another green tip!

I am still very much on this going green thing, and thus far I have conquered two things on my list of ten, and now, I have two more things to add. I had already been recycling my cans, before I even considered going green. It was a good to know that while I was recycling I was also contributing to my little brothers. I save all my soda cans, and then I give them to my little brothers, and they use the money towards saving for their college fund! So, it's a win win- I know you don't get a lot from the metal, but they have been doing it for years now, and I can honestly say, they have earned quite a bit!


My other contributing to going green, was starting to recycle paper. Utah isn't wonderfully equipped for recycling, but they are set up with little recycling spots here and there, especially at schools. So, I started saving all my paper, including the left over pages of the Sunday paper, after I grab all my coupons from it. It's a great way to keep from having to pile up my trash, and I help the planet!



It may seem, like it's a huge hassle, but, it's totally worth it! I feel great knowing I am doing something good!

water, water

So, I wanted to post this the other day, following my family cloth tutorial, but I decided I would wait a day or so, to post, that way I had something else to share. I made my second contribution to the environment, I added a water bottle to the toilet tank.

My dear husband was kind enough to down a litter of Code Red Mountain Dew. I know what a terrible wife I am... making my husband drink soda. I then took of the label, filled it with tap water, all the way to the top, so there would be no air bubbles.


Then flushing the toilet I added the bottle to the right side of tank, out of the way of everything. and ta-da. You save water every time you flush. I know, it wasn't big news, but I am excited that I am taking baby-steps to going green. I hope this encourages you to do the same!

Family Cloth Tutorial

Heads up to new readers, or for any one who is unaware. If you do not know what family cloths are, please go HERE.

Finally! I can now put up my family cloth tutorial. It has taken me a few days, and with needing to get a few more photos, and then getting said photos onto my computer it has been quite the task. I should really get with it. I have a few other things that I need to make, and they are collecting dust.


So first things first, I picked out my fabric I wanted. I went with two different cotton materials, the red with the flowers and the gray with the black floral. I really liked them. All the other blogs that I have read on this, you can use pretty much anything for family cloth. Old t-shirts, bedding, etc. But I wanted something that was nicer, and more unison. For the other side of the cloth, I used a muslim material, it's cheap, and I really like how it looked against my other material. Oh, I should tell you, I bought the pre-cut quarter panels. You know, the kind that we folded in neat squares, and placed more or less right in front of the other fabric. I think it's cheaper, and it saves me from cutting more.


After cutting the muslim material to the same size of the opposite material. I placed them back to back, and laid out my paper on top. I measured it out to 6 inches, I got about 12 squares per quarter panel.


It took about 20 mins, but I finally got it all cut out and ready to go. They looked great, before I even began sewing.

Now the benefit to doing them 6 inches, is that I basically did a finishing stitch on them, and cut the over hang. I used a zig-zag stitch, and so they were super quick, and simple.

Now, I just cut the small over hang, or if you like it, you are welcome to leave it. I however liked the more finished edge.

Doesn't it look great?! I won't lie, I am pretty proud of myself.

Also, while I was purchasing my fabric this week, I came across the clearance section, and picked up this adorable basket, with my favorite color, orange, and it has paisleys- you can never go wrong, with either combination. I placed the basket next to my toilet.

Also, I choose the dry method of family cloth. You can find out about that HERE. I know the website I suggested is about cloth diapers, but it is the same idea. So, this is my pail, clearly labeled "not trash". So now all my friends who read my blog, and come to my house, don't have to ask what it's for. Oh man, my poor friends.


Well that is it, my first step towards going green. I want you to know, I am fully aware that this is not for everyone, and you may clearly not share the same views as I do. But, I like it, so I am sticking with it.

I'm goin' green!

Okay, so recently I have been considering more and more lately, the possibility for finding "green" alternatives to things I do around my house, and obviously I know that this isn't for everyone, and it is something that my husband and I have decided to do. Yes, I am a little bit of a hippie, and I don't mind one bit. I would ask however that you keep your opinions just that, yours. I don't want any negative feed back from this, and if you don't have anything nice to say, well then just don't be speakin'.

Doing your part for the environment is important. Just think, if every person on the planet did one small thing to better our planet, what kind of world would we live in? I recently started to investigate family cloths, if you don't know what that is you can find out here, I just came across this Website today, and I am in love! All the questions I had been wondering about, I found on her blog.

So, now that you have been given a glimpse of my awkward mind, I have a new goal. I want to find 10 different things my family can do, to go "green". I love this, especially since I have started researching it, I have found patterns for cloth diapers here. Or even making your own sanitary napkins, here. I know this lifestyle isn't for everyone, and for some people it makes them uncomfortable to think about, but I really am in love with this idea.

I know that some of my green methods, are a little extreme, and aren't exactly high on everyone's to-do list. But, If we all did at least ONE thing, it could make a difference. For example:

1. Filling a bottle with water, and putting it in the tank of our toilets. You use less water to flush.

2. Shortening our shower time.

3. Turning the faucet on and off in between washing hands, brushing teeth, or even washing dishes.

We should all try to make 2011 a little bit greener for everyone. I can't wait to get started!