rising gas prices

Gas prices are on their way up... here are a few ways to save our poor wallets:

[image property of vtcleancities.blogspot.com]

• Use public transportation when possible
• Walk/bike when you can
• Carpool
• Drive the speed limit as reducing your speed can save up to 14% on gas [abcnews.go.com]
• Fill up in the morning/late in the evening when evaporation due to the sun is at a minimum
• Avoid crowded paths to reduce idling time
• Keep your vehicle in good shape e.g. oil filters, tire pressure etc
• Only carry essentials in your car as extra weight can increase gas consumption
• Speed up gradually instead of flooring the gas pedal to conserve your tank

Hope these tips help! 

XOXO,

MissEcoChic

green&frugal

Simple Green Frugal Co-op has a wonderful list of 25 ways to be green AND frugal..check it out:

http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-do-we-choose-between-budget-and.html

below is quoted text: 

"25 Sustainability Changes That Save Money

1. Take advantage of your local library for books, music, and videos.
2. Walk or bike, use public transportation, carpool with neighbors and co-workers, and consolidate any car errands to one or two days per week.
3. Think about getting rid of your car to save money on insurance, maintenance, and gas.
4. Use a clothesline instead of the dryer.
5. Replace paper towels & napkins with cloth.  You can make rags out of old clothing, and cloth napkins out of old sheets and curtains.
6. Barter and trade with neighbors and friends.
7. Utilize Freecycle, Craigs List, and other local free exchanges.
8. Shop at thrift stores and garage sales, and arrange clothing swaps with friends and family.
9. Make your own lunches for school and work.
10. Stop buying snacks and take-out food, and instead cook at home.  If you need to save time, there are many quick seasonal recipes.  I've posted a few here.
11. Buy in bulk: buy from bulk bins at your local market, buy large quantities of staples via special order from your local market or online, buy a whole case which generally comes with a case discount, and buy large packages of food you use regularly. If buying in bulk leaves you with too much food, go in on the purchase with a friend or set up a community buying club.
12. If you are really needing extra help, go to your local food bank.  That's what they're for!
13. Buy fruit and vegetable seconds and day old bakery items.  These are generally significantly reduced in price - often by 50% or more.  Generally you'll need to cook with them right away.
14. Pick your own produce at a local farm.
15. Grow your own food.
16. Learn to preserve food by canning, drying, root cellaring, freezing, and pickling.  You can find books about how to do these things at your local library.
17. Plan your menus.  If you plan your menus for the week, you will use all of the food you've purchased, you'll be able to shop just once a week, you can make sure to utilize seasonal items, and you can save time and stress by not having to worry about "what's for dinner."
18. Recycle and compost as much as possible to reduce trash collection fees.
19. Mend and repair.  You can pick up books from the library on how to sew, knit, repair furniture and cars, and so on.  And there are often free classes on such subjects - ask at your local college, community center, bulletin boards, and do a search on the internet. You may be surprised at what's out there!
20. Make your own cleaning and body products from simple and cheap ingredients like vinegar, baking soda/bicarb, hydrogen peroxide, corn starch, cooking oil, lemon juice, and water.  You'll find several recipes here at the Co-op, and atDown To Earth.  I've recently shared my deodorant and hair washing methods.  Eileen just wrote about going entirely no 'poo.
21. Unplug or turn off power switches to appliances when not in use, to save electricity.
22. As they burn out, replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs.  They cost more initially, but they will save significant amounts of electricity and will last many times longer than an incandescent bulb.
23. Reduce shower times, bathe less often, and use bath water to water outdoor plants and flush toilets.
24. Turn off the television, get rid of your cable bill, and take up reading, knitting, and walking more regularly.
25. Use coupons.  I recently bought a book of coupons for local shopping.  The book cost $20. The first coupon I used saved me $25.  I win!"

---http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-do-we-choose-between-budget-and.html

Air Pollution & EPA compromises

The EPA is compromising on air pollution levels?! 


Examining the numbers associated with air pollution, it is apparent that pollution is getting worse and worse and the earth is not as resilient as once predicted. Research has indicated that within Harris County, located in Houston, Texas, if a person is outdoors during the prime times of 1:00PM-4:00PM they will most likely suffer from respiratory issues provoked by poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or simply put, air pollution. Other examples of unhealthy air polluted regions include Cancer Valley located in Lousiana where rates of death due to cancer are 191 per every 100000 cases [greatvalley.org] which is much higher than other regions (LA being at 187 and San Francisco even lower). [greatvalley.org]


Here is the full article:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20035629-54.html?
part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

As the victims of air pollution, we should not allow this to occur without our voices being heard.


sign this to decrease pollution from factory farms: http://www.change.org/petitions/make-sure-the-epa-regulates-factory-farm-air-pollution
OR THIS ONE:
http://www.foe.org/sites/default/files/HSUS_et_al_v_EPA_CAFO_CAA_Petition.pdf

more to come

XX,
MissEcoChic

Magazine Makeover

I have so many old magazines which unfortunately, after being read just get put into the recycling pile and never really have much done with them..

Yesterday, however, while relaxing after an exam I was reading O [Oprah Magazine] and I found a beautiful quote from Emily Dickinson displayed nicely on a background of a pretty flower and serene background. Since the weather here is afflicting me with spring fever, I figured I might as well just start decorating for spring! I cut out the picture and framed it with pearls. Hopefully I can collage some more floral pictures/artwork together..

valentines day!

I found some little heart shaped containers a few valentine's days back for a good price but I never used them for some reason... probably because they were meant for little kids.. Anyways I found a way to make a nice wreath for my door! It was very simple.. I cut a circle out of an old cereal box and covered the cardboard with some recycled tissue paper from a gift. Arranged the hearts in a circle and hot glued them in place. With some of the remaining tissue paper I accordion-folded it into a bow and secured the middle with some ribbon, again recycled from an old gift. The ribbon served as a loop to hang the wreath as well as decoration as I curled the ends with a scissors... 

Simple and sweet valentine's day wreath :)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

My boyfriend sent me these beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day :)