Thursday, June 30, 2005
Things I Got Rid of This Week
I wonder if it would be helpful for me to log the things I get rid of every week? I probably wouldn't end up recording *everything* but it would be nice to know at least some stuff is moving out the door.
So, I'd like to bid goodbye to the following items:
*2 tee shirts
*a spandex-y nylon Esprit top
*blue sweatshirt
*Nike running shoes
Ciao, buh-bye, au revior, see ya...
So, I'd like to bid goodbye to the following items:
*2 tee shirts
*a spandex-y nylon Esprit top
*blue sweatshirt
*Nike running shoes
Ciao, buh-bye, au revior, see ya...
Make Up Mess
I don't wear makeup, so I don't have this exact problem. (The thought of more little tubes and bottles floating around my bathroom/backpack/life is a bit scary!) But it's good advice, and hopefully one of you can use it!
Tip #48 From Stephanie Roberts
Grooming and makeup items that you use every morning can be
collected into a plastic or wicker basket and stored in a
bathroom cabinet or under the sink. Pull the basket out
when it's time to get ready for the day, and place on the
counter. As you finish using each item, toss it back in the
basket, and the whole thing goes back out of sight when
you're done. All your stuff stays together so you don't
loose time rummaging around, and your bathroom counter and
cabinet stay tidy.
Do keep an eye on your basket so it doesn't accumulate
extra clutter over time. If have to rummage around in there
for what you need, either you need a larger basket, or
you've got more than you need in there.
Using this method is a good way to cut down on extra makeup
items. Just put a few eye shadows and lipstick in the daily
basket. If months go by without you looking for a different
one to use that's not in the basket, changes are you don't
need the others.
Tip #48 From Stephanie Roberts
Grooming and makeup items that you use every morning can be
collected into a plastic or wicker basket and stored in a
bathroom cabinet or under the sink. Pull the basket out
when it's time to get ready for the day, and place on the
counter. As you finish using each item, toss it back in the
basket, and the whole thing goes back out of sight when
you're done. All your stuff stays together so you don't
loose time rummaging around, and your bathroom counter and
cabinet stay tidy.
Do keep an eye on your basket so it doesn't accumulate
extra clutter over time. If have to rummage around in there
for what you need, either you need a larger basket, or
you've got more than you need in there.
Using this method is a good way to cut down on extra makeup
items. Just put a few eye shadows and lipstick in the daily
basket. If months go by without you looking for a different
one to use that's not in the basket, changes are you don't
need the others.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Under the Bed
Now that we have the BIG bed, we also have an UNDER the BIG bed. This means underbed containers to store the sheets. I'm going through our sheets and getting rid of the worn or never-liked-them ones; we have enough double bed sheets to outfit a college dorm. The problem is that we have a QUEEN bed now, and we really only have 2 sets of sheets for it, one flannel, one warm-weather cotton.
I bought 4 small underbed containers at KMart today. Turns out we have more like a 6 or 8 kind of container bed. I actually really hate storing things under the bed. But then again, it is just sheets, and they will be organized and out of sight.
I bought 4 small underbed containers at KMart today. Turns out we have more like a 6 or 8 kind of container bed. I actually really hate storing things under the bed. But then again, it is just sheets, and they will be organized and out of sight.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Energy Efficiency
Waste and Clutter
(taken from another list I'm on)
-A poorly insulated house can easily waste 30% to 50% of the energy poured into it. Most utility companies perform energy audits for low or even no cost, and sometimes offer discounts and rebates to help you pay for energy-saving steps you take. Embracing the Earth ( has a step-by-step energy audit you can do yourself at no cost.
-Simple changes around the house: Run the dishwasher half as often as you do now, and save 50% in water, energy and time. Wash only full loads of clothing, and since 90% of the cost of washing clothes is to heat the water, avoid using hot water. Modern detergents clean well in cold water for all but the dirtiest loads.
-Half of the average family’s household energy goes to heating and/or cooling, at a cost of about $450 a year. Put a 15% dent in this expense by keeping the thermostat set at 65°F in the daytime, and 55 or 60 at night. Keep sweaters and blankets in living areas, or try a cozy hot water bottle under your shirt and in your bed.
-Confused by the cloth versus disposable diaper hype? Don’t be--folding your own wins every time for both saving money and protecting the environment. Using cloth diapers will save you $23-28 a month, while costing just 30 minutes of your time per week. Don’t be taken in by claims that biodegradable disposable diapers are environmentally sound--it isn’t true.
-Planting a large tree to shade your home can save you an estimated $73 a year in air-conditioning bills. If every household did this, the country would save more than $4 billion in energy costs (and add to the beauty and health of the environment). Trees also prevent heat loss from the house in cold weather.
-Is junk mail cluttering your day, and your home? Send pre-paid envelopes back with a request that you be taken off the sender’s mailing list. To prevent the sale of your name, write the Direct Marketing Association, Box 9008 and Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY, 11735. It takes two letters (one P.O. box is for telephone lists, one for mailings, send the same letter to both), but this will drastically reduce your junk- mail clutter.
-Call your water utility and ask them how “hard” or “soft” your water is. You may be using up to six times as much clothing and dishwashing detergent as you need. Your appliance manuals will tell you how much you need for your water type.
-Become a regular at your local library. Waiting for you there are books, magazines, newspapers, books on tape, music tapes and CDs, videos, computer classes, access to the Internet, tax information, legal information, job information, storytellers and homework help for children, free meeting rooms and more. If the book or article you want isn’t there, the wonderful inter-library loan program will get it for you free. Libraries save money, time, clutter and resources, and get you out into your community.
-An estimated 50% of the waste stream in the U.S. is discarded packaging. Be very aware of packaging excess, and when all else is equal, choose the least-packaged. Help raise awareness of this issue by being a packaging activist: ask your grocers to phase out pre-wrapped fruits and vegetables.
(taken from another list I'm on)
-A poorly insulated house can easily waste 30% to 50% of the energy poured into it. Most utility companies perform energy audits for low or even no cost, and sometimes offer discounts and rebates to help you pay for energy-saving steps you take. Embracing the Earth ( has a step-by-step energy audit you can do yourself at no cost.
-Simple changes around the house: Run the dishwasher half as often as you do now, and save 50% in water, energy and time. Wash only full loads of clothing, and since 90% of the cost of washing clothes is to heat the water, avoid using hot water. Modern detergents clean well in cold water for all but the dirtiest loads.
-Half of the average family’s household energy goes to heating and/or cooling, at a cost of about $450 a year. Put a 15% dent in this expense by keeping the thermostat set at 65°F in the daytime, and 55 or 60 at night. Keep sweaters and blankets in living areas, or try a cozy hot water bottle under your shirt and in your bed.
-Confused by the cloth versus disposable diaper hype? Don’t be--folding your own wins every time for both saving money and protecting the environment. Using cloth diapers will save you $23-28 a month, while costing just 30 minutes of your time per week. Don’t be taken in by claims that biodegradable disposable diapers are environmentally sound--it isn’t true.
-Planting a large tree to shade your home can save you an estimated $73 a year in air-conditioning bills. If every household did this, the country would save more than $4 billion in energy costs (and add to the beauty and health of the environment). Trees also prevent heat loss from the house in cold weather.
-Is junk mail cluttering your day, and your home? Send pre-paid envelopes back with a request that you be taken off the sender’s mailing list. To prevent the sale of your name, write the Direct Marketing Association, Box 9008 and Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY, 11735. It takes two letters (one P.O. box is for telephone lists, one for mailings, send the same letter to both), but this will drastically reduce your junk- mail clutter.
-Call your water utility and ask them how “hard” or “soft” your water is. You may be using up to six times as much clothing and dishwashing detergent as you need. Your appliance manuals will tell you how much you need for your water type.
-Become a regular at your local library. Waiting for you there are books, magazines, newspapers, books on tape, music tapes and CDs, videos, computer classes, access to the Internet, tax information, legal information, job information, storytellers and homework help for children, free meeting rooms and more. If the book or article you want isn’t there, the wonderful inter-library loan program will get it for you free. Libraries save money, time, clutter and resources, and get you out into your community.
-An estimated 50% of the waste stream in the U.S. is discarded packaging. Be very aware of packaging excess, and when all else is equal, choose the least-packaged. Help raise awareness of this issue by being a packaging activist: ask your grocers to phase out pre-wrapped fruits and vegetables.
