Coolest Store I've heard about in a long time....

We were watching DIY (Do It Yourself) network, which we love & there are always great tips, some expected & some unexpected... this was one of those unexpected tips which was both environmentally friendly, budget friendly & best of all for a good cause!! (Habitat for Humanity).

They mentioned if you have a home improvement project coming up to check out a store called: Re-Store. It's run by Habitat for Humanity, here is the blip from their home page:

ReStore resale outlets

ReStores sell new fixtures (like these toilets) as well as gently used furniture, home accessories, appliances and building materials.

Habitat’s ReStore resale outlets sell reusable and surplus building materials to the public
While every ReStore is a little different, most focus on home improvement goods like furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances.

ReStores accept donated goods which are sold to the general public at a fraction of the retail price. The proceeds help local Habitat affiliates fund the construction of Habitat homes within their communities.

Promoting reuse and recycling
ReStores provide an environmentally and socially responsible way to keep good, reusable materials out of the waste stream while providing funding for Habitat’s community improvement work.

Find a ReStore near you or donate materials
To shop, follow the links below to find a ReStore near you. To donate materials, please contact your local ReStore by following the links below.

The DIY segment didn't include a website, but here it is: http://www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx?tgs=OS8xMi8yMDEwIDY6MTM6MzAgUE0%3d

What a phenomenal idea & for such a great cause!!

To find a store near you, use the following link (in U.S., they also have a link for Canada):
http://www.habitat.org/cd/env/restore.aspx From there you click on your state.

I thought this was super exciting, especially coming from a totaly DIY nerd!!

In love with this lunchbox!! Kids, or Adults, check it out!

So, I heard about this from a post on Nature's Path Organic and decided to check it out for myself. My son is starting Pre-School in a couple weeks, while he doesn't yet need a lunchbox, because he only goes for 2 1/2 hours, 2 days a week to start, I still wanted to be prepared. So, I tried this out, the GoodByn: http://www.goodbyn.com/goodbyn/buy.aspx .

First of all it's adorable! Secondly it's eco-friendly & thirdly when your children are old enough to not be soooo "cute" - you can get them w/out ears!! LOL Love it!

You can get them slightly less expensive here: http://www.buycheapr.com/us/result.jsp?q=goodbyn+lunchbox

Some good honest reviews here: http://justbento.com/bento-box-spotlight-goodbyn-lunchbox

Enjoy!! Need some recipes for your lunchbox, message, or just follow me, I will have some posted very soon.

Thanks!

My Trash Guys

It's called EZ-Cycle!! This is the best idea I have heard of in a LONG time. We signed up with "My Trash Guys", because they do the recycling for you, plus I believe in as a community you use & promote local companies. You put out the trash & they pick it up & sort it out. If you pre sort, you get a discount. You can't beat the convenience of this for a busy family. Check them out: http://www.mytrashguys.com/my_trash_guys_trash_refferal_offer.html

If you sign up, please tell them the Bell Family of Plymouth referred you!!

Organic Clothing ~ too expensive??

Here is just one example of a site for organic clothing Gaiam (and all sort of other green, or fair trade items) : http://www.gaiam.com/home.do. At first glance might seem to expensive - here's how to make it work on a budget; immediatly go to clearance section: http://www.gaiam.com/category/outlet-sale.do Now you're talking!! Well worth the cost, plus shipping is only .99 cents per order, that's great!! Check it out!

Eco - Eco (eco-friendly & economically friendly)

This might initially sound ridiculous, but it works! So, we all end up with cardboard boxes, we buy things that come in boxes, so invariably these cardboard boxes are "free", can't get more economically friendly than that.
Well, here's what to do with them, Eco-friendly/Green solution: weed mat! You read right weed mat. It works. First spray (not plants, this will kill them too), spray weeds with 3 parts vinegar & 1 part lemon juice (or salt), next put down carboard (once you have removed all tape), it is biodegradable, free & effective! Win, win, win.

Easy links to learning more about our Environment & Environmental Issues...

I'm sure there are many, many more resources to learn & get involved in our environment. I am putting a couple into this post to give you a start & then you'll find your own way, what works for you & your family & what makes you comfortable. (that is the best way to go green)

You can easily look up farms, or (even better) Organic farms in your area, which will decrease your carbon footprint ("green" jargon .... Every Friday I will do a "green" word post & detail it) ( http://www.pattfoundation.org/what-we-do/carbon-offsets/index.php:// ) - your carbon footprint can be calculated here.

For looking up local farms here: http://www.localharvest.org/ (type in your zip code). You can usually find local sites that are a lot more specific, for example, this is for my area: (SouthEastern Mass.) http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farms.php?zip=02571.

Also, here are a couple of non-profit sites aimed at giving information, fundraising & petitioning environmental causes. Sierra Club: (one of my personal faves) http://www.sierraclub.org/
and this is a new one I found that really piqued my interest: http://www.filterforgood.com/tips/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=green+tips&utm_campaign=SEM-NonBrand

I would would like to hear comments and feedback. I love sharing information with people who are interested in being a greener, more eco-friendly family.