Monday, August 23, 2010

How to sharpen your garbage disposal for FREE

Hey everyone! I hope the word FREE caught your attention :) This is a little trick I learned from a maintenance man at an apartment complex I lived at. He told that when I noticed my disposal taking too long to munch everything up, sharpen the blades by dropping ice cubes in!

If your sink is smelling stinky, drop half of a lemon in it and grind away! This will sharpen the blade, kill bacteria and make the kitchen smell like citrus! So get off the computer and go sharpen some blades!

Hope this helps :)

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Vegan Fruit Dip

Have you ever been to a party where they had a delicious fruit dip that tasted like candy? I used to have the dip at every party when I was a kid. It was made with Cream Cheese and Marshmallow Fluff! Well....I just veganized it! Take note:

1 container Suzanne's Ricemello
1 and 1/2 container vegan cream cheese

Mix and chill!

This will be a hit at any event! I can sit and eat it with a spoon!

Here is where you can find Ricemellow... http://www.suzannes-specialties.com/

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Green money saving tip of the day: Unplug your electronics!

I know I have heard it a million times, but still up until last week had a few things laying around that were still plugged in! They give these appliances the term "Energy Vampires." My guess is because the plugs look like fangs and they drain energy and money! According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). These vampires drain about $10 billion a year!!! It accounts for 11% of all US energy use. WOW!

So if you are reading this, take it seriously! Go run and unplug your toaster. It may seem harder to unplug larger appliances such as the tv and dvd player, but to make life simple, put them both on the same power strip, then unplug that from the wall. It will be simple to plug it back in when you are ready to watch tv.

I guess being green really does save $$

Habit 3: Listen to your Language

Listen to you Language:

Your language is a very real indicator of the degree to which you see yourself as a proactive person. That is, it's better to say "I choose" rather than "I can't," or "I control my own feelings" rather than "They made me so mad."

Friday, August 13, 2010

Money Saving Tips!

Ok I am all over the place with ideas for this blog! Today will be a money saving tip that doubles as a green tip! Here we go....

Cut your sponges in HALF!

I was told once while in line at Trader Joes to cut my sponges in half to save money. I think this was one of the best tips ever! I have been cutting my sponges in half for years now and save a ton of money, not to mention create less waste!

If you haven't already, start buying plant based sponges. I sound like an advertisement for Trader Joe's over here, but they have an awesome brand that I believe is from France. They are yellow, and squished flat in the packaging. I was sticker shocked the first time I saw the price, but cutting them in half really saves on the wallet! PLUS: They don't get stinky for a long time! They lack that chemical treatment that is supposed to be antimicrobial (aka not good for the enviro!). If you notice the sponge to being yucky, throw it in the dishwasher!! Don't have one, drop it in a pot of boiling water! This kills the bacteria!

Share this idea with a friend! Or better yet, gift cut sponges to a friend to try them out! I gave my mom the pack of sponges cut in half a year ago and she is still finishing them up!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Green tip that doubles as a heath tip!

Get ready for this one!

TAKE THE STAIRS!

Wow that was easy. Do you ever stop to think about how much energy must go into riding that box up and down all day? Just think how your butt will thank you! You will burn some extra calories, get your heart beating and tone your butt just by hitting the steps when you exit the office. (or hotel, store etc).

So get to steppin!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Vegan Spiritual Retreat 8/14/10

Do you enjoy yoga, meditation, vegan food, walking in nature? If you answered yes to any of these, come to the Vegan Spiritual Retreat going on this weekend in Gladwyne, PA.

The INFO:

Date: Saturday, August 14th, 2010
Time: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location: Saunders Woods, 1020 Waverly Road, Gladwyne, PA 19035
Cost: $30 adults (some scholarships available), $20 adult students/seniors, $15 youth (12-17), $10 children (6-11), free for children under 6.
To Register: contact Lisa Levinson, lisa@publiceyephilly.org, 215-620-2130

More INFO:

We invite you to discuss veganism as a spiritual practice and meet others who consciously choose a lifestyle based on compassion for all beings. Enjoy panel discussions, guided meditations, a delicious vegan lunch prepared by professional chefs, and a nature walk along the creek at Saunders Woods. We look forward to building a spiritual community and manifesting a positive vision for Vegan Spirituality. Free transportation from the nearest train station and childcare will be provided.

Hope to see you there!