Red Meatless Monday
By admin | July 28, 2008
I haven’t posted about Meatless Monday in awhile but the idea is still going strong. Usually I make something completely vegetarian but today I had to bend the rules a slight bit because of a sale at Publix. Wild Alaskan Salmon - never frozen was on sale for $9.99/lb! I baked it with a simple honey mustard glaze…delish! To make a simple glaze - use equal parts honey and grainy mustard and add olive oil until you like the consistency. My husband loved dinner tonight and that is the best feeling.
Funny thing though…I live in Florida so I know that Salmon had to come from many, many miles away. Granted, we eat it once a year only when it is fresh and the health benefits of wild salmon are well circulated but I still felt slightly guilty eating my Alaskan treat in sunny and humid Florida. I guess health is important too!
PS: What a difference in taste between wild caught never frozen salmon and the farmed, frozen stuff. The wild stuff did not taste nearly as strong/fishy to me…yummy!
Topics: Green Living, Organic Food | No Comments »
Best Reusable Bottle
By admin | July 17, 2008
Okay, I know I need to give up the water bottle habit but it is hard! My family drinks more water when it is freely available in the little plastic bottles…and even if they can be recycled I know I need to use something else. In my extensive (five minute!) research online, I know the popular bottles are the Kleen Kanteen and the Sigg bottle. I would consider the BPA free plastic ones too. However, these are kinda expensive so before I splurge and make a purchase, anyone have any brands/types they like? My family includes myself - an on-the-go stay at home mom, my one year old daughter and my hubby. I would like to order a set that we hopefully all could use.
Plus, I buy Spring Water in gallon jugs because our tap water does not taste very good. Anyone have any experience with the larger water purification systems? I used Brita and Pur and really was not impressed with either!
Hope to hear back on what you like best!
Topics: Green Living | 3 Comments »
Is Green Cliche?
By admin | July 14, 2008
I heard a radio newscaster the other day say that the new push towards greening everything was a fad he hoped would be over soon. This comment struck me on two levels. First, I disagree with it. I mean, once bigger corporations have caught on, I don’t think it is going away anytime soon. Not to say that I don’t sometimes hate the corporate advertising that slickly uses “green values” to promote something that people don’t need or is bad for the environment but I do believe that organic certifications and other green seals are now part of consumer culture. Not just because they are good for the environment but also because they are good for business.
My second thought however, had to do with wondering what “greening” this particular broadcaster was ready to be done with. Was it the hybrid SUV’s, which in my opinion seem like kind of a waste for most people, or things like organic twinkies? I am ready for those things to be over too. My biggest hope with all of the environmental news and green seals of approval is that people will start to think about what they consume - Do you need it? and What happens when you are done with it? I believe that people will start and continue to ask themselves these questions well into the future.
Topics: Green Living | 2 Comments »
Swiffer Green
By admin | July 8, 2008
There are few modern housekeeping inventions that I love as much as the Swiffer products. However, the love affair began before I thought about how much stuff I was throwing away or caring about how I was cleaning my house (when it was clean that is!) So my mission is to figure out a way to make my Swiffer mop or my Swiffer floor vac at least a tiny bit greener.
Here are the problems:
1. MOP: Disposable mopping pad and the not so green mopping fluid in a plastic container that must be replaced
2. VAC: Disposable filter and dusting cloths
Anyone have some good solutions out there? Either other brands that don’t have these problems or hacks to make the Swiffer a little greener? Right now, the best I can come up with is using old rags/tshirts for the dusting cloths on the vac. This actualy works very well. Along with a messy dog and toddler, our Florida house is mostly ceramic tile so I use both of these products every day. However, if I can’t think of something…I might just have to bring back the mop and bucket.
Topics: Green Living | 4 Comments »
Why Everyone Should Love Peanut Butter and Jelly!
By admin | June 19, 2008
A good peanut butter and Jelly sandwich is always one of my lunch time favorites. I stumbled upon an interesting campaign that elevates the importance of the lowly PB& J. Check out the Peanut Butter and Jelly Campaign. This campaign does a great job of explaining why meat and animal products are hard on the environment. But instead of advocating complete vegan eating, which for some Americans is out of the question, you can make a pledge for a specific amount of meatless/animal- free meals per week. This works right along with my Meatless Monday series and helps me to extend it to other meals through out the week. I am always on the lookout for easy vegetarian dishes and I don’t think you can get any easier then good old PB & J. Now, I need some advice on good organic Peanut Butter that is not impossible to spread!
Topics: Green Living, Organic Food, Vegetarian Ideas | 2 Comments »
Best Green Dishwasher Liquid
By admin | June 12, 2008
While I do love many of their other products, the Seventh Generation dishwasher liquid does not work well. Maybe its the water in my house but food is always still left on dishes and it seems like such a waste of water to rewash them after the cycle or prewash them before. As I said yesterday, I used Cascade tablets with Dawn before I took a “green cleaning” vow and those tablets rocked! Never had to prewash, dishes could sit in dishwasher while waiting to fill it up and nothing was ever still dirty. However, I read that the tablets contain phosphorus which I know is not good for our water supply.
Anyone have a great brand that they like? I will finish this bottle but I am hoping to find something else but I haven’t seen another eco-friendly brand at Publix or Target. Here’s to hoping I find a good one!
Topics: Green Cleaning | 4 Comments »
Six Random Things from Cake
By admin | June 11, 2008
I am so new to blogging that I don’t know how everything works so I am always excited to find out that people actually read what I write. Today, I found a great blog called Cake. She posted a six random things list that I thought was funny and then tagged me to do the same. So, even though I am little late in catching on here are the rules for Six Random Things:
- Link to the person who tagged you.
- Post the rules on your blog
- Write six random things about yourself
- Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
- Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website
- Let your tagger know when your entry is up
So six random things:
1. I played on the championship Brain Brawl team in high school. My brain is filled with lots of useless information. I still play a mean game of armchair Jeopardy.
2. I am a teacher and my first real teaching assignment was at an alternative high school. One of my female students had to be taken out of my classroom by the cops because of threatening to have her gang boyfriend kill me because I asked her to do her work. She kicked a hole in a desk on her way out.
3. I applied to to the college I went to (Florida State) because I liked the pictures in the brochure and it was free (almost) for me to attend. Probably not the best way to choose, but it worked out great anyway!
4. I don’t have many regrets in life, but throwing a hamburger at my sister is one of them.
5. The Perez Hilton celebrity website makes me laugh if I am having a bad day.
6. I feel guilty for hating the “green” dishwasher liquid I am using. It sucks and I really wish I could go back to the Cascade tablets even with all the phosphorus in them
Six Cool Blogs
- Have to start with the EcoChic. Another Florida mom with a green heart.
- My favorite new blog (along with my own!) Little Green Bag
- Interesting reading on getting out of debt ASAP: MyDebtFreeGoal
- One of my favorite parenting blogs: Flexible Parenting
- A cool SAHM : Self Made Mom
- Great political mommy site -always something to think about : Pundit Mom
Happy blog hunting! Now I just have to remember to tag all of these people!
Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Urban Oasis Hydroponic Farm Tampa
By admin | June 6, 2008
If you live in the Tampa bay area, I found a great local farm where you can pick your own veggies for a great price. Urban Oasis Hydroponic Farm is in Tampa, Florida at 5416 W. Linebaugh Ave. Although the farm is only 2 acres, there are lots of plants! They all grow hydroponically - in special irrication systems, not directly out of the ground. And although the owner said he is not certified organic, the produce is not sprayed with harsh chemicals.
When you arrive, you can pick up a basket and scissors and go out to the farm. I picked romaine lettuce, red lettuce, and arugula. This was only $4 a bag. Plus, I picked up some green peppers, regular tomatoes, and grape tomatoes. They have many different vegetables growing but the tomatoes seemed to be the most numerous. In a few weeks, green beans will be coming in. Sad to say, but I have no idea what green beans look like as they grow so I am looking forward to going back. The farm is open from 2 to 6pm Thursdays and Fridays and 10 to 4pm on Saturdays. Here is the original article in our local paper if you would like more info. Happy Picking!
Topics: Green Living, Organic Food | 1 Comment »
Cars Back on Top
By admin | June 4, 2008
MSN reports that for the first time in nearly 30 years, the Ford F150 truck is not the best selling vehicle in America. The honor now belongs to the Honda Civic (which as a Honda fan, I think is great!) So maybe $4.00 is the tipping point for gasoline? I know that price makes me think about where I am going in my car.
I hope this kicks off a battle of the fuel efficient vehicles. Everyone is in a win-win situation if this happens. I think in the long run, higher fuel prices may turn out to be better for consumers and the environment. If only our political leadership will stop pandering to our oil dependence by begging Saudi Arabia for more oil and reducing the federal gas tax for the summer, research and development might come down the pipeline making America less energy dependent all the way around.
Topics: Green Living | No Comments »
The 350 Challenge
By admin | June 3, 2008
I am still learning about the various environmental, economic, and political issues at work when you start to talk about climate change. But, this is one easy thing for all the green bloggers out there to do. The badge above represents Brighter Planet’s 350 challenge. The first 350 bloggers that sign up to display the badge on their site will have carbon offsets donated in their name for the amount of CO2 a typical website emits in a year. Why carbon offsets you say? According to the challenge website :
”Carbon offsets play a crucial role in building a sustainable society. Many renewable energy projects are well suited to produce energy and meet stringent standards, but lack sufficient financing. Carbon offsets fill that void by investing in these projects.” Also “the importance of the number 350, the parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere that we must aim for if we want to keep the planet relatively safe.” Interesting stuff!
I know that congress is currently reviewing America’s Climate Security Act and while the bill has flaws that environmentalists and manufacturers want to see fixed (what bill doesn’t?) I think it is great the conversation on what America will be doing to control CO2 emissions is really coming to the forefront. It will take a mix of good policy and personal change to see any difference in the climate change dilemma but it looks like change is inevitable.
Topics: Green Living | No Comments »