It ain't easy being GREEN (well..actually it is!!)

That's right folks another journey back to our ROOTS...don't get caught up in the consumerism, it is easy going green. To prove it here's simple, economical (cha-ching) ways to do it:

CLEANING
All-purpose:
mix 1 part vinegar, 1 part water in spray bottle
spray away on glass, counter tops, toilets & more (don't use on marble)

Laundry:
add 1/2 cup vinegar during rinse cycle to soften clothing & cut down on odors

Bathroom:
baking soda & water to make paste to scrub fixtures & tile
you can also sprinkle baking soda in toilet bowl, add a splash of vinegar to make fizz & clean w/ toilet brush

Wood:
combine 2 parts lemon juice & 1 part olive oil
pour small amount on clean rag & use to polish finished wood surfaces


UPDATE: We just went more GREEN this weekend & set up clothes lines on our balcony . The whole family was excited & helped out getting the line & clothespins, then putting out our first items. It felt great!


DID YOU KNOW...
More than 1 million children between ages 1 & 5 ingest at least 15 pesticides every day from fruits & vegetables.

The Dirty Dozen
we all can't always buy organic so check this list to find what fruit/veggies are best to buy organic & whats ok to not.


Here's a FREE magazine subscription to KIWI "Growing families the natural & organic way" here


Here's a list of things you probably already know how to do to GO GREEN, but hey, you might not so....

• Use reusable shopping bags & recycle your plastic grocery bags. It's best to recycle them but you can also reuse them, Target has these ideas on their bags:  tiny trash can liner, doggy duty, soggy laundry, tomorrow's lunch bag & care package padding!

• Replace those plastic water bottles with a reusable metal/aluminum bottle (i found one under $5 at walmart)

• Start a compost with your food/kitchen scraps & use to fertilize your plants! (those of us in apartments well, you might think it's a little harder to do but if you have a balcony or patio you can still give it a try, go HERE for easiest/free way i've found)

• Use rechargable batteries & recycle the old ones (look in phonebook to see how to recycle)

• Replace all your light bulbs with energy efficient (& $ saving), compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs (they have them at dollar stores) Don't forget to recycle old bulbs those too! (who knew? i just saw this on the side of my light bulb box)

• Avoid as much plastic use as you can. It never breaks down & is causing harm to our environment (& us). Instead choose renewable sources (ie paper etc) when you can. 

• Trade in your paper towels for cloth napkins & rags. We haven't fully converted yet (we have cloth rags & will be getting cloth napkins soon), but not hard to do. Use old tees etc for rags. Then you can get a yard or 2 of cotton fabric & cut squares (no sewing necessary depending on what kind of fabric you get) for your napkins! 

MORE TO COME....