Happy Earth Day!

Being eco-friendly is near and dear to my heart!  I buy organic when I can, I always use toxic free house cleaners, even the soap we use is all natural!  And I bet you didn't know all the carpet in our house is made from corn!  YUP!  Corn.  Regular carpet fibers are made from petroleum oil, like nylon, polyester and olefin... corn carpet saves the planet from CO2 emissions, has superior stain resistance, is UV fade resistant and so much more and corn is a 100% annually renewable resource!  Whatcha think about that?  :)

In honor of Earth Day, here are some tips on how you can save money and go green!

1.  Eat Less Red Meat (or none, like I do!)

-reduce your carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions by going meatless at least once a week.  You'll save money too, since meatless meals are cheaper!

2.  Dollar Test Your Fridge!  

-the fridge is an energy lover... give it a dollar test to make sure it's not leaking cold air into your home.  close the door on a dollar bill; if it's held tight and is tough to pull out, you're good.  if it falls our or can be pulled out very easily you should replace the door gasket.  

3.  Open a Window!

- need to air out your home?  air fresheners, especially aerosol ones, can be flammable and most of them emit toxic fumes.  instead of spraying, open a window for ventilation, especially when cleaning (if you don't use non-toxic products).

4.  Make Cleaning Products Yourself!

- checkout this site for great tips on how to make your own cleaning solution with vinegar and water:  Versatile Vinegar

with a little vinegar, water and baking soda you can clean most things in your house!  it's a great disinfectant!  i keep a large spray bottle filled with one part vinegar and 4 parts water under my sink to mop the floor a few times a week.

5.  Shoes off at the Door!

-most of the dirt in our house comes from dirt outside our house... make your home a shoe-free area so you don't have to clean as often

6.  Get a Klean Kanteen!

-my fave!  stop using plastic water bottles  (ok, sometimes they are convenient, especially when you're traveling or something) and invest in a Klean Kanteen instead!  You will not only save money but you will save landfills!!!!  No more plastic to litter them.  I refill my Klean Kanteen everynight, stick it in my dollar-bill-tight fridge, and use it the next day... 

So there you have it!  A few tips on how to be more Earth-friendly this Earth day!  :)  And Dad, thanks for planting three new trees in my yard today!  Way to celebrate!  :)