Posted by Tara Burner on December 31, 2008
This week’s winner will receive Twist Sponge Cloth 3-Pack compliments of GoGreenHomeMakeover.com
What if a sponge and a paper towel had a love affair?
The result would be these biodegradable and compostable Sponge Cloths.
They easily wipe kitchen and bath surfaces like a paper towel and absorb like a sponge.
Replaces 17 full Rolls of Paper Towels!
Use your Sponge Cloth for everything from spills to regular kitchen cleanup, and help us realize our vision of a clean world. Sponges are safe for all types of cookware (including non-stick) and 100% biodegradable. To clean and disinfect sponges, you can put in the dishwasher, place in the microwave for one minute, or boil.
I am an independent distributor and Green Irene Eco Consultant
To Enter the contest to win:
To enter, do the following and comment here which one or both items you did. The more things you do the more entries you have. For each item you do, post a new comment:
1) Read these recycling tips and come back here and post about one of them.
2) Subscribe to our feedburner then comment here that you did so.
3) Tweet on Twitter.com about the contest
4) Blog about the contest
Posted by Tara Burner on December 30, 2008
Tips For Green Travel
When traveling by car:
Reduce your speed to 55 mph from 65 mph to increase your fuel efficiency by as much as 15%.
For a 23% improvement, instead of driving 70 mph try 55 mph.
Increase your fuel efficiency on the road by making sure to inflate your tires to the proper level.
If possible, travel close to home…the less you drive, the less damaging the trip is on the environment.
Rent a hybrid or purchase carbon offsets.
If you’re traveling far from home, take an alternative form of transportation, like a train or a bus.
Posted by Tara Burner on December 24, 2008
This week’s contest is brought to you by:
GoGreenHomeMakeover.com
The winner will receive a Red Stainless Steel 20 oz. Reusable Water Bottles
They are made of non-toxic stainless steel, making them both durable and easy to clean. They also come in great colors, and can be easily attached to a backpack or bag with a carabiner. (The carabiner can be removed easily if not wanted). These 20 oz bottles have no potentially toxic plastic liners, making them completely eco-friendly and safe.
I am an independent distributor and
Green Irene Eco Consultant
To Enter the contest to win:
To enter, do the following and comment here which one or both items you did. The more things you do the more entries you have. For each item you do, post a new comment:
1) Visit GoGreenHomeMakeover.com and come back here and post about one of the topics discussed during an Eco Consultation.
2) Subscribe to our feedburner then comment here that you did so.
3) Tweet on Twitter.com about the contest
4) Blog about the contest
Posted by Tara Burner on December 23, 2008
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas. Carbon Monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of the fossil fuels (gas, oil, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires). It is also formed in many chemical reactions and in the thermal or incomplete decomposition of many organic materials. Dangerous amounts can accumulate when, because of poor installation, poor maintenance or damage to an appliance in service, the fuel isn’t burned properly, or when rooms are poorly ventilated and the Carbon Monoxide isn’t able to escape.
Since it has no smell, taste or color, it’s hard to detect. Carbon Monoxide poisons your body by entering the lungs displacing oxygen from the bloodstream. That puts the functions of your heart, brain and other vital functions of the body at risk. Children, babies, expectant moms and pets can be affected faster than grown adults.
To be safe, purchase a Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector and Alarm. For $50 the Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector and Alarm provides you and your family with a warning signal to protect you from dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.
This AC powered, plug-in carbon monoxide alarm utilizes sophisticated electronic components and unmatched sensor technology to protect you and your family from the dangers of CO. The 900-0076 includes a 9V battery backup that provides continuous monitoring of CO levels, even during power outages, when AC-only units are not providing protection. It will detect and store measured data of concentrated CO levels as low as 11 and up to 999 PPM with its peak level memory display. This alarm gives you several mounting options, including: direct-plug, a 6’ power cord or table top.
# Home Safety Experts recommend having a CO detector in each bedroom, as well as near all combustion sources such as furnaces and water heaters
# Easily installed in any of your AC wall outlets with backup protection provided during power outages from a 9-volt battery
# Digital display feature allows for easy viewing of carbon monoxide levels from 30–999 parts per million(PPM)
# Peak level memory lets you track levels over time with readings updated every 15 seconds
# Compact design is UL listed
Get yours now
Posted by Tara Burner on December 22, 2008
Definition of want: a desire, wish, crave, to feel a need for.
Definition of need: a requirement
Now the battle begins…want vs need.
I figured since it was Christmas and most people are out buying things their kids want and not necessarily need, I’d go ahead and talk about wants vs needs (including my own little battle within).
Most adults know the difference in a want vs a need. You may want that new car, but you don’t need it since the one that’s already paid in full is still running just fine. You may want that new diamond necklace, but you don’t need it. I’m sure you can survive without a diamond necklace along with many other wants this holiday season.
Now, most kids don’t grasp or don’t want to grasp the concept of necessity (need) vs luxury (want). They see something they want, and they want it now or well…suffer the consequences. I mean, how could any parent simply say no and just not get every toy the child wants? (read with sarcasism).
Recently in the news they talked about a letter writing initiative started by a Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Their site had this stated on it:
As families struggle to cope with the growing economic crisis, they won’t be getting any relief from the toy companies that bombard children with ads during the holiday season. Even though experts predict parents will spend less on toys and gifts this year, marketers are still planning their usual holiday ad blitz to kids.
It’s never fair for corporations to bypass parents and market directly to children. But with parents everywhere worried about making ends meet, it’s especially cruel to bombard children with ads for expensive toys and electronics.
Now, perhaps I’m older than my 40 years, but what happened to saying “No”. I mean, I’m sure as a child I didn’t get everything I wanted but now, years later I couldn’t tell you what I wanted so it couldn’t have been that big of a deal and I got over it apparently. I’m doing ok, don’t have any handicaps or issues because I may not have gotten everything I ever wanted in life as a child. Sorry, but that’s part of life. Everyone will be told “No” at some point in their life…be it to a piece of candy, a toy, a date, a promotion, a raise, credit approval, etc. eventually we all here those two letters N-O. If a child has been handed everything and doesn’t know how to relate to the fact they may not get every single thing they want or every thing that is advertised, then how will they handle life’s bigger “No’s” later on? Isn’t it the parent’s responsibility to determine what they can or can’t afford for the holidays or any other time of the year for that matter.
Even as an adult, I want the new Tmobile G1 Phone. Oh, the things I could do with that. See, I love techie things. Do not give me perfume, chocolate, clothes, jewelry as a gift. Give me tools, techie stuff any day of the year to make me happy! Ahhhh back to the G1…the touch screen, the QWERTY keyboard, the one click google search, high speed 3G network connection…shall I go on? Now I want that phone…and want it badly. But, do I need it? Nope, my little Nokia 5300somethingortheother music player phone will suffice. Granted, I can’t go online, I don’t have a keyboard, I don’t have any “bells and whistles” except it plays music. Whopeee LOL. But it works, it rings when people call and it works when I want to make a call or text. So, really isn’t that what a phone is supposed to do? I mean do I really have to be able to type on full keyboard while texting, I mean is it so bad that I have to hit the number 2 key 3 times to get to letter C? So, see because I probably didn’t get every single thing they advertised on TV, well actually back then I think it was the Sears Holiday Catalog we used to get and my brother and I would go through it and make our wish list…well, back to the issue…I’m sure I didn’t get every item I ever wrote on a wish list and I’m good with that. If I had gotten every item back then I’d probably be sitting here at 40 years old whining, crying, stamping my feet and holding my breath because I want the G1 phone but am pretty confident that Santa’s not bringing it which would mean I’d have to buy it and that’s not an option since I don’t need it!
So, really is it all that bad to explain to your kids that you can’t buy something just because they may want it? I don’t think so. Everyone would probably be in better financial state if they only bought what they needed and not what they wanted…just saying, lots of foreclosures probably wouldn’t have happened if that were the way people thought.
Posted by Tara Burner on
This was taken in the gardens at The Biltmore in Asheville, NC
Posted by Tara Burner on December 18, 2008
I know it’s the holidays, I know people wait until the last minute to ship things. I know people can be rude.
I see it every year, though I keep hoping that there would come a time when people would:
1) Get their things shipped out early.
2) Be decent to the people that work at the post office.
3) Quit blaming others and being so nasty, foul and rude.
Today I was in line at the post office. Normally I don’t have to stand in line since I use stamps.com and can just drop off my packages. That’s an awesome thing in itself, but when I have orders that are being shipped out of the country I do have to stand in line because of the customs paperwork. Today there were probably about a dozen people in front of me in line and about another 6 or 7 behind me at some point. I stood there, minding my own business, texting on my phone, not really paying attention to anything when this woman started yelling and complaining about the line and how there were only 2 cashiers working. Okay, so screaming is going to somehow help the situation and bring someone else to the front line? Nope…didn’t happen. All it did was get others in line to join in her rampage. Not cool, and it certainly didn’t speed things up…all it did was get her an earful from me about how rude she was.
I know almost everyone who works at this particular post office (front line and in the back). I know that one gentleman just lost his job and others have been transferred. I know that they’ve made major cut backs (like everywhere else too). I know all this, I know that the 2 front line workers can’t change the situation, they can’t bring out another person when another doesn’t exist! I know that the same jerks in line who are complaining about the long line are the same jerks who complain when once a year the post office raises their rates (hellooooo people…everything goes up in a years time). I know the same loud mouthed rude people are the same ones that probably every year wait until the last minute to ship things and then stand there and yell about the cost of priority or express mail. Well, to those inconsiderate people yelling at my friends…perhaps next time you’ll shop early, ship early and you’ll avoid the line and the complaining.
Perhaps next time when you’re standing in line at the post office, do these things instead of complain and yell:
1) Be patient and if you can’t be patient then learn how to use the automated machine in the lobby so you won’t have to stand in line (unless you’re shipping out of the US).
2) Be grateful you’re in a country where postal service is readily available and offered.
3) Be considerate of the people around you (because I really do not want to have to verbally battle you in line to show how ignorant and self centered you are but I will if you complain, yell about the line, etc.)
4) Be considerate of the people who are working there and waiting on you because they have to suffer and endure 8-12 hours of work dealing with nasty foul people like you.
5) Get off your cell phone when you are being waited on because I can guarantee you if the worker turns to say something to another co-worker, you get all bent out of shape about how they should be waiting on you…well same goes for you…the worker really doesn’t want to hear your gossip on the phone and you’re also delaying the line so that others like you can scream, holler about how long it’s taking.
6) Don’t wait until the Monday before Christmas to ship your last minute gifts and get upset that you have to pay more or upset that there’s a long line because you’ll just be surrounded by all the others who think (or don’t think) like you by waiting til the last minute then blaming the postal workers.
7) Try to imagine that whatever it is you have to do after leaving the post office isn’t as important as you may believe it to be thus justifying your nastiness towards others.
ahhhhh I feel better now…and for those who go to the post office on the border of Pembroke Pines & Hollywood, FL you can see who I am from the pic on the blog…if you’re going to complain, be rude, nasty and argue…you’ll want to make sure that I’m not inline near you.
Posted by Tara Burner on December 17, 2008
This week’s contest is sponsored by GreenHolidayGiftBags.com
You’ll receive a brand new copy of the Green Greener Greenest Book.
To enter, do the following and comment here which one or both items you did. The more things you do the more entries you have. For each item you do, post a new comment:
1) Visit Green Holiday Gift Bags and come back here and list one of the names of the Green Holiday Gift Bags.
2) Subscribe to our feedburner then comment here that you did so.
3) Tweet on Twitter.com about the contest
4) Blog about the contest
Posted by Tara Burner on December 16, 2008
I know many are confused as to which is greener…real tree or fake tree.
You can find one answer here.
UPDATE: You can visit thegreenparent.com for more information on eco friendly aspects of your christmas tree!
And if you decided to have an indoor Christmas tree, you’ll want to recycle it after the holidays. Some really good information on Earth 911 Treecycling, check it out.
You can also check with your local cities or towns to find out if they’re offering a tree recycling program after the holidays. Some cities will accept your trees and turn them to mulch to use in parks, etc.
Posted by Tara Burner on December 15, 2008
I’ve been meaning to write this for awhile now but got busy.
Is it just me who can’t stand when they see incorrect words being used? Especially when doing business.
I mean, it’s one thing if it’s a private email or IM to friend or family and casual.
It’s a totally different thing when you’re posting, advertising, tweeting, doing business and you use the wrong word.
Examples:
your vs you’re
The first one is a pronoun and shows possession (ie: your jacket), the latter is contraction for you are (ie: you’re right)
here vs hear
Here is an adverb showing a place or location (ie: you are standing here). Hear is a verb and the definition is to be perceived by the ear (ie: can you hear the phone ringing?)
there vs their
There is an adverb and means in or at that place (ie: the gifts are over there). Their is a pronoun and is form of the possessive case of they used as an attributive adjective (ie: Their house is beautiful).
These are just a few of the many I’ve seen in the past month, moreso than ever. Granted some people live by spell check and that really won’t help them in the situations where they use the incorrect word which is correctly spelled.
Wonder if they’ll come out with a grammar check to back up the spell check?
But seriously, if you’re making these mistakes in business the person you’re attempting to do business with will have to question whether you know what you’re talking about or just how professional you are. If you don’t use proper grammar, which we’ve all been taught (least I think we have), then how can one be assured that you’ll conduct business or supply a service or product properly?
So, before you hit send, post, publish, tweet or any other form of submitting…check your grammar, it can only help you.
