Quick Tips 102: Things you can't go without knowing

Quick tips 101:  Things you can't go without knowing.  

Cutting a potting soil bag into triangles and opening it up completely in order to use the soil.  This method is a lot better than dipping into the top of the bag (less mess too!).

Using freehand scroll patterns to decorate a wall.  This would look amazing in an entryway or high ceiling above a staircase.  (Photo credit:  Tip Junkie)

Using egg shells for seed starts.  This is something I just started this past growing season and I will say, they work wonderfully!

Continuing your growing season through the winter with window farming.  

(Photo credit:  Daily Press)

See more ideas for a window farm HERE!

Using an upside down Command Hook on the back of a door to hang a wreath on the other side. 

(Photo Credit:  Pinterest Pinner Michelle Florio)

Using two shower curtains in your bathroom to create a different look altogether.

(Photo Credit:  Pinterest Pinner Cassie Shoemaker)

Using Painter's Tape to help guide you as you caulk a bathtub or shower. 

(Photo Credit:  This Old House)

Wrapping your shoes in a shower cap before packing.  

(Photo Credit:  Pinterest Pinner Ava Kodama)

Using a wooden spoon to prevent boil-overs.  

(Photo Credit:  Little Miss Imperfect)

Or use this pot lid from Sur La Table.

Using a glow stick in a jar of water for a cool lighting effect.  This would be great for walkways during the holidays.

(Photo Credit:  Brandy's Crafts)

For more Quick Tips look to the right hand side of the main page for Stories in a Series:  Quick Tips 101.

Eco-Tip:  Get involved with your local National Park Society.  Nothing is more green than getting outdoors!  This group of current or retired park rangers and guides will give you a full educational experience on the destination of your choice.  They will give private tours or even group tours for family or groups of any size. To learn more about these tours and get to know the outdoors near your home better visit the National Park Society webpage.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

October is Mind Challenge Month and the Month of the Flexagon

Did you know that October is the month to challenge your mind?  Did you also know that October was the month to honor the Flexagon?

You may of said yes, or you may be like many and say, "What the heck is a Flexagon?"

Photo Credit:  Loki3

Flexagons are mainly flat and made out of paper, strips of paper to be exact.  And what sets a flexagon apart from other flat paper models of shapes is the fact that a flexagon can be folded and turned to reveal more than just a two-sided dimension.  Cool huh?

They are a ton of fun and a great learning tool for kids and adults too!

I hope you aren't completely confused, but remember the old saying?  "MATH IS COOL!?"  Well, honestly it kind of is when you view it in a fun way.

October 21st is a celebration to the flexagon, but more importantly it is the celebration of Martin Gardner's birthday.  (The pioneer to the comeback of the hexaflexagons)

Unfortunately, Martin Gardener passed away last May (2010)at the age of 95, but he didn't leave this world without making a mark on all of us.  His hexaflexagons are still going strong and offer us a great education on shapes and how much we can learn from just a basic form.

Is your mind blown yet?  HA!  I love it!  MATH IS SO FUN!

To read more about Martin Gardner visit the Mathematical Association of America.

Here are ways to celebrate Martin Gardner's Birthday:  

1. Make hexaflexagons with your kids and place them in peculiar places all through your home.  
2. Place a hexaflexagon in your child's lunch box with cute messages written on every flex of the shape.
3. Use hexaflexagons and make bunting to hang.
4. Draw pictures on all the flexes and do a seek-n-find!
5. Make a bunch of flexagons and color them all different colors.  Place them in a bowl and put the bowl on your coffee table for a neat and unique conversation piece for all who come over.

Pick up Martin Gardner's newest book HERE!

Eco-Tip:  Instead of throwing out torn or ripped clothing consider repairing the holes and tears into creative patches.  Pinterest is a great application that allows you to find everything you need to live a more organized, healthy, and more green lifestyle.  Here are some of my favorite hole-patch repairs so far. 

Picture #1: Pinned from pinner Alexandra Lehan  

Picture #2:  Pinned from pinner Danielle Bartan  

For this and other tips on living more green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green. 

      

Penny Pinching Tips: Buying in Bulk

A great way to save money on certain grocery items is to buy in bulk.  You can find almost anything you use, in dry ingredients, sold in bulk.  Bulk buying not only saves you money, but is also a great stock item for future needs.

Stocking up on dry beans, granola, and oatmeal is a great start into your bulk collection.  Don't forget to rotate and restock as you go through your dry goods.

Storing your bulk finds is pretty simple really.  You could just keep them in the original bags they came in, which I hope are cloth or at least recyclable, or your could store them like I have here.  Some in small Ball® Jars, or find sealable storage containers with airtight lids.  The ones pictured here are from a small mom and pop store local to where I live, but here is something similar.

Most stores carry some sort of bulk items, but the best place to find bulk goods would be in stores such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, or even a bulk warehouse.  If your store doesn't sell bulk dry goods, ask the manager to start carrying certain items you would like to purchase.  Most stores will take your request and consider carrying what you are willing to buy.

For more ideas and planning on how to stock a pantry with dry goods, visit this site HERE!  There are many tips and tricks on saving up for emergencies and other events. 

Eco-Tip:    If you're anything like me, you love to read.  Not just read, but love the concept of a great book in your hands.  But once you finish that book what do you do with it?  If it's a good book you want to keep it around and read it again and again, or share it with a friend, but ones that you are finished with and never want to touch again, pass them along to places that can use them for someone new.  Recycling your old books is a great way to go green.  There are even websites out there that allow you pass your books from one reader to another and keep the cycle going.  A great one to look into is Paperback Swap.  They allow you to trade a book and receive a credit to put toward a new book.  If the idea of swapping your old book to stranger intrigues you, why not leave a book laying on  park, or bus stop bench today and pass along the gift of reading!  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Join Stella & Dot in the fight against breast cancer

 

Did you know that October is Breast Cancer awareness month? Join Stella & Dot in the fight against breast cancer. 

Shop any piece from their Breast Cancer Boutique and all net proceeds will be donated to the Noreen Fraser Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to women's cancer research and awareness. Don't miss this chance to shop for a cause!

Here are a few of my favorite pieces this fall from Stella & Dot.

Be sure and check out all the great products from the Stella & Dot jewelry line and while you're there, grab up a Bryant Park Scarf in hot pink from the Breast Cancer Boutique.

 Remember, shop the entire Breast Cancer Boutique during the month of October, and all net proceeds will be donated to the Noreen Fraser Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to raising women's cancer research funds and promoting early detection awareness. 

Add a pop of color to any outfit with a printed scarf. Here's a quick video from Stella & Dot Stylist on 10 different ways to wear a scarf to add a bit of color, style, or even a bit of flare to your outfits this fall!

Eco-Tip:  Stop wasting up to 2 gallons a water a minute, turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth or wash your dishes.  Water is a valuable resource on our planet, and turning it off will save you money, as well.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.




    

Spark of Love this Week: Tea, Cup, Box, Ad, Guitar, and Yardsale

This tea pitcher and mug set.

And these tea bags........

Because an avid tea drinker is always on the look out for fun ways to enjoy some tea.

(Photo 1 credit:  LennyMud Gallery on Etsy)

(Photo 2 credit:  Yanko Designs)  

 This cup.

Because football season is a big deal in our house.

This box.

Because P90X really is time consuming and costly.  Hey, at least I gave it a go.   

But, I'll be sending it back promptly.  Ha!  I think I will just stick to my treadmill and phone app.

This ad.

Because it made me laugh and it's not every day you see an ad where a little girl is flipping off a dog.  Ha!

This guitar.

Because I am in love with any child's toy that can offer a learning experience beyond the norm of the learning scope.  This is the Loog Guitar and it cost about $150.

(Photo credit:  Loog Guitars)

Random Photo This Week:

"Major Yardsale!"  That's one way to get people's attention.

Eco-Tip:  Unplug electronics even when you're not using them, electronics such as your TV set, microwave, and DVD/Blue Ray Player.  Even when you aren't using them, they still consume some amount of electricity. For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Potatoes and Onions on the Grill.....Oh My!

This weekend here in Oregon we fired up the ole' grill and have a night of it outside on Saturday.  Sometimes when we are sitting out under the late evening stars, the ones that just peek through the sky long enough to be admired, we can watch the wind pushing the clouds away and toward the Pacific Ocean.

When we fire up the grill it doesn't take long to throw something together and enjoy our "outside dining room."  This weekend we had a good grill night while the heat took a quick break from us.  We decided to use up a few left-over items laying around the kitchen and fridge and create some Shish Kabobs for dinner.

Since potatoes are in-season this time of year it wasn't hard to find a lot of them to pair nicely with our meats.  We used stew meats that were on sale at the time but, any meat can be used.  Even chicken!  We shoved them onto some bamboo skewers along with onions, and red potatoes.  We even used little pieces of pineapple in between the chunks just for added flavor but, you could use just about anything. Try garlic!

Be sure and soak your bamboo skewers in warm water before layering them with your food.  Soaking the skewers prevents them from splitting and cracking while they heat on the grill or oven.

They seemed to have been better than we expected and grilled up nicely.

We sat inside while the grill was heating up and when it came time to grill we all headed out to enjoy the evening along with a nice cold beer.  It was a good night!  On Sunday we celebrated Skylar's ninth birthday too!

Lots of birthday cards!

Hope your weekend was just as great!

Eco-Tip:  When it comes to upgrading your computer systems, be is for home, or for office, consider recycling the older models instead of throwing them out to landfills.  If the computer is in good working order, consider donating them to a local school or library.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.