says David Bach, eight-time national bestselling financial author and green lifestyle expert who wrote “Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying).” “Furthermore, people don’t think about recycling their cleaning products, meaning that most end up in landfills. Reducing packaging reduces the volume of plastic entering the waste stream.”
Cosmetics Industry
Much of the packaging used by the cosmetics industry is plastic and most of that does not get recycled — from lipstick tubes to eye shadow compacts. Just as consumer demand for cruelty-free products drove the industry to find alternatives to animal testing, cosmetics manufacturers are now offering more environmentally sensible packaging options.
For example, one company has introduced a lipstick tube made of a biodegradable polymer of organic sugars and oils. Other companies are using recycled materials to manufacture packaging or are designing their packaging with easily recyclable materials like aluminum. Some manufacturers are even offering products like eye shadow in reusable compacts — when the eye shadow is empty, consumers simply dispose of the cartridge and refill the compact with a new one.
Bottled Water
Many bottled water drinkers imbibe in packaged water for their health – bottled water is perceived as clean, healthy and convenient. But until recently, the industry also produced vast quantities of plastic bottles that never made it to recycling bins.
Bottled water manufacturers are trying to turn those numbers around, introducing compactable bottles designed to crumple easily, which makes it easier to recycle them after use. Some companies have also begun making bottles from recycled material. Others market reusable bottles that consumers can fill on their own by purchasing larger sizes of bottled water and filling the smaller, more portable bottles as needed.
Packaging Pointers
Consumers needn’t simply wait for companies to improve their packaging process, however. There are plenty of ways environmentally conscious Americans can help reduce packaging’s impact on the environment, including:
* Shop for items with packaging that clearly states it is made wholly or in part from recycled materials.
* Avoid buying products in packaging that is not recyclable. You can check to be sure a bottle or other packaging is recyclable by looking for the recycling code – usually located on the bottom of the package.
* Choose to do business with companies that minimize packaging. For example, large wholesale club stores may not provide bags because it saves them money, but they’re also helping the environment by curbing packaging.
* Let eco-friendly businesses know you appreciate their efforts, and voice your concerns to those that fall short in the area of environmental responsibility.
* Choose products that have made an effort to improve their packaging and supply chain. Transporting goods through lower-impact transportation options, like railways and barges, produces less pollution than other alternatives such as trucking or air transport.
* Look for companies and brands that have an established history of environmental and social responsibility.
To learn more about Arm & Hammer Essentials, visit www.armandhammeressentials.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Holiday Appetizers 101
(ARA) – When holiday entertaining has you scrambling for new ideas to make your guests feel jolly, think appetizers. A traditional menu like baked ham or smoked turkey, served with classic favorites, can be made into a more festive experience by easily selecting a variety of mouthwatering appetizers to complement the meal.
When deciding what appetizers to serve, consider the flow and arrangement of the party. Where will guests be eating? If there’s limited seating, reconsider appetizers that require a knife and fork. Hand-held, bite-size appetizers are usually easier for guests if they’ll be standing and mingling.
Variety is also important. Select appetizer recipes that have different flavors, textures and temperatures. A combination of hot and cold food items will please any palate. Offering different styles like bread or cracker options, toothpick or skewer bites and hand-held finger foods is a simple way to add variety.
Traditional recipes, such as rumaki, meatballs and deviled eggs, are still party favorites too. However, it’s easy to give them a new flare. Try this new Pesto Deviled Eggs recipe when you’re entertaining this holiday season.
For even more appetizing additions visit www.incredibleegg.org.
Pesto Deviled Eggs
Serves: 12
Ingredients:
6 hard-cooked eggs
3 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. plain low-fat yogurt
1 tsp. basil leaves, crushed
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Directions:
Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks and set whites aside. Mash yolks with fork. Stir in remaining ingredients until well blended. Refill whites, using about one tablespoon yolk mixture for each egg half. Chill to blend flavors.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Handmade Gifts Make a Holiday Comeback
(ARA) – Instead of battling crowded shopping malls and rising prices, Kim Jacobson is spending time in her garage, building holiday gifts in her home woodshop.
For several years, the Minnesota-based occupational therapist has been handcrafting holiday presents as part of her husband Gary’s family’s unusual — and refreshing — annual gift exchange.
“There’s only one rule,” Gary explains. “Everything has to be homemade. You draw a name at Christmas and have the next year to make that person a present.”
It’s a tradition Kim says cuts through the commercialism surrounding the holidays, to the core of what the season is all about.
“A lot of love goes into what you make,” she says.
It’s also part of an emerging trend, according to Ann Rockler Jackson, chief executive officer of Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of woodworking tools and equipment.
Jackson has seen her company’s gift-related supply sales increase steadily over the past five years and believes more consumers are seeking a back-to-the-basics approach to gifts.
“People are getting tired of the shopping-mall mentality surrounding holiday gifts,” she says. “Building your own can be so much more personal. There are a lot of creative people out there making incredible, meaningful gifts they couldn’t buy at a store. And that do-it-yourself population is growing.
“Plus, it’s a nice way to save money,” she says. “When you have the skills and ability to eliminate labor costs by doing something yourself, it pays dividends — particularly in a tough economy.”
As the number of people building gifts increases, so does the flow of ideas. Rockler has organized an extensive handmade gift list on its Web site, www.rockler.com/handmade.
Some of the more popular projects on the list are relatively simple to build — things like small jewelry or keepsake boxes. Dominoes, cribbage boards and wooden Sudoku sets are among the many options for beginners. And for those with wood lathes, hardware kits for hand-turned pens, Christmas ornaments and even ice-cream scoops bring the quality of homemade gifts up to — or beyond — the store-bought level.
For the Jacobsons, high-quality homemade gifts are nothing new. With several accomplished woodworkers in the family, they have seen some amazing creations over the years.
“Probably the most impressive was a dining room table my cousin made for his sister-in-law,” Gary says. “That will be an heirloom, for sure.”
Still, the beauty of the Jacobson’s tradition — and one of the driving forces behind home gift-building’s burgeoning popularity — has as much to do with fellowship as it does with craftsmanship.
“It’s definitely brought us all closer together,” Kim says.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Top Ten Tips for Faster, Easier Holiday Entertaining
(ARA) – When you think of the holidays, what comes to mind? For some, it’s spending time with loved ones, traditional family meals and joyful gift giving occasions. For others, it’s the cooking, cleaning and toiling that comes with having holiday guests. There are numerous tips and tricks to help you save valuable time when preparing for the upcoming festivities.
A recent study by BISSELL Homecare, Inc. found that, on average, 45 percent of women spend three to seven hours preparing their home for holiday guests, and another 29 percent spend eight or more hours preparing. Here are 10 tips from organizing and cleaning guru Donna Smallin, author of The One-Minute Cleaner, that can help you reduce the amount of time spent getting ready for the holidays, so you can spend more time enjoying them.
* Get started early
Make a list of tasks and check them off as you go. Some tasks such as dusting fan blades, polishing silver and ironing table linens can be done well in advance. You can even set your holiday table ahead of time. Plan to have everything done a day or two early so you can get into the holiday spirit and relax with your family and guests.
* Declutter
Keep in mind that “less is more,” especially at the holidays. Now is a good time to donate some of your kids’ old toys and games — and some of your own stuff. When you pull out holiday decorations, add the unused ones to the donations box and toss anything that’s worn or broken. Keep a list of what you donate and be sure to get a receipt for year-end tax purposes.
*Clean where it counts
There’s no need to deep clean your house from top to bottom. But do yourself a favor and don’t leave it to the last minute to clean your house. Do what you can now and then make an extra effort to keep it clean and picked up.
Focus your efforts on high traffic areas: kitchen, bathrooms, living rooms and family rooms. And don’t forget to spruce up the guest room. Clear space in the closet and provide thoughtful amenities such as toiletries and magazines. Stock the guest bathroom with extra toilet paper and towels and make it sparkle.
In the family room and other high traffic areas, nothing freshens up a room like clean carpets and rugs. A great way to clean them yourself is with a deep cleaner such as the new BISSELL PROdry. It as convenient as a vacuum, but the combination of hot water and cleaning solution will make your carpet even cleaner. Plus, PROdry uses professional technology that not only cleans but allows carpet and rugs to dry in just 30 minutes. In the time it takes to bake a batch of your family’s favorite holiday cookies, your carpet and rugs will be clean and dry.
* Prepare as much food ahead of time as possible
Mix big batches of cookie dough and freeze in smaller batches that you can pop into the oven after dinner each night. Double or triple dinner recipes in the weeks leading up to the holidays; freeze the leftovers, and reheat for houseguests. Do prep work like chopping vegetables and mixing dips the day before guests arrive.
* The study found that 32 percent of women would do the dishes if they only had 30 minutes to clean
To minimize time spent washing dishes, before you begin cooking, fill the sink with hot, soapy water and clean pans and kitchen implements as you go along so you don’t end up with a sink full of dirty dishes.
* Host a party that practically cleans up after itself
Look for one-pot and crock pot recipes or make it a potluck party and send guests home with the leftovers.
* Simplify gift-giving
Consider giving edible gifts or gift certificates rather than packaged goods. The last thing most of us need is more stuff. Or draw names to give gifts to only one family member, eliminating the need to buy for everyone. It’s a good idea to have a few simple, inexpensive gifts on hand — a small box of gourmet chocolates, tin of cookies, or candle for unexpected guests as well as hostesses, teachers and anyone you may have forgotten.
* Wrap it up
Gather holiday gift wrapping supplies and store them all together. If you need to buy gift wrap, consider limiting wraps to one or two and use the same color ribbon and bows on all of your gifts.
* Play your cards right
If you’re planning to send holiday cards, do it in stages. Buy your stamps online to avoid long lines at the post office. Then personalize your cards, address the envelopes, stamp and seal them. Do it during television commercials over a few nights and you’ll be done in no time.
* Plan ahead
Make a list of things that need doing before guests arrive — everything from dusting to decorating the tree. Ask family members to choose the tasks they wouldn’t mind doing. Assign the tasks no one likes doing. Then schedule a time to get the job done together as a family. Play some holiday music to get into the spirit.
For more holiday tips, please visit www.quickholidaycleanup.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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