New Project

Hi everyone! Long time no blog. :) I just thought that I'd share a new project I'll be working on with my aunt and mom. We've started a blog about patient care, called Patient's Voice (Who Cares?) You can find it here: http://patientsvoicewhocares.blogspot.com/

I hope you're all doing well, and I hope to see you at our new space! Don't forget you can find my at our store's blog: http://www.buymelovestore.wordpress.com/

-Chels

Happy Trails

Hi everyone!

After some deliberation, I've made the decision to end this blog after nearly a year. It's been a wonderful learning experience for me, and it's helped me discover some amazing people, but I have to focus on work and other important things in my life. There are so many new things that are going on that weren't when I began posting, and I'm so excited and grateful for them. I just can't give this blog the attention it deserves, so I'm going to let it go.

I will continue to write on our business blog, though! I've recently revamped it, and have started blogging on some new topics like DIY projects, business topics, artsy inspiration, and etsy related things. The blog is still eco-minded, so please come find and follow me there: Buy Me Love

Wishing all of you a joyful holiday season!

Keep it green,
Chelsea

DIY - Play With Your Food

Today is just perfect. It's cool, sunny, and it smells like fall! It's a great day to do some cooking, so here are a few ways to have some fun, maybe save some money, and get a little green in your kitchen.

1) Make your own applesauce! I did this for the first time today, and it turned out scrumptiously! Here's how to make your own.

2) It doesn't have to be applesauce - you can make a lot of jarred and canned things rather than buying them. You can preserve the summer's best foods, plus, it's way more fun, and you get to experiment! Pickling, jams and jellies, and salsas are a good place to start.

3) Juice it. Orange juice is easy to make, and you don't need an electronic juicer to do it. Just twist and squeeze half of an orange over a manual juicer, stick the juice in the fridge overnight, and wake up to fresh squeezed orange juice in the morning. Of course, if you want to get fancier, you could try some of these juicing recipes.

What do you like to make from scratch, rather than buying from the store?

Keep it green,
Chelsea

Carpooling Is Cool

If you live in a big city like we do, you know that walking and biking everywhere just isn't always a possibility. One of the easiest ways to alleviate emissions when you do have to hit the highway is to carpool.
Organize a carpool with coworkers who live near each other or are on the route to work. You may have to get up a few minutes earlier, but you'll have an excuse for someone to bring donuts!
Make a pledge with your friends that if you go out together, you'll ride together. It's more fun to ride with your friends, anyway.
Same goes with family. Wait for everyone to get off of work if you can, rather than meeting each other at a location and driving separately. If it's a group event, you can always ride there with a friend, then ride home with your spouse.
Get creative - create a rotation schedule so that the same person doesn't drive all the time. Let the person with the nearest birthday ride shotgun, and put on some music everyone likes. Carpooling doesn't have to be a drag!

Keep it green,
Chelsea

Don't Be Dirty

Today's tip is quick and simple: keep your recycling clean. Some centers will discard perfectly recyclable items if they have food on them, so be sure to rinse out bottles and cans before you toss them into the bin. Check cardboard boxes to be sure no cereal or cracker crumbs are filling up the bottom (you're probably flattening them, anyway.) Plus, even the littlest bits of food can attract bugs and other critters if your bin takes a while to fill up!

Keep your green clean,
Chelsea

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

Happy first day of fall, everybody! Finally, a time the weather gets (consistently) cooler. The season changes and we enter a new chapter of the year, of our lives. Here are a few ways to keep your world green, even while the leaves change.

Take advantage of the cool weather and open up the windows. Turn the AC down or off, and give your nose a break by airing out the allergens that accumulate in the inside air. Not too bad on the electric bill, either.

Why wait until spring? While you're airing out your home, take the time to spruce up your place and prepare for the winter. Organize your closet, bring out the chilly weather clothing, and box up donations. Check your furnace/radiator and vents for any blockages. See if the weather stripping on your door needs to be replaced, or if air is escaping from around windows or outlets. (Use safety plugs in unused outlets.) Check your chimney and flue.

Take a walk outside and collect acorns, pine cones, twigs, leaves, and other natural decorations that you can give new life. Make garlands, wreaths, centerpieces and other crafts to keep or give as gifts.

Ditch the blower and rake or sweep the leaves. Leaf blowers are an annoying source of noise pollution, can pollute the air, and just push the leaves into storm drains and other peoples' yards.

Take advantage of the amazing seasonal produce at your local stores and markets! Chop, or go ahead and cook anything you can freeze and eat later. You could also try your hand at canning jams, jellies and preserves or pickling to give as gifts later in the year.

Check your car: Your tire pressure might be low due to the weather change, which can effect your mileage. Also, your windshield wipers may need to be replaced, and your freon level might be low.

Leave the car at home and bike or trek to the store if you'll be carrying a light load.

Look to your community or neighboring cities for fun, free (or nearly free) festivals.

If your local area forecast is normally "rainy" during the fall, let mother nature do her job. Lay off the sprinklers, and gather rainwater in your watering cans or buckets for days when it isn't so wet.

Oh, and enjoy a free show tonight! Go outside and take a look at the Super Harvest Moon at sunset.

Keep it green,
Chelsea

How-To Tuesday: International Day of Peace & Why I Haven't Blogged In A Week

Happy International Day of Peace, everyone! This September 21 dedication to the absence of war began in 1981. Each year on this day, the Peace Bell, a bell cast from coins donated by children all over the world, is rung at UN headquarters. Today's How-To Tuesday is all about how to make peace:

Peace = the absence of war or other hostilities.

Forgiveness - Hostilities + Repentance x Love = Peace

There you go! I know, it's not always that easy, but peace really is possible. It just takes some effort. If we learn to forgive, let go of our hostilities, repent, and have abounding love, we can achieve it.

So, I haven't blogged in a week. I'm a terrible blog host! I've been so busy that I haven't had time (or much motivation) to keep up with this site. Here's why:

1. I've been working on a cohesive look for our business sites. The Etsy store, our FB business page, and our blog all needed a big dose of branding, and they got it! Next up is our Twitter page, and our business cards. Also, I need to plan a weekly blogging schedule for our business blog and this one, too.

2. I am now the official event coordinator for our church's first (that anyone can remember) winter festival! We've been waiting on approval, and just got it today, but I've been brainstorming my butt off. My mom is helping with decorations, we'll have a booth for the business together, and then there's everything else to plan and delegate. I'm excited!

3. Mom got her mediport removed - woohoo! She's recovering from the surgery and will hopefully be feeling much better soon.

4. I've been getting reacquainted with an old friend, and making lots of new ones. There have been lots of dinners, hang outs, and phone conversations.

5. Tom started school, and I guess I didn't realize how much his schedule change would throw off my existing schedule.

To summarize, life happened. Hopefully I'll pull it all together soon and get a semi-functional schedule down! Until then: 1. Please bear with me. 2. Feel free to give your advice and suggestions.

Keep it green,
Chelsea