How to Save $$$ and Go Green in Your Own Home
1. Use cloth diapers for diapering your children, as opposed to the widely-used plastic throw-away kinds. This may sound old-fashioned, but it is a growiong trend among environmentally-friendly mothers. Look around your neighborhood for classes that teach the best ways of cloth diapering, learn how to do it, and start saving money! Cloth diapers: not just for hippies anymore.
2. Buy cheaper toilet paper. A 4-pack of toilet paper is sold at the Kroger chain of grocery stores for 88 cents. Eighty-eight cents! Even if you have a large family and have to buy a lot of it, you’ll still save money by buying several 4-packs for 88 cents apiece. It may not be as silky smooth as the other name brands, but you’ll get used to it, and you’re bank account will thank you. (And I don’t think your bottom will even know the difference!)
3. Don’t flush the toilet everytime you go #1. I know this may sound gross, but think about how many gallons of water you will conserve by flushing every other time instead of everytime. Of course, I do not recommend this if you go #2. If there’s more than just pee pee in the toilet, then by all means, flush it down! If you’re alone in the house for the day, or it’s just you & your husband that use your toilet, then who’s to know? Who’s to care if the water is a little bit yellower than normal? Now, if you have guests over, or the bathroom is shared between several people, then this may not be possible or easy.
And don’t worry about the smell or the stain on the toilet bowl. If the toilet lid stays down, there should be no smell at all, and if a stain forms around the edge of the water in the bowl, a quick swish with the toilet brush will wash away any stain in an instant.
4. Turn the shower water off when shaving or lathering with soap. If you’re a woman and shaving your legs takes longer than your husband in a hardware store, consider turning the water off while you shave, then back on to rinse. It may be a bit of a hassle, but this little trick will stop the water from continuously running when you’re not even using it.
The same goes for the sink water when you’re brushing your teeth. You may not take that long to brush your pearly whites, but think of how much water gets wasted each time you leave the faucet running, and how much that would add up over the course of just a single week.
5. In the winter, use an electric blanket or heater on/by your bed, and turn the thermostat down. A home that is not well insulated, has no baseboards, or isn’t properly sealed around doors & windows will let hundreds of dollars worth of heat escape in the wintertime. Turning the thermostat down just a few degrees (especially when you’re not home) could save you hundreds of dollars by year’s end! If you’re afraid of being cold at night with the thermostat down, put an electric blanket on the bed or use a small space heater. These use electricity, but the extra little amount you will spend on electric for these items will be much less than what you’d spend for heating the whole house those extra few degrees.
6. Stop buying trash bags & Ziploc (or sandwich) plastic bags. Use plastic grocery bags as trash bags. They’re not as large so they won’t fit as much trash, but they will serve the purpose for absolutely free. You probably get plenty of these plastic bags for free when you shop at the grocery or the drugstore. And the smaller bags will be easier on the trash man’s back, too! (Whomever that may be; a stranger, or your husband.)
Instead of using Ziploc baggies for sandwiches and lunches, use those plastic storage containers you’ve probably got plenty of, stacked precariously on some shelf. They need to get used; so here’s their opportunity! A small plastic container may be more conspicuous and bulky than a plastic bag, but it’s totally reusable and washable. And most plastic containers are made dishwasher safe nowadays, so there’s no excuse!
7. Put gas in your vehicle at a time, instead of filling up. This may cause you to frequent gas stations more often, but if you’re tight on money for the day, week, or month, this will save your budget and your wallet. Putting only into your vehicle may also help you to be more conscious about how much you drive and when; it may cause you to drive only when necessary. Putting at a time into your tank also makes it feel like you can stretch that ten dollars out more. Whether it’s true or not, I don’t know, but it sure seems like it!
Some vehicles (like SUVs, large trucks, or V-8 engines) may need to try or instead of . Ten dollars might not even make the needle on the gas gauge move for these vehicles! But I think you’ll be surprised just how far your money (and gas!) can stretch if you try this method. This works especially well if you’re on an extremely tight budget.
Some Striking Features of Pendulum Wall Clocks
Pendulum wall clocks have an old-world charm both because of its technology as well as its appearance. The clock is spring driven. The old world look of the clock is brought about by the brass body and the spinning pendulum. Pendulum wall clocks will perfectly fit any classic or traditional home environment. These clocks are among the kind of every clock that proposes by stopping a mechanical half for the purpose that it swings backward and forward to reveal the precise time. Nowadays, pendulum wall clocks are making with best purpose of latest standards and options. There are several different sizes available from an average of six to eight feet tall and because of the size difference.Pendulum wall clocks are large and look extremely beautiful and can become the centre of attraction of any decoration. A loved feature of the Pendulum wall clocks is the sound of the pendulum. The striking of every hour is pronounced by the sound of the pendulum and is cherished by most people.
When buying Pendulum wall clocks, there are a few points to consider. First of all, you must consider the design of the clock. You know that the recipient will be putting the clock where it will be seen by everyone. To that extent, you must consider whether the clock suits the interior décor of the place. It is possible to buy Pendulum wall clocksin various designs and themes. Just as the design is important, so also the maker of the clock must also impact your decision. These Pendulum wall clocks are collector’s items. So, if you want the clock to deliver value for money, it is important to buy Pendulum wall clocks from reputed clock manufacturers and sellers. Clock and Design is an Online Store where you will not only find the perfect Pendulum wall clocks for any room, but you will also find beautiful gifts to share with others.
10-Reasons Why Being Retired Is Great
Before I can tell you the ten best reasons to be retired, I need to give a little back ground.
My work as a plumber was a great career choice for me. I was challenged both physically and mentally for numerous years. Why I chose this career was very simple but it took me a few years to decide that this was the career I wanted for the next forty years. It all started when I was younger around fifteen. I worked during the summer for a company that did trenching and excavating. I was the yard boy which meant I did any and all jobs available. I changed tires on trucks, back-hoes, scrapers, tractors, and other very large machinery. I worked with the mechanic and went out to service all the different excavating equipment. This is where I met plumbers in the field who were pouring and wiping lead joints, installing lead and oakum sewer joints, and many other plumbing tasks. I was told by the mechanic who I was working with and others that I would make a good plumber and that the job was rewarding, the pay was great and I could be my own boss one day.
After four years in the Air Force as a Medical Technician (Medic) I applied for the position of a plumber apprentice with the Denver plumbers & pipe-fitters union local #3 and was accepted one month after leaving the Air Force. I worked nine years in the union and I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to learn and become a highly skilled journeyman plumber and after a year I took my test and passed to become a Master plumber.
When I retired in 2005 I felt I was too young to fully retire from the Veterans Administration, so I went back to work.
I searched online for a job and found one in Las Vegas Nevada at the Bellagio resort & casino. My work up to this point had been building and maintaining hospitals, high rises, and service work. It was a nice change to work in a casino as large as the Bellagio with a happy atmosphere of fun and entertainment. I would have to say if your interested that hospital work is by far more challenging, but after doing hospital work for many years this was exactly what I needed for my mental state at this time in my life.
I gave the Bellagio my two weeks notice in 2007, worked a year at another hospital.in Colorado and in 2008, I fully retired and haven’t looked back since. I left Las Vegas because the wife and I missed our family. I can say the two years spent in Las Vegas was a lot of fun for the wife and I.
Since fully retiring I have written a book called “Flush Your Plumbing Troubles Down The Toilet” available on Amazon.com. I have been writing various articles on the web site Triond and many plumbing articles on Bukisa.
The Ten- Reasons I Love Being Retired:
1. You can visit the public library as often as you like.
2. I can take care of my first vegetable garden and watch my garden grow.
3. I can go to the movie theater when I want, and with limited amount of other people around.
4. Technology and its many applications.
5. Spend more time with my grandchildren before they get to old.
6. Go gambling once a month with the wife and get better deals on food and other offers during the week.
7. The wife and I can travel often and get better deals because our time is flexible.
8. Fishing
9. Wake up and stay up when I want.
10. Hot cup of coffee in the morning and don’t have to rush out the door.
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Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics, Quince Day Cream
Dr. Hauschka (‘au’ like the ‘ou’ in ‘doubt’) cosmetics products are used by Kate Moss, Jade Jagger, Helena Christensen, Kate Blanchett, Claire Forlani, Jerry Hall, Madonna, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jennifer Aniston and Bratt Pitt and Peter Coyote – to name but a few. They come from WALA, a small firm in a tiny village in the south west of Germany. Dr. Hauschka is the expert in holistic skincare.
You haven’t heard the name yet? You’ve got the wrong friends, WALA hardly advertises, the prestige the products have gained comes from word-of-mouth testimonials. You can buy Dr.Hauschka products in your country (as in 30 other countries all over the world, from Canada to New Zealand), there’s a well made homepage with background information and an outlet locator, you can easily find out where there’s one in your vicinity and where there are estheticians working according to the philosophy of Dr. Hauschka (http://www.drhauschka.com), you can order online and get small trial kits for little money, if you’ve got any questions, you can send emails to enquiries@drhauschka.com
Cosmetics and philosophy, how do they go together? And why have celebs who can pay any price turned to the relatively cheap Dr. Hauschka products which come in simple tubes and pots which can’t be used to decorate the shelves of the bathroom and show off with, to what W magazine dubbed ‘the Birkenstock of beauty’?
The chemist Dr. Hauschka (1891-1969), WALA’s founder asked Dr. Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy what life was and got the answer, “Study Rhythms. Rhythm carries life.” Out of the occupation with the studies of nature’s rhythm a company has grown – WALA Remedies with more than 1 200 different WALA medicines based on the anthroposophical understanding of human beings and nature and the Dr. Hauschka Skin Care products including over 100 preparations.
Part of the WALA site in Eckwälden (that’s the name of the village) is a large garden in which some 150 different medicinal herbs are grown biodynamically, more than 5 000 kg of fresh plants are harvested in the main flowering season from May to the end of June; all sowing, planting and harvesting is done by hand according to the principle that working in harmony with nature releases healing powers for the benefit of wo/men. You may think it exaggerated or even barmy that plants are harvested at sunrise, but the WALA people know that this is the time of day when the concentrated vitality of the plants can be captured.
Rhythms and polarities are used – sunrise and sunset, warmth and cold, stillness and movement – which enhance and stabilise the life force of the plants, the forces that restore harmony. It’s self-evident that testing the products on animals is out of the question as is the addition of synthetic aroma and colour or preserving stuff.
From the brochure, ‘Because skin is a dynamic, complex system of interweaving processes, existing in an imperfect world, focus needs to shift from addressing symptoms to supporting healthy skin functioning. The Dr. Hauschka approach solves skin care problems rather than dealing with symptoms. Achieving harmony cannot be accomplished overnight. Skin has an inherent wisdom in healing itself, and by applying Dr. Hauschka holistic skin care daily, harmony can be accomplished with ease.’
Enough theory, let’s become practical. Cleansing, toning, conditioning and moisturising are the basics for healthy skin care; to know which products are good for you you must find out if your skin is normal, dry/mature, oily/impure or sensitive. Each type is explained in detail in the brochure (and on the website) so that you won’t have a problem.
My skin is ‘normal’ and I begin the day with rolling and pressing (no rubbing!) Cleansing Cream (smells good!) onto my moist face which I wash away with lukewarm water, then I splash some Facial Toner onto it and apply Eye Contour Day Cream around my eyes. After this I use Quince Day Cream, the subject proper of this opinion. (Julia Roberts prefers Rose Day Cream which is too heavy for my liking)
I hate mornings and do what I have to do in the bathroom like a somnabulist, but I’m awake enough to enjoy the smell of my Quince Cream. It smells very good indeed, not of quinces, though! Maybe you don’t know the smell of quinces? Oh, that would be a pity as this smell is one of the best nature in this part of the world has to offer. At the end of autumn when the quinces are mature in our neighbour’s garden you can find me on my balcony in the evening when the air is humid sniffing the smell wafting up to me. For the rest of the year it’s Quince Cream!
This light and refreshing cream is recommended for normal, dry and sensitive skin for women and men. Quince wax protects the skin without preventing it from breathing, the essence of quince seeds and special plants (among others: rice, carrot, sweet almond, olive, avocado, jojoba, witch hazel) give moisture. Only a small amount is needed and as you apply it only in the morning, one tube of 1.0 oz/30 ml lasts you for nearly two months.
In winter when I’m even paler I put some cream into the palm of one hand and mix it with some drops of Translucent Bronze Concentrate so that I don’t look like death warmed up.
Now we come to the most surprising part of the whole procedure: in the evening I only cleanse my face with the above mentioned Cleansing Cream (make-up is removed with the help of Cleansing Milk), but don’t put any cream on it. From the brochure: ‘Night creams are not recommended and may actually be counterproductive in that they do not allow the skin to ‘breathe’. . . The skin uses this period to excrete toxins absorbed during the day – so any products that interfere with these natural processes should be avoided. If your skin feels taut after cleansing in the evening, be patient. Wait 20-30 minutes and the skin will re-balance itself.’
There are products, though, which can be applied at night in case your skin is out of balance due to stress or disease, Dr. Hauschka advises to use them only until the condition improves, then there are different kinds of masks for occasional application and dietary supplements on offer (for example ‘Stress Less Honey’) all of which I don’t use. Dr. Hauscha cosmetics also include Body Care, Bath&Shower Care , Hair Care and Sun Care products as well as Decorative Cosmetics.
I won’t say that the cosmetics products you use are bad, but they can’t be better than the ones from Dr. Hauschka as these are the best. That’s logical, isn’t it? You can argue that you use your products out of habit, are conservative and don’t like changes very much. Well, try Dr. Hauschka products and you’ll wonder why you haven’t used them before.
