turn it off!

1 hour tonight los angeles! from 8 - 9. "Fight climate change with the flick of a switch!"

Reduce Reuse Recycle...

My kids have become obsessed with the 3 r's. Pointing out to me each time we successfully take one on. (Reusing the milk pitcher as a bird seed scoop before putting it into the blue can scores big points!) Yes, we have even been spotted sorting the neighbors trash for them. (With L.A.'s new guidelines we want to make sure that everyone is doing all they can!) And most of their clothes come as hand-me-downs or thrift shop finds. (Lucky girls at the bottom of a line of 11 granddaughters to my mother-in-law!)

In our constant hunt for bargains, and our making a point to reuse, we are going to try and make it to annual LA Kids Consignment Sale this weekend in Van Nuys. Held twice a year, the sale features more than 20,000 new and gently used kid items from babyhood to teens. Admission is free. Hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Sunday. Bargain hunters should note that on Sunday, items are 50 percent off. And pull the piggy bank down off the shelf - all sales are cash only. Seville Hall, 7963 Van Nuys Blvd. in Van Nuys. 818-693-3183.

(thanks Judy!)

Flowers and plants for your home

I'm reading, Apartment Therapy: The Eight Step Home Cure, although not quite fast enough to keep up with the blog. One thing the struck me was recommendation to buy fresh cut flowers every week. I do occasionally buy cut flowers but I'm usually disappointed that within a few days they start wilting and by the end of the week I have a brown smelly mess to deal with. I realize that if I changed the water everyday I might have better luck but...life's to short.

Also there's the issue of the use of pesticides on many cut flowers and the distance some flowers have to travel to get to your local supermarket. Danny Seo did a blog entry about this suggesting buying from organic resources like Organic Bouquet or using garden flowers for those who have gardens.





I like to buy orchids from Trader Joe's here in southern California. I picked up these for $7.99 each and they last for months. All I have to do is water them on the weekends. I got one for Valentine’s Day and it still looked perfect in June. Now, I don't know green these plants are or where they are from. So on my to do list is to start researching house plants and looking for an organic supplier. Perhaps instead of buying cut flowers every week I'll buy a new plant every couple of months.



Here's what I have waiting on my bedside table:
How to Grow House Plants, Sunset Editors
How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office, B. C. Wolverton

Let us know if you know of any other good books or resources.

ring ring - hello?

shopping for a new phone

sam ended up with this corded phone -



a good green choice (as you don't need to plug it into an electrical outlet you can feel confident it isn't being an energy suck!)


and i am now looking -

unless we went with two telephones - which i really didn't want to do.
we needed cordless. we tried to think we didn't. but we do. (save putting in another jack - which we will look into when we do some other electrical in the bedroom.)

this was touted in a recent magazine article for its shutting down of all extra energy consumption when not in use (stand-by mode so to speak)and came with an extra dock to plug in (which we won't use.) though i can't find mention of this feature anywhere else. hmmmm...

i also am thiking about sony. very impressed with their recent move to recycle their products without charge. (check if you have a drop-off location near you here.)

now to look into a greener telephone service provider. (info on some options over at idea bite.)

what are you dialing?

Nightlights for Kids

I've been looking for a night light for the little one's room. We now have a vintage globe light but I've suddenly started obsessing about the wiring. Some of these are more greener than others but I thought I'd share what I've found and like and ask if anyone has any recommendations.

Candleloo $39 for 2
You all know about this one. Rechargable batteries.



Sun in a Jar $48 (via AT Nursery)
Solar cell inside, along with a rechargeable battery and low energy LED lamps.





Luau Portable Lamp $250
I realy want this! I've seen it at my local DWR and it's beautiful. But at this price - I don't think so. 36-bulb LED pack and rechargeable NiMH batteries.



Shroom Light $79
Shades are manufactured by one of the last remaining millineries in the USA. Compact fluorescent light bulb.




TykeLight $20 (via AT Nursery)
Rechargable.

Recycling Wool Sweaters

In the November 2006 issue of Martha Stewart Living there was a beautiful a and inspiring article on woolen gifts made from felted sweaters (page 152). Since then I've been on the lookout for 100% wool sweaters while thrifting. I've acquired a small but satisfying collection of mainly cashmere sweaters usually costing only a couple of dollars each.



You only have to feel the softness of these sweaters to immediately think of making stuffed animals. Here's my first attempt.




There are also lots of people on Etsy making excellent use of wool sweaters. Here are some of my favorites:


Lullaboos from Margaret Wyngaard




Little Owl Grey by Chet and Dot



kitty girl 8 from Mimi Kirchner

"help an octopus find his legs"

and clean up the beach while you are at it.



i know my littles would love this game of "seek the empty bottle" while at the beach...

by yanko design
via swissmiss