Top Three Green-Living Tips for November

We (my family and I) not only try to find way to live a more frugal lifestyle, but an eco-friendly one, too. Combining these can be quite fun!

Some things are super easy: recycling, turning off the lights, unplugging unused appliances, running the laundry on the cold water cycle, and so on... and some take a little more thought or time. Here's are the top three frugal Green-Living Tips we've recently implemented:

1) Have a chipped coffee cup or extra tea cups collecting dust?
If they're in good condition, you can certainly give them away to charity or someone in need, but if they have a little wear and tear- don't throw them away, repurpose instead!

Most coffee/tea cups make excellent candle holders, pencil cups, or catch alls for change, paper clips, etc. They are also great for use in the bathroom items such as hair clips, makeup, earrings, and even toothbrushes. Use them a drop for keys by each doorway or as a base for a pretty silk flower arrangement. Be creative, you are sure to find plenty of ways to recycle cups that have outlived their original use.

2) Use dryer sheets to remove hand prints and crayon marks from walls or furniture. Seriously, it works wonders and can be re-used multiple times.

Dryer sheets are also great dusters, useful for reducing static cling (just run one over your skirt, etc. before wearing,) and can be recycled as a drawer "sachet" after use in the dryer- just fold into a square and place in your dresser drawer.

3) Turn old clothing into blankets and pillows. It's a great idea to donate your old clothing to charity or to pass along to friends/relatives/etc. but often there's a few sentimental pieces you just don't want to part with or an item that is in some disrepair (holes in jeans, stain on shirt, and so on.)

With some simple sewing skills, these items can easily be turned into quilts, pillows, purses, and even drapes and wall hangings. For some ideas, check out:

6 Cozy Blanket Crafts from Woman's Day
Jean Quilts
T-Shirt Pillows from PBS

What frugal- green ideas do you have this month?

Share your ideas in our COMMENTS section and at LighterSaferGreener.com for a chance to win Lighter, Safer, Greener Airwear lenses for your whole family!

Potential problems with shipping UPS this holiday?

Favorite Drink of the Season: Mint Cappuccino Kicker

Mint Cappuccino Kicker

A smooth, coffee-ity, chocolate-ity concoction with a peppermint kick. Be careful-this one will warm you up quick!

Ingredients:
1 Shot of Chocolate Liqueur
1 Shot of Cappuccino Liqueur
1 Shot of Peppermint Schnapps
1 Shot of Irish Cream Liqueur
Coffee

Instructions:

In a tall coffee cup, add alcohol in order listed. Fill remainder of coffee cup with coffee. Serve.
Optional: Garnish with whip cream and/or chocolate shavings.

For more coffee-inspired recipes, check out:
The Best Coffee Cocktail and After Dinner Drinks

To learn how to make your own Irish Cream Liqueur:
How to Make Your Own Irish Cream Liqueur for the Holidays

Smart Toy Shopping

Gearing up for holiday shopping? Get smart when it comes to buying the best toys and stop by Dr. Toy first.

Visit Dr. Toy's website to find information on the best toy products, best "green" toys, best products under $10, and oodles of incredibly useful information.

It's a must stop before you shop!

Once In a Blue Moon WINNER!

Congratulations to...
CATSLADY!!

who had the winning Comment #3:

3
Random numbers generated Nov 1 2009 at 10:48:36 by
www.psychicscience.org


catslady said...
I just finished the Twilight Series (enjoyed all 4 books) and am ready to start a new Jodi Picoult book (I've also loved all of hers). I'm an avid reader and Eileen Goudge is a new to me author. Her book sounds fabulous!

Frugal Solution: Ketchup!

Ever reach for the ketchup bottle only to find a few drops left? Or are you tired of paying over-inflated prices on this favorite condiment?

Consider whipping up a batch of your own ketchup with items you probably already have in your cupboard.

Homemade Ketchup

1 cup of Tomato Sauce
1/4 cup of Brown Sugar
2 tbsp of Vinegar

Mix the ingredients together until fully blended. Serve and enjoy!

10 Activities You Can Do With Your Teen Daughter for the Holidays

I'm pleased to offer you this insightful article from Janine Sherman, OB/GYN nurse practitioner and co-author of Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You & Your Mom:

As a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and mother, I understand how difficult it can be to get quality time with your teen daughter. With all of the demands that the holiday season brings, it can often be overwhelming. Between the parties, shopping, cooking and planning, sometimes the really important things, like spending time with your teen, get pushed aside. Participating together in activities that connect you to your daughter not only help keep the spirit of the holidays real, they can be the best gift you give to each other. Spend time together making memories!

10 Activity Ideas

  1. Have a baking day. Together, pick out special recipes and spend the day baking. There is nothing like rolling out dough together to give you a chance for some meaningful conversations.
  2. Invite your daughter's friends and their mothers over for a Holiday Tea. You've already made the cookies. It allows you to get to know her friends and their moms while doing something fun.
  3. Volunteer. Together, pick a charity and spend time volunteering. Not only do you get the opportunity to be together, but you get into the spirit of the holidays by giving to others. This is a great message.
  4. Search for a craft project that would make great gifts for friends or neighbors and make them together. For example, one year we made cookie mix in a jar, decorated the jars, and took them to our neighbors.
  5. Have an afternoon of culture. Go to a Christmas play, concert, or ballet. You don't have to spend a lot of money doing this since there are many local productions.
  6. Have a Christmas movie marathon. This is one of my favorites. Each year we get out our favorite Christmas movies, put on our PJs, pop popcorn and lay on the floor and watch movies continuously.
  7. Have a spa day at home. Get some festive nail polish and do mani-pedis. Who needs to go to the spa when you can do it in the comfort of your own home? When it is just the two of you and you are relaxed, the conversation just flows.
  8. Christmas shop together, but start early with breakfast out. My favorite is to get up really early when all of the stores have the early bird specials. Take the advertisements, head off to your favorite breakfast place and come up with your game plan.
  9. Go for a walk one evening, and look at holiday decorations in the neighborhood. Then decide on the most beautiful as well as the house with the "most over the top" decorations.
  10. Start a holiday memory book. Get a journal and each of you write about the holiday season from your point of view. Don't forget to put in photos. This is something you can do every year, and when your daughter has her own family, it can be passed to her.
Remember, the shoes you give her will go out of style or wear out, the designer jeans will do the same, but the memories and time you give her will always be in her heart.

Janine Sherman is an OB/GYN nurse practitioner in Houston, TX, who specializes in caring for teens and their moms. She is also the co-author of the book Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You & Your Mom. This easy-to read, lively, down-to-earth book is definitely teen-friendly and is ideal to help both mothers and daughters have engaging conversations about tough topics.

Play the Recession Payback Game to Get Coupons from ConAgra

Take a little time to load (on DSL) but it's fun (and rewarding.)
Recession Payback Game

Keep Your Family Healthy During Cold Season (and a Coupon!)

The good news on winter colds? According to the FDA most respiratory bugs come and go within a few days, with no lasting effects.

The better news ? While you may not be able to escape the dreaded winter cold, you can up your chances for avoidance and find simple, affordable treatments to help keep your symptoms at bay.

To avoid catching a cold:
  • Wash your hands often. Teach children to do the same. The CDC recommends regular washing of your hands with warm, soapy water for about 15 seconds.
  • Try to limit exposure to people who have colds.
  • Eat a balanced diet.
  • Get enough sleep.
  • Exercise.
  • Try to relax and avoid stress this holiday.
All of these can help the immune system better fight off the germs that cause illness.

To alleviate symptoms:

  • Check with your doctor for the best course of treatment.
  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
  • Try a humidifier to help alleviate stuffy noses.
  • Try gargling with salt water to relieve sore throats.
  • Explore your OTC medicine options to help with symptoms. Visit http://www.fda.gov for up-to-date information on medications.

Homeopathy is also an option to explore for symptom alleviation and prevention, too. Homeopathy is a theraputic method used to help the body rebalance and heal itself using natural substances in micro-doses.

A little birday at the One2One Network told us about a new line of Homeopathy products for children from BOIRON, the world leader in Homeopathy.

These homeopathic medicines work safely and naturally without causing side effects and they won’t interact with other medications. They do not contain any of the ingredients questioned by the FDA for use in young children. All three are sweet-tasting and kid-friendly.

For a limited time only, BOIRON is offering a $1 off coupon to help make the cold season a little friendlier on your pocket book, too.

Do you have a cold prevention or alleviation tip to share? Please post your remedies in the COMMENTS.

In the meantime, stay healthy!

Frugal Snack: Homemade Chewy Pumpkin Seed Granola Bars

Hands-down fresh granola bars are a wicked-cool, yummy fall treat... and a great way to use up extra pumpkin seeds. After whipping up this super easy recipe, you can store the bars in an air-tight container for 1 week.

Chewy Pumpkin Seed Granola Bars

INGREDIENTS

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup raisens
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup raw almond slices (can substitute peanuts, cashews, or pecans, or a mix of nuts)
1-1.5 Tbsp olive or canola oil
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional)
1/4 cup of roasted pumpkin seeds
Non-stick cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Process 2 cups rolled oats in blender or food processor until they become flour-like. Mix "oat flour" with dry ingredients (except coconut) in a bowl.

Add all wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir until well combined.

Spray a 5x12 baking dish (or similar size) with non-stick cooking spray. Add mixture to the dish. Press it down until you have a flat layer.

Optional: Sprinkle coconut on top.

With a knife, cut the whole sheet into 12 bars.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Let cool, cut again, and enjoy!

Makes aprox. 10-12 servings.