things i green and do not green

Eco-Tip

2012-01-30T09:33:00.002-07:00

Buy recycled things.

heavy

2012-01-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

Heavy drapes. That is all I have to say.

Actually, heavy drapes do help, but, you are now not solving the problem. If the window is leaking air, no amount of fabric in front of it can keep the air from escaping. Fix the window. Get drapes to help. But then, they also don’t let the sunlight in, which helps warm the house. So, maybe only on the North of your house. It isn’t really an exact science, sometimes drapes, sometimes not. This not only works during the winter, but also the summer. It helps keep the warm air out. Sort of. It really just pushing the warm air up to the ceiling. You see, by the time the air reaches the drapes, it is already in your house and is not going to go back the way it came.

new designs

2012-01-25T11:22:00.000-07:00

Just some new jewelry designs up on my etsy store. Which do you think is your favorite?

stop smoking

2012-01-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here it is, my desperate plea to all those who smoke to stop. I hate it, I really do. And I'm not kind about it. I guess smoking is your own decision. I choose not to. But how much of it can a person really take. There are rules, no smoking indoors. No smoking within 25 feet of an entrance - one most don't do. They sit like 10 feet away and then we all have to inhale it while we walk in. My favorite - no smoking on the train platforms - gosh do people ignore this. My favorite thing to do is cough and walk away with a pained look on my face. I didn't choose to smoke.

I would like to applaud those who do smoke graciously. I've had people, when they noticed my pain, leave or put it out. Very kind of you. I've also seen people who go way out of the way to smoke as to not bother those around them. I really like these people. Then there are the people who you never see doing it because they are that far away. Thank you all.

But it still isn't green, and you should stop smoking! Think of what it takes to make one. Grow tobacco, get the other materials, make it. Then we have to package it, the material used in that is just as much as the product itself. So then what happens to it? It is burned up. Yep, burned up. And how many are used up in a day? Yeah, that's what I thought, not very green is it? Just a massive way to create more pollution.

2012-01-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been working on my new charm necklaces. They have been a lot of fun to design and make. I am now doing research on what words to best describe the necklaces, before I post them for sale. I would love your imput on words to use to describe them, with new words if any. I look forward to seeing what crazy things you can come up with!

disconnected

2012-01-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

So, this is something I do not do to save energy. I have been considering a way to do it, that would be easy for me. Suggestions are welcome. Unplug your chargers when not charging. Yes, they still suck the energy out of the wall. My problem isn’t that I don’t want to. I only use those chargers every few days anyways. My problem is that mine live under my bed and it is a pain to get down there and reach them. I have two. I’ve thought about making a little charging center box, one that has a plug that you can just unplug when not in use. Hum. Maybe I’ll look into that more.

pillows for the fire

2012-01-10T11:23:00.001-07:00

Inflatable fireplace dampers help keep the air from escaping, even if you have a metal one, an inflatable one can help as well. My theory, every little bit helps.

covering the heat

2012-01-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

Most newer water heaters come insulated, but if you have an older one, buy a blanket for it to help loosing heat. I have wanted to get one for my already insulated heater, but, they do cost money that I do not have. This is also really good if it lives in an unfinished area like my basement. It can get very chilly during the winter. Show your water heater some love.

my memories suite giveaway!

2012-01-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hey, as promised the awaited giveaway has arrived! It will run for two weeks. You need to be a follower of my blog, and can do many other things. See the rafflecopter gadget below to enter. I wish you all luck!

Read more »

upcoming

2012-01-03T11:03:00.001-07:00

For the new year in my shop thevicagirl.etsy.com I decided that I want to create a line of jewelry out of floppy disks. I currently have some in there, but want to expand.

Some of them would include:

Snowman
Snowflake
Hearts
Sharmrock
Flags
Mustaches
Monograms
Personalized Names
Shilleottes
Buildings
Music
Instruments
Etc...

I am even thinking of doing some inspired by my favorite books like the Morganville Vampires, Hunger Games, and Twilight.

Do you have any suggestions of things that you might like to see?

sorry for the wait

2011-12-30T22:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the wait, I was going to do a giveaway for My Memories Suite, but I got busy with Christmas. It is coming soon, I promise.

In the mean time enjoy a picture of what I have been making my scarpbook pages out of, and a way for you to do it to. I buy baseball card holders, and trim them down so it is 2 x 2 not 3 x 3, this fits the smaller binders for me, but you can do it in the bigger binders without cutting. I then put my scarps in the pockets. It stays organized, and they look nice. I like it.

The program is called My Memories Suite, and you can get it here. It is normally $39.97 but, for you today I have a coupon code that saves you $10 off the suite and other scrapbooking pages. STMMMS4507 use it! Stay tuned soon and I’ll be starting a giveaway for you to win the program for free. But, if you can’t wait, remember the code: STMMMS4507

Eco-Tip

2011-12-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

Unplug unused things, including chargers.

stick it to ‘em

2011-12-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

Typically a stick shift gets better mileage than an automatic. So, when getting a new car, go for the stick. I loved my stick, it got great gas mileage. I was promised the same kind of mileage with my new car, even though it wasn’t a stick, it was newer. But no, it doesn’t get the promised mileage. That is, unless I am driving from Salt Lake to Centerville, which I only make that trip every few months.

last minute gifts

2011-12-23T11:26:00.012-07:00

I know that some of you may have procrastinated. You can admit it, we are all friends here. So, I have gathered a collection of gift certificates from some great stores on etsy. There are some upcycled, recycled, and just plain great stores. These will make the perfect gifts for all of you last minutes shoppers. Or, just go pick one up for yourself...

Gift Certificate - 100 ... MetalAdornment... $100.00	Gift Certificate 25 Dol... Caheez $25.00	Gift Certificate 75 Dol... aShareeDesign $75.00
50 Dollar - Bottle Wish... BottleWishes $50.00	Gift Certificate 100 do... giddyspinster $100.00	gift certificate for on... ragsbysockmonk... $24.00
10 Dollar Gift Certific... alldeckdout $10.00	nashpop gift certificat... nashpop $25.00	BottleHood Gift Certifi... bottlehood $25.00
Bird house Birdhouse 50... GadgetSponge $50.00	25 Dollar Gift Certific... bottlecrop $25.00	Gift Certificate tiffanysnewvin... $1.00
Gift Certificate 50 Dol... amechanicalmin... $50.00	30 Dollar GIFT CERTIFIC... RedPineJewelry... $30.00	Etsy Gift Certificate, ... StoneznStix $60.00
Gift Certificate 50 Dol... betsyandbess $50.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

why i have so much free time online part two

2011-12-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

Part one discussed Gmail filters and how to use these to benefit you so that you don’t need to check your email often. Now for part two.

You may be wondering why I would create all these filters, and why not just go and visit the sites on that weekly hour. I am a modern girl, have all the latest websites; linkedin, facebook, myspace, etsy, twitter, blogger (obviously), etc. So I check them daily right? Wrong. Most of these sites have auto sending powers to alert you when someone does something important. So, instead of checking my facebook page to see if I have email, comments, or invites, I just check my email. Done. Sure, I may not see that my friends child has a cold, but I think I can live without this information. If I do feel like checking on my friends, I can do that.

I also have a couple of different email addresses; the most used on is the one from school. Most email systems now are sophisticated enough to be able to forward to whatever email you want them to go to. Most, I do have one that won’t. So, my school email I NEVER check, it all comes to my Gmail account, and what happens to it, that is right, it is filtered away out of my way. May I rant about these messages for a bit, you may learn something from it. I get messages from the University I go to fairly often, telling me about bus changes, or big social gatherings I do not care to go to, or even closures of computer systems, that I am not going to be using at that time anyways. These get filed away, and then when I have a moment I glance at them and they are gone. I also get a lot of emails from my major. We are a unique group that spends way too much time together, almost as a home. My latest two email “Free food {here}” with a follow up five minutes later “And it is gone.” Check, check, delete. (People also get into fights with each other with this lovely system of large group emails.) Then we have the ones that come to me because I have graduated once, so technically I am alumni. So they tell me I should attend the events I am participating in anyways. All of these obnoxious emails all get filtered into the same place, I glance at them daily and if important I look at them, if not, they wait until Tuesday when I can go through them.

So then there are the few important items that get to stay in the inbox and get my attention. Take my friends for example. It is rare that someone emails me; I prefer to have my conversations in person. But on the occasion that they do I am notified of this the second I check my email, I do not have to wade through the email list, random garbage I did not ask for, or things that get me uptight. I see the message, click on it, read it, respond, and move on with life.

I am still able to keep up with the items I need to, being notified of items in a timely manner. I am also able to stay on all the lists I enjoy being on without it occupying my time when it wants to but rather when I want it to. It has completely freed up my time to be able to do the things I love in a limited amount of time.

How is your email time?

more from the upcycled team

2011-12-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Cassette Tape Night Lig... BreakTheRecord $49.99	Winter Love Romance Car... artisticdrama $4.95	Crochet Rug Upcycled Co... KingSoleil $150.00
Navy Leather Bow-Tie Dr... OUTLYING $29.00	Twirly Rug- Dark Red misschristiana $96.00	Blue Bracelet "Stu... JewelleryByKik... $28.00
Reclaimed Rustic Oak Ba... 3SistersCountr... $70.00	Spin Me Right Round Adj... 3GiraffesInc $5.00	Retro Patriotic Polka D... FancyDodo $5.00
Knitting Needle Bracele... sewnewthings $34.00	Baby Vintage Tag Blanke... RescuedGoods $7.00	Beautiful Black and Whi... VampedUpCoutur... $12.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

drive around the block

2011-12-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

I love my neighbors, I really do, but they have a habit that has been bugging me lately. Am I talking about the like six cars between the three of them, no. Am I talking about how I can see all six of them at a time, no. I'm talking about the trips around the block they make.

I was sitting outside the other day and one, with a friend, went to leave. They got in and took off. About a minute later the two returned and both went in the house. Wasteful trip. Then they came back out a few minutes later and left again. Forgot something? But gosh.

So today the car leaves again, returns a couple minutes later, picks up someone, leaves for a minute, then returns. I think they might be having car problems, but, um....

I hate cars; don't drive unless you have to.

why i have so much free time online part one

2011-12-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

So, I have been experiencing a slight problem lately. I have been running out of things to check on my email very quickly, and during those down times when I can goof off, I have nothing to look at. How is this possible? How is it that I do not have a lot of emails to sort through every day? How is it that I spend an average of four minutes online a day? Well, I will tell you.

You may think that to be able to get down to not spending a lot of time on email I must not be on a lot of email lists, or have many people send me messages, or am not a member of any site that sends emails. All of this is untrue, and I will tell you how I manage them in a bit.

First off, I have Gmail, a wonderful program that allows you to do so much with it. Possibly the best part is that for every message it not only tells you the subject line, but also the first part of the message as well. So many people send out one line messages that you need to read, but do not need to respond to, that you can read them and delete them without ever having to go into the message. Takes less than half the time.

Gmail also has this cute little thing called filters, which are a life saver. One of my favorite things that it does is deleting unwanted messages. I am on a couple of lists that send out a couple of different types of messages, some good, some bad, but always with a similar subject line. I can go in and tell it to automatically delete the ones with the subject line I do not like, and I never have to see them again.

I am on ten or more email lists that regularly send out emails, including one that send out maybe two or three messages a day. This is where the four minutes a day breaks down. Back to those wonderful filters I have a lot set up. I have a folder for different topics and my emails automatically go to them, keeping my inbox free for important things. (Actually, they are called labels.) I have one day set aside to look at my emails, so I spend roughly an hour looking at them on Tuesdays. I have some of the pay per click emails, get a weeks worth, around 60, out of the way in less than five minutes. I have some emails that teach me things, which I tackle when I have time for them. And I have a label called “Weekly Check,” which is where all of those good newsletters that always seem to appear at the worst time go to wait for me looking at them on Tuesday.

Come back next week for part two

Christmas gifts!

2011-12-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

Wooden Bangle Bracelet ... 40DegreesNorth $18.00	Long Brown & Beige Earr... YooniqueDesign... $15.00	Indian Necklace, Sari S... chanchala $50.00
Christmas Ornament Re-C... eandvhutch $15.00	puppy statue set // met... nashpop $32.00	Recycled plastic bottle... dekoprojects $17.00
Vintage knitting needle... ExcitingRecycl... $28.00	Art Nouveau Iridescent ... jtbmetaldesign... $145.00	Hand Painted Record Man... FolkHeartRecor... $50.00
Christmas Charm Bracele... CustomDynamite $20.00	U R Special 2 Me and A... AnnaPereira $40.00	T Shirt Braclets - Set ... cherishlovesyo... $10.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

fireproof pillows

2011-12-08T11:14:00.001-07:00

Did you know that your pillow is fireproof? Yep, most pillows come with a chemical sprayed on them to make them fireproof. Now, this probably isn't the best thing. Let's ignore the fact that as you breath while you sleep you are breathing in things that are bad for you. But who really needs a fireproof pillow? It is fairly close to your head and I would hope that if things around you are on fire and it gets close enough for your pillow to start on fire, well, you are pretty much toast anyways.

how to make resusable sandwich bags

2011-12-06T17:59:00.038-07:00

A friend of mine recently got married, and these were in her picnic basket I gave her. Do note that these are not washable, or at least I wouldn't try. You can wipe out their insides, but I wouldn't be heat on them.

First step is to gather the material. I had the table cloth, so got some material that matched. Because the napkins were white (see previous post) I decided the bags should be out of blue. I ended up going with a dark felt type material. It was nice and study as well as being nice and fun.

First I cut the ends off of a potatoe chip bag You have to be careful with this, or the pieces end up to small.

Here are the finished cut pieces. I was able to get thee pieces out of each bag.

Cut the material to the exact same size.

I then sewed the edges right side together, leaving a gap to turn them inside out. This is tricky because I left like two inches, but the chip bags do not move well, so each opening grew.

Be very careful as you turn the bags inside out not to let it rip. I held the seams nice and tight so that you wouldn't get them torn. If you start at the corners and try and move it all though the opening quicker it won't rip as much. Or, if you are just more talented than I am.

Then cut the velcro just smaller than the top. Mine is just under 5"

The finished bags. Make sure to sew up the sides. I really liked how you could see the white on the edges. I made sure to tuck in all those pesky torn chip bags and unless you really look you can't tell they are there. Perfect.

fun video

2011-12-05T10:45:00.002-07:00

batteries disposal

2011-12-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

Guilty as charged, I throw away my batteries. I'm just too lazy to do the right thing. I had a teacher once complain that he had a stack of batteries on his desk he just didn't know what to do with.

But I don't throw away many anymore. I started using rechargeable batteries because of laziness. Why is everything I do because of that? I had a camera that ate batteries like no other. I didn't know what to do because if the battery was half dead, it didn't work anymore. I tried to use batteries until the very last drop, my mp3 player still liked them. But I finally caved and bought some rechargeable ones. I will never look back. I suggest you do the same.

gifts for Christmas

2011-12-01T23:19:00.001-07:00

Christmas time is fastly approaching, and for most of us that means gift giving. Instead of going to a big box store and buying the cheapest gift, that will probably not be liked, why don't you get something upcycled? Here are a few options that I have found that will make great gifts. Not only are they good for the planet, but they are unique and I am whoever you give it to will love it.

Christmas Dove Re-Carde... eandvhutch $3.99	Broken China Cufflinks,... chanchala $40.00	Puzzle Piece (Vintage E... thevicagirl $10.00
Any 4 Stamped Hammered ... MetalAdornment... $15.00	Silver Circle Rhineston... YooniqueDesign... $15.00	Recycled plastic bottle... dekoprojects $5.00
antique skeleton key--w... Keys3Please $30.00	growler tote with monta... emeHANDMADE $32.00	Upcycled Vintage Button... PiperRiley $12.00
Time travelers wife cuf... mellostuff $55.25	Circles Shoulder Bag Pu... CustomDynamite $35.00	Womens Ring 'Happy&... AnnaPereira $19.00
red flower headband sof... fairyshadow $14.00	Harry Potter Scarf - Up... cherishlovesyo... $25.00	red satin Christmas Sto... RescueRemakeRe... $24.99
Garden Totem Bird Feede... GardenWhimsies... $45.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Eco-Tip

2011-11-30T09:30:00.001-07:00

Use both sides of paper before recycling.

how to make resusable napkins for picnics

2011-11-29T17:14:00.001-07:00

I made some of these for a picnic basket that I gave to a friend of mine. I wanted to share how easy they were to make. I plan on making more for me.

Gather your fabric. I had a tablecloth I wanted to match to, so picked fabrics of similar color. Lucky for me I had them all laying around. Do note the white is what the napkins will be made out of, and I believe it is cotton. I know it has a nice simple grain that made it very easy to work with.

The napkins are 17" x 15". Tear the pieces. Yes, tear, rip, pull apart, all very brutal ways, but it works. You get a nice straight cut, it is fast, and the edge is already torn so it won't need finishing because, it is already frayed. Trust me, they do it on Project Runway, watch if you don't believe me.

Fold over the edge, and iron flat. Here I have folded over 4".

Cut the ribbons into 12" lengths. I used my handy cutting wheel. Invest in one of these, they are so handy.

I then sewed two ribbon onto the edge of the napkin. Double stick where the ribbon is, this is also where the seam starts, so you should be backsticking anyways.

Then sew the other side up. Sew three addtional seams 1" apart for the silverwear to go into.

Make sure all fit nicely in. Then fold over the top to cover them.

Roll it up and tie a bow, and you are done!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

2011-11-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

Hey all, just thought I'd let you know that you can still get in on the action of Cyber Monday from my jewelry shop. All items are marked for free shipping. Do come and have a look.

my memories suite coupon code

2011-11-25T05:18:00.000-07:00

So, I know that scrapbooking is a big deal. I have lots of them. I use to be really into it, making the pages look all cute, with little random scraps of paper all over a page. I still do it for my big trips (what else was I going to do with three Playbills from a weekend in New York?) But, those are more just actually scraps (aka: garbage) that I collected from the trip, no cute things involved. And why?

Scrapbooking isn’t very green. Think about it, you have to get a new paper, and then probably layers of paper, put on by glue, or other sticky things. If you cut out fun shapes, you have extra paper which hopefully ends up in the trash. But even then the packing for everything you use most likely ends up in the garbage. And then there’s the stickers…

I stopped scrapbooking after I got into designing on the computer. Think about it, isn’t that what this blogging is? Scraps of your life put together in one place, here for the whole world to see?

However, if you still like that cute scrapbooking idea, and it isn’t just about and online world, I recently came across a program that does just that. My Memories is a fun little program, it has pages already designed for you (that’s right, no work) that all you have to do is add pages. It has premade books with different layouts per page.

So I decided to put together my photos from my Las Vegas trip, see how they looked. Now I have 445 pictures from that trip, and have lowered it down to 261 good ones, and decided to see if I could put them in a book. Well, like I said My Memories has premade books, so, I picked one. Then, I was allowed to add my photos at one time. That’s right, I selected my whole slew of 261 photos to load into this book all by itself. And, it did. Granted it kind of froze the computer for a bit, I had to walk away and let it work. The book came out to be some 60ish pages long, which was then kind of slow for my not so fast system. But, there it was. The pictures were grouped together nicely, since it just put them in as the appeared from the camera list. It was nice. All done, no work.

Don’t worry, if you want to completely customize yours you can do that to. Add in photos individually, at your own speed, make it look good. I realize not everyone take 400 pictures on a weekend trip, you mostly just take fun photos of your kids. (Note: Only 10 of my Vegas pictures have people, curse of the architecture student, I don’t like people, only 4 of those pictures I like having the people in.) And it is a great program for that, much better than loading over 200 at a time. Runs much faster that way as well.

The cool thing is that if I wanted I could then send it to the printer. I know some of you like to look at books. I actually love to look at books, picture books are my favorite. But, if you don’t want to, you can share it online as well. You can even add music, or video. Now, that is cool journaling, to be able to hear, from the person that did it, what was happening in the photo. Way cool.

The program is called My Memories Suite, and you can get it here. It is normally $39.97 but, for you today I have a coupon code that saves you $10 off the suite and other scrapbooking pages. STMMMS4507 use it! Stay tuned within the next week I’ll be starting a giveaway for you to win the program for free. But, if you can’t wait, remember the code: STMMMS4507

picnic basket

2011-11-22T10:36:00.001-07:00

One of my good friends just got married. I wish her and her husband all the best. So, for her bridal shower I wondered what I could get her. After all, they both have been living on their own and he even had a condo ready for her to move into to. I decided on a picnic basket, something not a lot of people think of, but that is all sorts of fun. I had got one for my cousin when he got married, and knew how hard it was to find a good looking one. They were hard to find, and they just don’t make them as classic as they use to. So, I went to DI, our local thrift store.

To my surprise, since I had never actually seen one there, I found the perfect basket, just waiting for me. It even came filled with goodies. I first notice the tablecloth, and thought it was a good deal. When I got home I discovered lots of other unexpected things. The manager suggested I toss most of the inners, and I did, but I just had to share with you what I found.

1 picnic basket

7 red cups
12 blue cups

1 knife
2 forks
2 big spoons
10 plates (medium and large)
2 packs of spoons (8 spoons each)
2 fork / knife / napkin sets

2 fancy trays
napkins
1 needle
some garbage (with their crackers still there)
And of course, the table cloth

Ah, it was lovely. I don’t know how it all got in there. I don’t know who left something like that. Crazy.
But not to worry, I cleaned it up, only kept the washed table cloth, and made it better for her. By the time she got it, the basket had a new collection in it. I made all of the items special for her, matching not only the table cloth, but the college colors from their school…. even if it is my rival….. (just so we are clear, mine will be red….)

Picnic basket
Table cloth
6 reusable bags (tutorial to come)
6 napkins with utensils inside (tutorial to come)

There is still plenty of room for more things inside. If my money pockets had that much room, I would have included more, but instead, I left a list, which I will now share with you.

Additional Items for the Picnic Basket
Silverware
Water Bottles
Plates
Blanket
Salt & Pepper
Condiment Packages
Can Opener
Toothpicks
Hand Sanitizer
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent
Band-Aids
Inflatable Beach Ball
Frisbee
Bubbles
Deck of Cards
Uno

(For instant picnic whenever you can, keep nonperishable food in basket, and keep in car.)

Some Examples of Nonperishable Food
Peanut Butter
Crackers
Beef Jerky
Granola Bars
Hard Candy
Nuts
Dried Fruit
Raisins
Seeds
Cookies

A happy picnic basket for the happy couple.

snow removal

2011-11-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

Snow removal can be a horribly ungreen practice. The idea now is to use your snow blower, powered by gas, to move the snow then put salt down to destroy the ice. Not all that friendly really.

I, or rather, my father, have been doing the greener thing for while now. We have been accused of being behind the times, but maybe we are just ahead of the green curve. Our snow is removed by hand snow shovel shortly after it has fallen. It is scraped clean so the ice doesn't form. Sure, a bit of it does on the steps but nobody ever comes to visit us in the winter, so...

Snow blowers can be faster and easier (although I'm still not sold on the idea) but shoveling by hand helps the planet in the long run.

double sided

2011-11-18T11:06:00.002-07:00

This should not be needed to be said, but should just be done. Double side your paperwork. At school we have a lovely printer that double sides things. I would always print off my items on both side, and they even had a sign up telling you to. They finally got around to making the default printing that way, and now you have to work to get things to only print on one side.

Even better than printing on both sides is to print two pages on one side. If you have good eyesight, which is most people, two sheets per side will still be readable. PDF's can be printed this way, and if you go into the properties before you print off of other programs you can select this options as well. It is worth looking into.

neon sign

2011-11-15T11:37:00.004-07:00

I made this neon sign for my final studio project. I thought I would share with you the steps on how to do it.

Step One: draw out letters
Step Two: lay out neon
Step Three: find placement of holes

Step Four: cut sign to size
Step Five: cut stencil for paint
Step Six: spray paint lettering

Step Seven: punch holes in metal

Step Eight: fold sides of sign
Step Nine: thread wire in holes
Step Ten: thread neon in wire

Step Eleven: tape wire to back
Step Twelve: hang sign

How to take great Etsy photos - Part 3-3 – Photoshop – Clear

2011-11-08T11:34:00.001-07:00

Clear items pose a whole different set of problems. How do you take a photo of something clear? And with my process, I have a tendency to white out the clear things. You will notice that in the photo I have actually placed the clear earrings on a clear piece of plastic. Yes. Fun. Make sure you have read about the light source in the accessories post.

Step one: Be careful not to clear too much away. You may not make it along the curve to far. (Same as black post) Levels. In Photoshop it is in the image > adjustments > levels. There will typically be a nice curve with leading and trailing places that are very close to nothing. Take the little slider on the right and drag it toward the curve, and put it where it starts to upswing. This typically takes all of the background from the white box and turns it to a nice clear white.

Step one-two: Be careful here as well. (Same as colored post) Other adjustments. Also there are other adjustments options that can be made. I like to play with the brightness/contrast, and hue/saturation. The thing to watch out for here is that you don’t change the color of your item. Make sure you always know what color it is and don’t change it into something that it is not.

Step two: Make sure the tolerance is a tiny number. (Same as black post) Magic Wand. There are tons of ways to select things in Photoshop, but I find this the easiest. I showed one friend it, after he had used other methods for years, and he was amazed at how much better it was. Do note: you need to have high resolution photos or it can start to select odd things and in that case you are better off using other methods (see last weeks for some). It is easy to use, click on the part that is suppose to be white, chances are your background isn’t even if it looks it. Then, hit the delete key. CTL+D deselects so that you can move onto something else. If you get frustrated with this, you can change the tolerance to include things closer to the color you are selecting, or more variety. When all else fails, just erase it. I would just erase the black line from the edge of the box anyways.

Step two-two: Here is the tricky, yet easy part. Once things have been selected, and because the world hates you (or the clear item is, well, clear) you have selected parts of the earring that shouldn’t be gotten rid of. So, enter Quick Mask Mode (Q). Mine is a box with a circle in it, but Photoshop likes to change it up, so good luck finding it. The fun part is if you double click it, you can change the color of it. Mine is a bright red with 50% occupancy so I can easily see it. Except on red things. Once in it, you paint! The eraser tool adds things from your selection. The paint tool (or pencil) subtracts things. I always forget which is which, so I just play with it. If it does something wrong, CTL+Z (undo). This way I am able to select the background while still keeping the necessary item in the photo.

Step three: (Same as black post) Crop. Now, no matter how white I get the background, the end of the necklace is not leaving. So, I crop. Here is where you can make up for the mistakes of the past. Make the focus of the photo, in this case the charm; come fairly close to filling the frame. Now for the fun part. You will notice that the first photo is vertical and the finished horizontal. I like to keep all my Etsy photos at 1000 wide and 750 tall, for a variety of reasons, one being consistency. So, because I have that pure white background I can change the image size, and canvas size, adding or subtracting background as needed without having to make sure it matches. Perfect.

Step three-two: (Same as colored post) Earring cropping. You will notice that the placement of the earrings in the photos are different, and one is bigger. I like to make sure that the earrings completely fill the frame, but are not always in the center. An off center placement gives a bit of interest. You have heard of the rule of thirds, try that. But, don’t let them get to far away, or when it is in the square view they will be cropped funny. If you want, try cropping it to a square yourself first, then add the extra white space for gallery view.

Come back next week for the next part!

burts bees

2011-11-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

A while ago I wrote a post about Burt’s Bees new products. Today I have another new product for you to see.

The package last time came in a very garbage filled box. This time the garbage was cut down, and it was just filled with product advertisement. Much more green than the last one, even though it still seemed a bit excessive to me.

The lotion on the other hand, lovely. I was ready to use to lotion just out of the cool look of the bottle. Which, was nice. My favorite was the facial cleanser. It did the job, maybe not the best, but it worked just as well as other top cleansers. The thing that I enjoyed the most about it was how creamy it was, it felt like I was putting lotion on my face. Possibly the most enjoyable cleanser to put on. Not to mention it is all natural, and so great for you and the environment.

Note: I am a BzzAgent, which I receive products in exchange for my opinion and promotion.

pack light

2011-11-04T11:19:00.000-06:00

Apparently the less you carry onto the airplane, the less it takes to power the plane, the less CO2 is blown into the air. So, don't pack a lot. If possible, a carry-on is the way to go.

I was also reading a book that said a way to impress a guy is to not have a lot of luggage as you travel. Guys don't, and they don't want to carry your fifteen pair of shoes for the two days. So, if possible, use a carry-on only.

So what do I do? Well, I think that checking in a bag is a waste of time. Such a huge waste of time and personal energy. So, I only take a carry-on. I'm still in search of the perfect boxy bag that is pretty small, and very inexpensive.

In my latest trip to New York there were nine guys, and one other girl. I was slightly proud of the fact that my bag was in the bottom four in size. Plus, I had extra room in my bag, which I was considering renting out to some of my travel buddies. It worked out quite well, never having to check anything, and was not a huge bother hauling around New York.

So, saving the world while impressing the guys..... Definitely going to keep doing this.

fellow blogger

2011-11-03T15:33:00.000-06:00

Check out this blog I just read, where she made jewelry stands out of recycled wood. Love it!

Everyday Inspired

Side Note: My Father is currently finishing up my storage shelves that have been in the works for months. Excited about that! (By in the works, I mean, I made them, and they broke, and now he's fixing them...)

How to take great Etsy photos - Part 3-2 – Photoshop – Colors

2011-11-01T11:31:00.001-06:00

Colored items are a little harder. Although the photo has many of the same problems, light reflection, side of the box, the process isn’t always the same.

Step one: (Same as black post) Levels. In Photoshop it is in the image > adjustments > levels. There will typically be a nice curve with leading and trailing places that are very close to nothing. Take the little slider on the right and drag it toward the curve, and put it where it starts to upswing. This typically takes all of the background from the white box and turns it to a nice clear white.

Step one-two: Other adjustments. Also there are other adjustments options that can be made. I like to play with the brightness/contrast, and hue/saturation. The thing to watch out for here is that you don’t change the color of your item. Make sure you always know what color it is and don’t change it into something that it is not.

Step two: (Same as black post) Magic Wand. There are tons of ways to select things in Photoshop, but I find this the easiest. I showed one friend it, after he had used other methods for years, and he was amazed at how much better it was. Do note: you need to have high resolution photos or it can start to select odd things and in that case you are better off using other methods (see next week for some). It is easy to use, click on the part that is suppose to be white, chances are, your background isn’t even if it looks it. Then, hit the delete key. CTL+D deselects so that you can move onto something else. If you get frustrated with this, you can change the tolerance to include things closer to the color you are selecting, or more variety. When all else fails, just erase it. I would just erase the black line from the edge of the box anyways.

Step three: (Same as black post) Crop. Now, no matter how white I get the background, the end of the necklace is not leaving. So, I crop. Here is where you can make up for the mistakes of the past. Make the focus of the photo, in this case the charm, come fairly close to filling the frame. Now for the fun part. You will notice that the first photo is vertical and the finished horizontal. I like to keep all my Etsy photos at 1000 wide and 750 tall, for a variety of reasons, one being consistency. So, because I have that pure white background I can change the image size, and canvas size, adding or subtracting background as needed without having to make sure it matches. Perfect.

Step three-two: Earring cropping. You will notice that the placement of the earrings in the photos are different, and one is bigger. I like to make sure that the earrings completely fill the frame, but are not always in the center. An off center placement gives a bit of interest. You have heard of the rule of thirds, try that. But, don’t let them get to far away, or when it is in the square view they will be cropped funny. If you want, try cropping it to a square yourself first, then add the extra white space for gallery view.

Come back next week for the next part!

don't iron

2011-10-28T12:02:00.001-06:00

I love tips I already do. I don't iron, waste of my time. Yes, I do know how, probably better than you. I just think it is a waste. Electricity, and if for unknown reasons you spray some crap on it. Just don't do it.

But then I'm not sure how safe the wrinkle free clothes are. So, I wouldn't suggest getting those.

Just buy things that don't need ironing, that is what I do. I know, so simple isn't it?

How to take great Etsy photos - Part 3-1 – Photoshop – Black

2011-10-25T11:28:00.001-06:00

Black items, what a lot of the items in my shop are quite easy. You will see that the photo I took has a lot of issues. A reflection of the light source, the back end of the necklace hanging, the side of the light box edge being seen creating a black spot. All of these can be fixed in a couple easy steps.

Step one: Levels. In Photoshop it is in the image > adjustments > levels. There will typically be a nice curve with leading and trailing places that are very close to nothing. Take the little slider on the right and drag it toward the curve, and put it where it starts to upswing. This typically takes all of the background from the white box and turns it to a nice clear white.

Step two: Magic Wand. There are tons of ways to select things in Photoshop, but I find this the easiest. I showed one friend it, after he had used other methods for years, and he was amazed at how much better it was. Do note: you need to have high resolution photos or it can start to select odd things and in that case you are better off using other methods (see next week for some). It is easy to use, click on the part that is suppose to be white, chances are, your background isn’t even if it looks it. Then, hit the delete key. CTL+D deselects so that you can move onto something else. If you get frustrated with this, you can change the tolerance to include things closer to the color you are selecting, or more variety. When all else fails, just erase it. I would just erase the black line from the edge of the box anyways.

Step three: Crop. Now, no matter how white I get the background, the end of the necklace is not leaving. So, I crop. Here is where you can make up for the mistakes of the past. Make the focus of the photo, in this case the charm, come fairly close to filling the frame. Now for the fun part. You will notice that the first photo is vertical and the finished horizontal. I like to keep all my Etsy photos at 1000 wide and 750 tall, for a variety of reasons, one being consistency. So, because I have that pure white background I can change the image size, and canvas size, adding or subtracting background as needed without having to make sure it matches. Perfect.

Come back next week for the next part!

festive straw lamp

2011-10-20T11:47:00.006-06:00

At ten inches high this eight inch diameter cylindrical beauty packs quite the punch. Two inch long large drinking straws are attached to the wire framework. The energy efficient bulb lives in the middle of the four inch diameter cylindrical frame.

When turned off the fixture creates an interesting conversation piece as well a colorful addition to any room. When it is turned on the light flows out of the straws, heading for in all directions and landing in interesting positions on nearby surfaces.

The idea flowed from how much trash is thrown away daily. Straws are typically used once, and then tossed, although with just a little bit of soap and water can be cleaned and reused. By creating something new out of an item most find has already lived life it not only cuts down on waste going to the garbage but the waste of creating something new.

how to take great etsy photos - part 2 – the white box accessories

2011-10-18T11:23:00.002-06:00

Important to the light box are the lights. Here I have one desk lamp, without a shade and the other a shop light that clips to a PVC post I have (sometimes it just clamps to the foamcore or any near surface). I have placed them both near the edge of the box, allowing the light to fill the box. It also helps that they are not hitting the object being photographed directly, but instead have a 45 degree angle toward them. In the photo they are not turned on, but when they are they light up the box and the surrounding room with how bright they are. The bulbs I have used are not anything special; in fact they are the cheapest I have. The key is that I have them both the same type, out of the same box even. That way I can set my cameras white balance to accommodate the color of light they produce.

So, I have a box, and lights, but how do I get the effect that something is hanging? Simple, clear plastic blocks. Being an architecture student I come across the weirdest building materials. I actually found a pair of these in a garbage pile. I stack them up at different heights depending on the length of the object being photographed. I realize that you may not be so lucky, and have actually been able to find some nearly the same at Roberts. They sell them as material for some die-cut objects. But really, any clear material would work. I bet a chuck of glass would work. They key to having them work is to not allow the light to reflect off of it so that you can see it. Also, Photoshop, as the next part will explore. I also have a thin piece of plastic that I hang earrings off of. It has a slight curve so it stands by itself.

For white or clear items I have had a tough time photographing them. So, I decided that to back light them as well would work. It has had some success, but I haven’t perfected the accessory yet. I do have a sandblasted box that has a light in it. The key is to get something clear enough to see the light, but foggy enough to defuse the light. I believe there is a collection of such materials at your local home improvement store in the light fixture area. Think big sheets of it. I then have a light, same as the ones in front, that produce a light behind. The objects are then placed in front of the light source to create a bigger difference in the white of the object and the light source.

Come back next week for the next one!

how to take great etsy photos - part 1 – how to make a white light box

2011-10-11T11:19:00.004-06:00

Welcome to the How-To Series about how I personally photograph my jewelry. My purpose is not to say that this is how to do all things. It is simply to give you an idea of how I do it so that you can improve your photos with ideas from me. Or, if you find something I do that is completely insane and you know how to do it better, please feel free to share.

I love foamcore. I do. It has got to be the easiest thing to build things out of. I even have some shelves built out of it. However, it is not the easiest thing to find. In fact, I lost track of how many looks of insanity I have received from asking a store employee if they had it, and that was at craft stores. It is more commonly known as foam board, and you can find that easier. I know Michaels has some, but they are typically one size and colorful. Office Max has some, a lot of the time it is in presentation board format, so don’t get folding ones. I have even seen some at the dollar store, and can I tell you, it was the best. So easy to cut! And a dollar, not three like in other places.

My white box is sort of small, for jewelry, but you can make it whatever size you want. Just keep cutting at 2” tabs around and make sure it fits. I would make sure to draw it all on before you cut. When I did mine I then put an X in which chunk I would cut out so that I got the right one cut. Please, make sure you are sure of what you are cutting before you cut. These are large pieces of foamcore, and I would hate for you to ruin them.

Here are the measurements of my pieces. The cool thing about it is that you can take it apart time and time again to store flat when not in use. Love it. I have mine labeled on the outside so I don’t have to think very hard when putting it back together.

The piece of paper I have in it was just the length of the paper I had. Feel free to make it whatever size you want. Also, try and get the paper as white as possible seeing as how this is what will be seen in the photos. If not pure white, at least foamcore white.

Come back next week for the next part!

dany seo

2011-10-08T19:29:00.001-06:00

Just had to share. Danny Seo said he loved my jewelry. Danny's Twitter

halloween

2011-10-06T11:32:00.000-06:00

My favorite holiday is Halloween. My Mothers maiden name is Casper, and we have lots of fun with ghost type things. I also am afraid of well, nearly everything. Somehow Halloween is a time where I can see the scary things and know how they work and they aren't scary anymore. But Halloween is the second least "green" holiday (Christmas with the useless presents, gift-wrap, and sparkly lights comes in first.)

What traditions are there? Kids get dressed up in costumes, only to be worn that day, and go around in hunt of way too much candy that is good for them wrapped in individual pieces. The sheer volume of waste from the candy is horrible.

So, either reuse old costumes, or get some that can be re-purposed into clothes to wear. Or make some out of your clothes. My favorite costume was a friend of mine who was Aladdin. He had a khaki pants of his, and a vest. He also had a mat as a flying carpet, and sang. I think it was the singing that made it. But simple and very green. Or, you could rent them. There are special Halloween costume rental places, or your local theater is going to have some that you could ask to rent.

I'm not sure what to do with the candy. I have recently been giving away toys instead. Not that this is any better, they probably are going to just throw it away anyways, but... I'm open to suggestions.

Orange Julius Recipe

2011-10-04T10:25:00.000-06:00

I don't normally do food links. But, I wrote this for With A Shot of Brandy, and it is tasty.

Orange Julius Recipe

recycled paperclips

2011-09-30T11:39:00.000-06:00

I was shopping one day at the school store when I came upon the "green" section. They had some cute recycled things I would never use. Then they had it - recycled paperclips. Why didn't I think of that?

Paperclips are one of those things that I don't understand why you should ever really need more of. You paperclip something together, then don't need to have them clipped anymore and you should just put it back to use later shouldn't you? There shouldn't be any thrown away. I don't know what happens to them.

So, to take paperclips and recycle them into paperclips, gosh, what a waste.

giveaway on other blog

2011-09-29T11:34:00.000-06:00

Hey, check out this giveaway for some sweet stuff. Some nail polish, and cool gifts from an etsy shop.

Jayne Karol Giveaway

Guest Post!

2011-09-27T11:52:00.000-06:00

So, I just guest posted over at With A Shot Of Brandy's Blog. Go check it out! Lots of fun!

What's in the Bag, VaLon?

extra money

2011-09-21T11:22:00.000-06:00

My first green action came when I was a very small child. Ever since I can remember I have loved to go look at houses as they were being built. And can I tell you, construction guys are horrible slobs. They would drink sodas and beer, and other things that came in a can. At night when they were gone my parents and I would go to these houses and collect the cans. It was also my way of making money. You see, if you collect enough cans and take them to the right place, you can get money for them. We would also collect our own cans as well as have my Grandparents do the same.

It was very rewarding, getting the money for doing such a simple thing as not throwing something away, or collecting things as I was enjoying a house. It wasn't until later that I realized that this was something green. Much later actually, when I was reading somewhere and it said it was and I went, oh, I do that.

I don't collect as much anymore. I don't drink things from cans anymore. Maybe I should go to those houses again, but then, that would have to be a drive and wasted gas.

But it still pains me to throw any can in the garbage. As well as to see any there.

green map

2011-09-18T12:39:00.000-06:00

Green Map is a place where you can find maps from all over that directs you to green things in that city. From parks to organic markets to hotels. They are very detailed.

I would suggest picking one up if you are traveling, or even to your hometown. I mean, do you have any idea how many maps of New York there were? (I'm not obsessed with New York, but they didn't have any from Utah or Nevada.)

tasty

2011-09-12T12:00:00.000-06:00

Went to Yogurtland the other day. I got this nice spoon. It claims it is biodegratable. I am not sure I believe it or not. However, I don't think I will give it a chance to try. You see, I am going to keep it and use it, and use it, and then, maybe use it again. It is a cute little spoon.

paper

2011-09-01T12:42:00.002-06:00

As school time is quickly approaching, I wanted to share what I had done once with a single sheet a paper.

You see I had a class that every day my teacher would give a quiz. My personal opinion was that he did this so that people would show up on time to class. He started it when we were in a horrible room that annoyed EVERYONE when someone was late. He kept this up the second semester I had him.

The quiz was not long, and I since he had told us we could reuse the paper, the one he had just handed back to us because he had graded the day before, I decided to competely take him up on the offer. While others would use the bottom half, or the back, I would simply draw a box around the previous day, and write my new answer.

It got to the point that the paper had been well used, and my teacher always knew it was mine without looking at the name. We both liked it.

I managed to get 22 on the front, and 16 on the back. That is a total of 38 days, and the only reason I stoped was that class ended.

It was a great way to save paper, while other used like 8 to 38 sheets of paper, I had to only use one.

green stamps

2011-08-22T12:13:00.000-06:00

Like all companies now days, the Post Office is also tring to get on the green band wagon. Don't know if you have seen them or not, but they have some green stamps. Very cool for both collecting and using.

no children

2011-08-16T11:59:00.000-06:00

I live in Utah, I am LDS (or, Mormon as it is sometimes called), and pretty much everyone around me is. We have our beliefs, and are not as crazy as some people think we are. We believe in Jesus Christ, he is our savior. We believe that his true church was lost from the earth and that it was restored through a man named Joseph Smith. We continue to have a prophet to this day who leads and guides the church by revelation from God.

We do have some weird habits, things that come out of our culture more than our religious beliefs. One of which is children. We are not polygamists, but we still like large families. To prove this is not a rule and you will not be shunned, I am an only child, so no big family there. I find it funny in shows when people think that four kids are a lot of kids to have. Four is average, six is common, 10 is big (yes, I've known people with 10 kids and they get along just fine.)

So when in one of my classes when a non-LDS girl suggested one way to be green was to not have any kids, half of the class laughed. The half that didn't, not LDS. You see, half of those guys, are about 25, and have at least one kid already and plan on much more. She then tried to get us to see, that maybe only two kids was the way to go.

I see her point, there isn't a lot of the earth to go around, so if you are just replacing yourself, one for you, one for your spouse, then it isn't creating that much of an impact. People have needs and if you don't create another person, than those needs are gone. It makes sense, but how realistic is it? In some overcrowded parts of the world people are limited in the amount of children they can have, and even end up killing the girls so they can have guys.

I don't plan on doing this, when I finally get around to being married and have kids (this is also a religion thing, marriage before sex.) In fact in all my daydreaming houses I've always planned for six kids. Whether I have them or not? Well, I'm going to let my husband help decide that, not mother earth.

save green

2011-08-12T12:10:00.002-06:00

So, I went to Office Max a month or so ago. I was quite amused by this little slip of paper that came with my receipt. You see, it is encourging you to be green, yes?

Yet, here it is, a little useless thing of paper, that came with my receipt, which was longer, for just two items. Something that is not green at all.

Then, what it is tring to encourage you to do, to be green? Well, it is tring to get you to bring in an old printer, and buy a new one! Now, most people that have an old printer do not need a new one, their old one works perfectly fine. I know mine is working fine.

Do you think they will accept my old dot matrix printer?

put the card down and step away

2011-08-06T11:21:00.000-06:00

There are some great products out there. Tons of things to keep you on the green track. Green clothes. Green cars. Green paper. Green cleaning supplies. Green computers. Green etc.... So what should you do? Don't buy any of it! Do not go out and buy a single thing!

Look at it, do your clothes still cover you? Is your car still running? Is your computer still working? Well, why buy something green then?

Possibly the worst thing you can do for the planet is to take perfectly good things and throw them away. But you do it don't you. Ha! I caught you.

I actually have a reputation among one of my friends that I use things until past their dying time. She seems to think I am always like two years behind everything. I agree with her on some things, I guess I could have got a larger USB drive when my old one got lost. But really? My computer works fine (mostly) so I don't see a point in spending my money to go buy a new one while that one still has life in it. She's been telling me to get rid of this laptop for nearly three years now, and I've only had it just over three years.

Don't buy new crap.

remodel

2011-08-05T13:44:00.000-06:00

So, I recently got in touch with handartdesignstudios who recently redid her design space. I love it, so bright and cheery. The video of the remodel is very good. Check out her work. Twitter Facebook

new school

2011-08-02T11:34:00.002-06:00

It's the time of the year for little school people to run out and buy a whole new set of school supplies. New notebooks, new folders (with the Jonas Brothers), new pencils, new pens, new crayons, new markers, new bag, new everything. And since the good green people are out there, organic, recycled things are the way to go.

I am sorry to tell you this is not how to do it. Don't buy new, use what you have. I'm going to try and not buy anything for school this year. I doubt it will happen, I build a lot of things. But I'm not buying any more paper or anything to write with or anything to hold things. Maybe you should do the same.

compost

2011-07-29T11:57:00.000-06:00

I know you have heard it, compost. What is more green than that right? I don't do this. I wish I did. My father has issues with it, even though he unconsciously does it with all the grass piles in our backyard. But we do have a bin provided by the city that takes our 'green waste' away for us. Very nice.

If you decide that composting is for you, here is the basic needs. Compost pile needs two things; carbon (newspaper, cardboard, straw) and nitrogen (lawn clippings, food waste, plants). Put a ratio of 5 carbon to 1 nitrogen. You can leave it for a year, or rotate every few weeks adding water to be done in about three months. For easier organizing, have different piles that you rotate.

workspace heaven

2011-07-22T22:10:00.001-06:00

So, I have decided that I would like to share my workspace with you. Some of it is upcycled, some recycled, some repurposed, some just creatively made out of what I had around my house.

My space is very compact, I can get to everything from my desk chair. Well, nearly everything. My shelf system, made out of used formcore, filled with my collection of items. Under it the bookshelf. My computer on the desk, which actually turns around so I can use it to watch workout videos on. My TV, for some light noise. And my photobox which I take all my picture in.

Here we can see that a lot of the items are hidden under the top of the desk, keeping it clean while providing a lot of storage space. I even have boxes under the desk to not only act as long term storage, but as a place ro rest my feet.

Here is my shelf system, built out of pinic table set benches. I had no need for the benches, the table being used as a work bench, so I put them next to my desk as a wonderful shelf that I can stick items on. It included my drawers from a hardware store, and my magnetic idea board. It is really just some metal. I would suggest a heating duct, the cheapest form of large metal, with the bent edge cut off, easily done with a pair of metal cutters.

This is my pencil holder. I had built a model, correction, my friend Ricky had built a model, of a theater that we had designed. Liking the wood so much, he decided to keep the wood part of it. I somehow got ahold of them (there is two pieces, the autitorim, and as seen here, the stage) and decided they would make good pencil holders. I was given permission to keep them, and added the test piece of arcylic to the front, which was actually a test for the grid that went there, and some metal to the bottom. I now get comments all the time on how cool it is and that it use to be a model.

Here is my collection of items, all arranged in little containers. Where did I find such cute little containers you ask? Well, they are all Crystal Light containers. My parents love this drink, and have tons of these. They come about 6" high, and I have cut them into 2" and 4" containers, leaving some the size they were. It is so nice to have all of the same container, slightly clear, and best yet, free! Also a great way to save them from the garbage. I will cut a bunch at a time, feel like I am running out then soon I will have my stock back up feeling like I am being overun by them again.

Hope you enjoyed your stay, please come back soon.

that bag came from where?

2011-07-16T11:33:00.001-06:00

Here is something I do not do. It is the concept of buying local.

I actually like the idea to buy what is local. But I do not pay attention to where things come from. It takes a lot of effort. Because not only do you have to pay attention to where the item itself came from. It might have been shipped from the next state over. But then it was made in China. But the parts may have come from a million different places, including maybe where you are from. Things are not made all in one place anymore. Even the things that claim to be local aren't necessarily, they may have been getting parts from far away that it wasn't paid attention to.

So sure, buy local, it saves CO2. I guess I do it a bit for food, what is more local than my backyard? But then, where did that plant I planted come from?

credit card crap

2011-07-12T22:15:00.000-06:00

So, I don't know about you, but I hate junk mail. The most annoying, the credit card applications. I for one like to contact a place if I want one, which I don't have one, and get the best deal possible. Instead they all insist on sending massive amounts of paper to me daily. Just today, between my parents, they got five. That is right, FIVE! Very annoying, and wasteful. Not only is there the application inside, but aways an advertisement, and an envelop to send it back in, all in an envelop. Horrible waste of paper, and my time, and my power from shredding them, and the post office, and the gas to run the mailman here. I wonder if they went away how much energy would actually be saved. Granted, a bet some jobs would go away as well....

If you want to Opt-Out, like I have, and am going to do with my parents right after this blog, go to optout prescreen

oh how my garden grows

2011-07-08T11:17:00.000-06:00

I do not like radishes, they are a bit spicy for me. However, I do enjoy growing them. They are possibly the easiest thing I have grown, among a bunch of easy foods. I dug the row, just like the peas. Then I sprinkled in the seeds, just like the peas. Watered, didn’t even bother pulling weeds, or weeding the radishes out like you are suppose to. And then they came up. And boy did they come up. I don’t believe that they are suppose to pop out of the ground when they are done, but there wasn’t enough room underground for them to, so up they came. We had so many of them. I even had to try some.

reusable fork

2011-06-28T10:55:00.002-06:00

I will admit it, I am so smart. Ha! I was trying to be all smart because I was getting tired of buying new plastic forks for lunch. I am lazy and just wanted something there all the time while I was at school. So I would wash and reuse the forks, and spoons, I had. Then it dawned on me, I had tons of these things at home, they are called silverware. I now keep a set at school for my lunch breaks. The same goes for any disposable dish, before disposable things were made, we had "green" things for eating off of.

new favorite book

2011-06-23T11:57:00.000-06:00

If you haven't noticed by now, I'm a bit cynical. I'm all for saving the planet and crap, but I happen to think a lot of if is just crap. That is why I was so excited to find this book: "Green's not Black and White" by Dominic Muren. It's has many tips in it and reasons why the tip may not be all that great. A great read for all.

parking

2011-06-08T11:08:00.000-06:00

I come across a lot of bike racks in my days. I find the more interesting they are the better. Many bike racks simply look like some horrible chunk of metal that sits near the entry. Others, like this one I found, not only provide somewhere to chain your bike to, but also are pretty to look at. While some even are so fun looking they make you want to ride a bike just to you can attach it to the thing while you are away.

redone table

2011-06-01T10:48:00.016-06:00

When I was a child my mother did day care, with a large playroom in the basement. The furnishings in there were not of the highest quality, most of which were ugly things others didn’t want so we took them off their hands. That is where this table came from.

The original table was an octagon shape, with eight legs, and an octagon shape. It is quite large, being about 3.5’ across (people don’t believe me, but it is, I measured.) Yet it is very low, only 1.5’ off the ground. The size was one thing, but all the edges were carved into this intricate rope looking design, that just wasn’t my style, and the fairly ugly brown didn’t go with anything.

When I went looking for a table for my ‘white room’ I came across it trying to hide in the storage, but just getting in the way. I decided to solve two problems, and redo it.

The edges were cut off, leaving still and inch worth of wood as an edge. The table was sanded down to get rid of the paint as well as clean up the surface. Four of the legs were taken out, a simple disassembly of screws. After it was put together I painted it, with three coats of white enamel paint, one that has a slight shine to it.

It came out better than I thought. I can now leave all sorts of study material on it, as well as have some storage space under it. I even have the left over legs I am thinking of making tables out of.

clean as a button

2011-05-28T11:18:00.000-06:00

Here it is, the tip in which I tell you what cleaning products are the best, give you a list, and you run out and buy them. Or, better yet I'm going to give you recipes for making your own green cleaner. Um, no. Don't trust anything. Probably if you can't eat it, it isn't healthy to be using anyways, definatly in your kitchen where you have your food. My secret - water.

I wash pretty much everything with water. My bathroom - water. The kitchen - water. Walls - water. Windows - water. Wood - okay, you caught me, I don't use water, I just use a dust rag.

But seriously, water cleans things up. Sure, you don't get that lovely cleaner smell, but, um, isn't that the poison you smell? You may think that water can't clean up all the germs, and you might be right. But, I'm still alive, I haven't gotten sick from the evil germs, so.... I think we're all too pampered keeping germs away anyways. We shouldn't live in a bubble.

With some water, some good rags, or other scrubbing devices, a squidgy (windows), and some good elbow grease, you can have a clean home without killing the environment.

no more swimming pools

2011-05-21T11:43:00.005-06:00

Everyday as I drive around I see this horrible little swimming pool. It is one of those plastic kinds, which can't be safe anyways. I then see that it is full, most likely not with clean water, so that can't be healthy. But it just sits there. Granted a lot of the time I would love to go jump in, but the more I see it, the more I think it is just not good for anybody.

So, let's stop with the swimming pools. I not saying, that every pool should be emptied, of course they shouldn't. But how often do they get used.

I have never owned a large swimming pool, never been able to swim actually, but they take a lot of upkeep don't they? Besides the massive amount of water that needs to be replaced every so often to be kept clean, there are all the cleaners, and the power needed to keep it up. And how often do they really get used? If daily, good, I'm proud of you. Most for the average person....

I had a neighbor who had a hot tub that he heated with a wood burning stove. Didn't cost him in electricity. Not green either, but...

So there we have it, no more wasteful swimming pools. I feel like I need some way to cool off.

jewelry rack

2011-05-12T20:51:00.009-06:00

My jewelry, which is for sale, hangs on a board near my work space. It not only provides an easy access space, organization, and detangle-ment, but it also is close enough to provide inspiration for like projects.

thevicagirl.etsy.com

natural lighting

2011-05-08T11:12:00.001-06:00

As my final photography project I was going to take pictures of some green houses. This photo is my favorite interior photo. I was a bit concerned about it because the light outside wasn’t very great at all. It was so overcast, and kind of dreary. I was able to photograph this house just fine, because on nearly every side he had windows, which were always open, even though there were no lights on inside his house.

We can all learn from this, and allow our natural light to light our houses, even on overcast days.

trash bin

2011-05-05T19:09:00.001-06:00

I found this amazing garbage can that helps point out what things can be recycled and what can not. It has a place for cans, newspaper, and trash. Unfortunately the trash is the first in the line and so automatically people will throw things in there. It was a very nice way to incorporate recycling bins without a big blue bin without any aesthetic value.

you left your computer on?

2011-04-21T11:20:00.000-06:00

Yes! I leave my computer on during the night! I leave it on all the time.

Computers suck energy. When you leave for the night you are suppose to turn it off to save. Some even go as far as turning it off when they leave for a couple hours. Some put on a screen saver, but apparently a screen saver uses just as much as the computer would anyways. So turn it off.

Ha, I don't. It takes way too long for my computer to turn on. My laptop, well let's say I'm ready to move on and do something else by the time that it is ready for me to use it. I am not a very patient person. I want my computer to be ready when I get in. Now, if it took less than a minute to boot up, I'd consider turning it off, but alas, it does not, so my computer stays on all the time.

Blue Vinyl

2011-04-19T11:49:00.001-06:00

Just thinking about it makes me laugh. So, Blue Vinyl is a movie, more of a documentary about the evils of PVC. If you haven't seen it, you are so missing out! It presents how evil PVC is, and it really is. I for one am not going to watch PVC all that closely to know what products are made of it or not. But when it is obvious, it is ugly. Anyways, the movie is so funny with her twisted sense of humor. Watch it.

circles

2011-04-12T20:33:00.010-06:00

This came about in a very round about way. I have a pair of earrings I won, that retailed at $120, and all they are is a metal disk. I have wanted to try and make some similar, for a lot less, but haven’t got around to it.

I was then inspired, that a necklace with a bunch of these metal disks together at the end would be a great looking one. However, because of lack of motivation to try the metal disks it never got built.

So one day, while staring at my sketches, and seeing my favorite material, a 5 1/4” floppy disk scatted all over my workspace I decided I could put the two together and make a necklace. I was quite happy with the result, and if you are to, I have it on sale here: Computer Chic

power lines

2011-04-08T11:07:00.005-06:00

As I travel home from the train on my daily commute I pass under a vast amount of power lines. When I got the assignment to photograph either actual lines or implied lines I jumped at the chance to photograph them as both.

They have an interesting look to them. Most people see either a lot of garbage cluttering the landscape or progress toward something better. I see the beauty that is in them, having drafted many power poles in my job, I see the hard work that went into them. I also see the waste of energy that goes along with them.

Did you know that most of the energy produced in power plants is gone before it even reaches your house? More localized the energy producer is the more efficient it is. That is one reason it would be a great idea if everyone had either solar power or wind power at their house, the least amount of distance to get to your house would be if it was already at your house to begin with.

bookmark

2011-04-06T11:20:00.000-06:00

Here's a tip - use scrap paper as bookmarks. I go the extra mile sometimes and use items, like other books or pens or even phones. But anyways, scrap paper doesn't take up extra room.

I got these bookmarks once that said "get your green on." I found it a bit hypocritical, be green by picking up this little piece of paper you don't need. But alas, I did anyways. They have come in very handy as I read my multiple green books.

no tv

2011-03-29T12:03:00.000-06:00

I guess I did this out of a lifestyle choice more than anything. I use to be in love with a show and had to watch it every time. When it was changed to a Friday I was tiring to come up with a mass scheme to be able to still watch it and have a Friday life. My friend very bluntly said "Or, you could just not watch it." Because of my laziness, it somehow became what I did, I just stopped watching it. I then realized if I could survive without my favorite show, what good is the other crap on TV anyways?

It is possible to not watch any TV. You save a bunch of things. Energy to run the TV when on, and when off. Then I know you don't just have a TV. I have a VCR (yes, I do), a DVD player, a stereo system, and a converter box all besides the TV. I don't dare know how much that power is. Then the noise. I love it when I'm home without the TV on. It is so quiet and easier to concentrate. Then there is the time you save. How often is it that you sit down to watch for five minutes and a half an hour later are still watching because you have to finish the show if you are enjoying it or not.

I use to tell my parents I was taking the TV when I moved out, I did buy it afterall. But now I'm not sure. I like not watching TV.

Sleeping Naked is Green

2011-03-23T11:47:00.000-06:00

I was very intrigued by the name, and actually a very good tip. But Sleeping Naked is Green is a book by Vanessa Farquharson. In it she takes the challenge of making one green change a day. She's a city girl just seeing if she can make a difference. It is very fun to see what worked for her and what didn't. Just like me, she is not hard-core, but unlike me, does make some very drastic changes. Very good book if you are for being green, or against it.

runway

2011-03-21T20:30:00.001-06:00

As I was looking at the latest fashion shows from all over I was struck by the beauty of a simple necklace in which a series of circles were linked together creating an extremely long necklace. I decided to use it as inspiration and create my own necklace.

I have had in my basement for years some old 5 1/4” floppy disks, millions without end of them. I had been making other jewelry out of them, but they had this perfect little circle in the middle I couldn’t let go of. So, when my circle challenge came along I decided to put the two worlds together.

What came out of it was a nice long but very light necklace. I have them for sale here: Long Black Circles

"Passive Heat Gain, which sounds like a mental disorder associated with menopause...."

2011-03-13T16:35:00.000-06:00

Although it has been out for a couple years, I just finished reading the book "Farewell, My Subaru" by Doug Fine. In it Doug decided to kick it into high gear and become fully green, moving to the middle of nowhere New Mexico and living life locally. It was a very entertaining book, with a lot of funny stories, I highly recommend it. However, I find he went about it in a very extreme way.

His first mistake, in my idea, is that he moves to New Mexico. Now, I have nothing against New Mexico, or any other state for that matter, but it is the move. He thinks that by moving to a place to raise his own meals that this will help his carbon footprint. Living in the middle of nowhere, in whatever place, is not really sustainable. I would personally like to live in a city type environment, close to the things you need, and comfortable enough to be able to have a lower carbon footprint. Also, the moving, sustainable? Plane trips count for the highest carbon creator by those who travel. I'll stick with staying where I live.
He decides that his current car, and gas, are not to be in his horizon anymore, and instead converts to a VegOil truck. Now sure, this is a lovely idea. But then you have to consider to get the grease that powers this vehicle, their has to be unhealthy food made. Isn't part of being green considering your health and wanting to make it better? I personally would prefer to live somewhere close enough to walk, or ride a bike, or take public transportation everywhere I go. I do the public thing to go to school, and if I had a bike it would take me on my daily adventures, and I currently live in sprawl. He brags about not driving for days. When I was in New York I didn't get in any sort of car the weekend. And if I worked at home, and Doug did, I wouldn't have to get into a car for days either. I'll stick to my small, good gas millage car instead of the pain of converting a new one.

Solar power is another thing he tries. This is his best move. If every home had one or two solar panels, the world would be so much better. The panels aren't really as expensive as everyone thinks they are, it is really the set up. Solar requires so much extras to make it work. But did Doug have to move to New Mexico to get the sun? I don't think so. Plus, solar isn't the only renewable energy source. Wind is also a good one, and a large turbine is not needed. I have seen some only 2 ft by 2 ft, 4 feet high. When I finally have a house of my own, I am putting up some of this technology, and hopefully then getting paid from the electric company.
He also decides to put in a well. I'm happy for him, living in the middle of nowhere with a well area is fine. I do not live near an aquifer however. But this doesn't mean I can't be smart about my water. We have all heard of cutting back. But their is also a way to get in from mother nature, as Doug does. It is called rain water collection. Now, in a lot of states, such as mine, technically it isn't legal to collect rain water. Theoretically it works great. But a completely legal way of doing it is to let it go into your soil. Yes, that is right, into the ground. Concrete driveways and sidewalks, and other large things just put the water into the drain. However, if you allow the water to go into the ground it helps water your plants (and weeds) and is better for the environment.

As the last thing to be green, and live locally, he plants a garden. This is the easiest way to work on the green movement. Chances are, you live in some sort of sprawl like I do. I have a 8 ft by 20 ft garden in my backyard. I know, I am lucky. But how much lawn do you have that could be replaced? Gardening really is easy, you can be as involved or non-involved as you want. Doug finds that the weeds protect the plants from the harsh sun. Plants, with some care, and simple know how, will grow just about anywhere. Think you have no room? Container gardens are way popular. As for me, I just barely planted some new plants, last week. Yep, they are herbs, growing in my windowsill. You know, inside the house. I want no complaints about lack of space. Go out and plant something! Go.....

a vote for me

2011-03-08T17:26:00.001-07:00

A fellow blogger has decided to run a little poll thing in which she has some shops you can vote for to see who gets to be featured on her blog. Very fun little game, and I am listed. So, go and vote for me!

http://www.funkeyjunkdesigns.blogspot.com/

Go to the right side of the page near the top and there is the poll. Feel free to check out my competition as well.

bikes in a row

2011-03-08T11:05:00.003-07:00

For a school project, I was to take photos of an item from a variety of different viewpoints. I came across this bike rack outside of a middle school and couldn’t help but snap some photos of it. I remember being a kid and riding my bike to school everyday, I wish I could still do that now. (24 miles away is not a fast bike trip.)

stuffed

2011-03-06T10:59:00.001-07:00

I love green books sometimes, they can be absolutely ridiculous. The latest tip: "Don't have a pet." Gosh, it needed it's own blog. Ah man, funny stuff. I'm all for it actually. Besides the fact that yes, pets take a lot of stuff to take care of them, and a lot is not good for the environment, but gosh. I also am not a fan of animals. The world would be a much better place without dogs. But are people honestly going to give up their pets? I doubt it. The book says to get a stuffed animal instead. Gosh, that's not even green.

wall of cans

2011-03-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

At the Springs Reserve in Las Vegas it shows a lot of different ways to help the environment by recycling and other such things. One item it has is a replica of a garbage truck made entirely out of cans. It is such a fun way to see how things can be recycled and show it off that this is what was used. Also provides a great color impact. I recommend it for anyone near or visiting Vegas.

The Story of Stuff

2011-03-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

2 The Story of Stuff is a very interesting, entertaining little movie about how much stuff there is in the world. I agree with it, and think there should be a change, just not sure what. Afterall, the United States economy is based on the fact that we buy stuff. My personal opinion, that is why we aren't doing well, people aren't buying as much crap as they use to. On the Story of Stuff's website you can also look around at other things as well as get involved.

green cup

2011-02-28T11:01:00.002-07:00

I find green things funny sometimes. Take this cup for example. It is made from corn, so it will break down. I found these at the school food place; they give them away with the water. I love it, think it is quite funny, and collect them.

upcycled t-shirt pillows

2011-02-19T10:46:00.001-07:00

I have collected a lot of t-shirts over the years, shirts that I can't get rid of because I love them so much. A lot of them do not fit me anymore. Most are not in style. It is a bit odd to be wearing my high school choir shirts in my 20's. Some people can pull the look off, but I am not one of them. So what did I decide to do with them? Pillows.

Step 1) Gather the shirts to be transformed.

Step 2) Choose what part of the shirt will be saved, and cut a square out of both the front and the back.

Step 3) Put the 'wrong' sides together (aka: the front and back outside of the shirt) and sew around the edge. Make sure to save a few inches to turn inside out and stuff.

Step 4) Turn inside out, and stuff.

Step 5) Sew up the hole. And enjoy!

Another fun idea is a bag instead of a pillow. Just don't close one end, hem that side up, and add handles.

work from home

2011-02-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

I have yet to figure out how beneficial this one really is. Maybe it is my field. Architecture is a little more of a group thing and not so easy to be done at home. But, if we can ship work off to people half way across the world to have things done overnight, I guess it can be done at home. But you have to have the right connection set up. It has to work right.
I can't imagine telling my boss that I'm going to work from home one day. I currently work as a teacher’s aid getting books for teachers and sharpening pencils. I'm serious; my job is to sharpen pencils. But how the crap am I suppose to do that at home? Um, no.

Drafting, which was my last job, can be a little easier I think. It's not like I don't have the program at home. But not everyone is as crazy as I and have $100 programs on their computers, for "free." And the paper I used. Ha, well, let's just say for a day all I did was print off pages 24" x 36" I think about 20 per set, three sets. Ah, paper. I don't have that big of a printer at home.

My mother worked from home for awhile. Okay, most of my life she had a day care at home. But what I'm referring to is the work on your computer from home. But we didn't have the best set up, this was back in the day of dial-up. And it would take her longer to get and send her work than it actually did to do it.

One of those odd things, what is working from home really helping? No gas? Okay, but public transit is running with or without you on it, just take that. I also think working from home is a whole lot less productive. I get much more done trapped at school than I ever do when there is a tempting bed in the next room at home.

vacuum

2011-02-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

After my father was wandering around with a broken vacuum belt, and eventually found a replacement, I grabbed the chance to make something with it. It was a thick little rubber thing, which could easily be cut, and fit in great with my black and silver collection. I had been wanting to make a circular dangle, and this was the perfect chance to. Every time I wear these I get complements on them, and people are even more shocked to hear what they are made out of.

To get your hands on some, I have some for sale here: Cleaning Circles

wind power

2011-02-01T11:04:00.004-07:00

On my way up to Casper WY, I found this lovely hill with a bunch of wind turbines at the top. I fell in love with them, never seeing so many in one place before. I took pictures as we drove past, seeing as how my ride wasn’t nearly as impressed as I was with them.

biodegradable

2011-01-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

Biodegrable, green is it not? That's right, we should all go and buy things that are biodegradable, then when you throw them away they will degrade, right? Um, no.

A landfill, where most garbage goes, is not a very degrable place. (Sure, some things are burned, but then should we have Bioburnable things?) The way a landfill works is there is dirt, then a layer of garbage (you know, every sort of crap that people throw away), then more dirt, then more garbage, then dirt, you get the picture. Eventually it will get to be too much stuff, so they leave it and go somewhere else. Right.

That is when it degrades right? Um, no. It is trapped inside the garbage/dirt box and even if it might degrade, it isn't going to. Plus, are you ever going to go back to that pile that was once a landfill and use it? I doubt it.

So, even if it is Biodegradable, it won't if you just throw it away anyways.

I can't figure out why these are good if they all go to a landfill where they can't degrade.

in the city

2011-01-19T11:26:00.001-07:00

Here is one I don't do, but would love to do. I will admit it, I live in the suburbs. I do.
Urban sprawl is possibly one of the worst things that can be done to the planet. You take homes and stick them out in the middle of nowhere. You want the space, the yard, to fill with grass, or more likely, weeds. You want to be away from it all. So of course, you are. Then whenever you want to go somewhere you have to get into that car of yours and travel to wherever it is. Then you have to go to all the different places, all in your car. You have to travel the freeway and get stuck in rush hour screaming at the people who are not moving in front of you. Some people spend most of their time in a car in the middle of traffic instead of at that cozy home away from it all.

The solution, and where I think that the world is going, is back to the city. Think about it, in the city you can go to work, buy food and other things, and be entertained, all within a walking distance. I would love to be able to do this, but living at home with my parents is much cheaper.

eco tycoon

2011-01-10T10:30:00.001-07:00

I recently found this game. It is a little weird, but so much fun. You try to save the world from dying. It is fairly easy to apply the principle of it, but interesting to see what sacrifices you must go through before you can save the world. I played it for a few hours, and then gave up. It takes a lot of games to get the hang of it, but once you do, it doesn't seem to go anywhere.

http://www.eco-tycoon.com/

mass transit

2011-01-06T11:33:00.002-07:00

You know how you can come across some cute little tip in the world that you then realize that it is actually one of your favorite past times? That is how I feel about mass transit.

The idea, take the bus/train/subway/carpool to save CO2. Great idea right? Save the world! Yep, the world....

Did you know that the buses run no matter if you are on them or not? As do trains and subways and all sorts of mass transit. Most likely cars you go in with a carpool do as well? I once had a friend who drove us on a long trip that we tried to pay him for gas and he wouldn't accept our money, he would have drove up anyways.

There we hit it! The money. Now, I'm sorry if you have to pay for entry to a bus, but gosh, the price of owning a car is probably more. I do not have to pay. Ever since I started college the local mass transit system has given college students free passes. So I started to take the bus instead of spend money on gas. I walked about a half a mile a day just to take the bus. I got a nice exercise out of it. I then killed my back and I couldn't walk that far anymore, so I stopped.

I have now transferred to the university and have a much farther way to go. Instead of that gas money to go all the way up to school and fight for a parking space, I take the train. Sometimes it is the only reliable way to get to school. It is actually closer to my building than parking would be. I save money and energy, but my favorite part is the sleeping. I sleep on the train, my body has actually figured out how long it takes to get to school and won't sleep past that, much. I get an extra hour of sleep that I wouldn't if I had been driving. Some people even read, but I am not one of them, I get motion sickness.

I have one friend who thinks I am crazy because I actually have friends that I have made on the train. I am stubborn and like seats and this one lady sat in the wheelchair area with a perfectly good seat next to her. I decided I would sit there, and did daily. When she finished her book she was reading, we started talking and are now friends. I also have another friend who met his wife on the train. My friend calls it my 'social hour' and she is right, sometimes that is the only time I have to just sit and talk to someone. I wouldn't give up my train friends for a car.

So yes, save the world. Or better yet, save your money, time, energy, and live a better life.

heater

2011-01-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

I've been looking into ways to make my house a bit warmer this cold winter season, with some success. Well, yesterday the heater in my house had been running all night, and was running hot air only a third of the time, cold air the rest. Shortly after I woke up it started smelling horrible (later learning this was burning rubber).

The first repair guy we called said he couldn't be there until 4, and it would cost $75 just to come see us.

The second repair guy, a cousin, was out within the half hour. He looked at it, told us what was wrong, asked what we wanted to do with it. In the meantime his advice for the smell? Open a window. Now, I am not sure what he was really thinking, we had no heater, and it was below freezing outside. Sure, let's just open a window! My mother did, and it wasn't that bad actually, but then, I wasn't in that room and it was only like ten minutes. He left and then came back and replaced some parts we needed. He was done by 2:30, before the other guy would have come, and charged us $100 total. Yes, that is for parts and work.

I'm not sure which is greener right now, our little repair job, which by the way was with used parts, or if getting a new heater that would have worked better would be. Not sure, but I know which cost the least...

no power exercising

2011-01-02T10:31:00.002-07:00

I think I've been doing this without knowing for awhile now. Mostly I haven't wanted to pay money to buy the power equipment.

I don't exercise as much as I would like to. But the things I do not require power or really any harm to the environment. My latest thing is jumping rope. It is a good exercising thing with little time and little equipment. You can take a jump rope wherever.

My favorite thing to do is walk. Last summer I would go for a 4 mile walk every day. It was very nice. Granted, I did listen to my MP3 player, and if you were no go now for no power, that would have to be taken out. It is a lovely time to ponder and think things out. My problem? Dogs. After two dogs scared me while walking, I decided I didn't want to do it afterall. I've thought about going somewhere to walk (the dogs are only in the neighborhoods) but something about driving somewhere to go for a walk just sort of bothers me.

Another good exercise is dancing. Okay, it uses power as well if you want to listen to music, but it is very exercising to just dance around your room however you want.

Bike riding is probably the best. I do not do this. I was going to buy a new bike, mine was crap and old and broken, but I recently had to buy a car because my old one broke and now I have no money. I often find it crap that this is the reason I can't buy a bike seeing as how I wanted the bike so I wouldn't need my car as much. But it gets cold in the snow. Bike riding is good because if you can take it places you get your exercise on the way to places so you don't have to put a specific time for exercise.

wear it twice

2010-12-28T11:21:00.003-07:00

You know how a lot of college guys pick out their clothes? They pick up the shirts off the floor and whichever smells less bad that is the one they pick. Maybe they are onto something.

I recently started to look at my shirts and think I did nothing in it. I sat around and did nothing. It is not dirty, so why should I wash it? So it goes back in the closet. When I finally decide it is dirty, normally after two days, or a day of hard work, I put it in the laundry basket. My jeans, they take a few days before they go in there.

Laundry takes a lot of water, and energy, hence CO2, to do. If you decide to wear your clothes twice, or more, before you wash then you can cut that water and energy in half. Think about it.

2010-12-24T10:58:00.001-07:00

plotter paper book

As an architecture student I print, a lot. We have these large printers, we call plotters. You can bring your own roll of paper, up to 36" and print however long of a piece you want. For final projects, it is easy to use up to 12' or more. I went to print off my test plot of a final, 20' long. The plotter wasn't being very nice, we were lucky to get the test plot as a final three days later. In the process, the plotter decided to start to give me paper, not print, but just shove the paper through, giving me a lot of blank paper. We tried to stop it, but it wouldn't even turn off (I have since learned the trick to make it stop). I used the whole 100' roll for printing that final project, and kept walking around saying "$35 for that printing!" I didn't have the heart to throw about 50' of paper away, or even put it in the recycle bin, so I kept it, thinking I would find a use for it someday.

My parents are of the age that they have records, you know, those things CD's replaced. They have hundreds of them, yet we never listen to them anymore. They are not worth much anymore, the more famous ones as collectibles, but I can find them at my local goodwill store for $1.

One day I found a way to merge these two into one, and make some sketch books. Because I haven't the heart to chop up the records my parents have at home, I bought some from the goodwill store. If you do not have large amounts of plotter paper lying around like I do, another idea is old paper. I once made a book out of paper I had printed on one side, and used the other as note taking, it reminded me of the project every time I looked at it. I don't recommend using paper that will have bad memories attached.

Step 1 - make up the covers

Okay, so this actually has a lot of steps to it. You have to find the record cover which you will use. I was able to find three musicals, which I love. I decided on the size I wanted my book. I happen to like them about 8.5" x 5.5", they are small enough for me to carry in my small hands, but still big enough to hold things. So that is what I decided to do. I needed a template, so grabbed a piece of paper out of the garbage. I cut a rectangle out of the middle the size I wanted the covers. I then moved it around the record covers to see where I wanted to cut it, one from the front, one the back. I tried to make it look like it was a real cover and not just a chopped up cover. After I decided where to cut I traced it on. I was even able to manage to get two books out of The Sound of Music cover. Then I took the records out, separated back and front, and started to cut. May I just tell you about a wonderful invention called an Xacto? It is this knife that will cut just about anything (I'm not kidding.) Everyone needs one. The larger ones are happier; they have more power which makes my wimpy hands like them. I lined up a ruler on the lines I had drawn on, used my Xacto and cut. It is important to make sure the surface you are cutting on is okay to be cut up; I use a cutting mat, but in a pinch old calendars or phone books work well as well.

Step 2 - cut up the paper

I used my trusty Xacto to cut it into strips of 8.5" then cut those into strips of 5.5” When I built my scratch paper book it was easy to take the 8.5" x 11" paper and cut it in half. Make sure all the blank sides are facing the same direction, mine aren't and it gets a bit confusing.

Step 3 - have it bound

There are a lot of trusty places that will bind books for you. I like spiral bounding the best. If you want to do it yourself, more power to you, but alas, I do not. The thick covers scare away some places, they think their machine can't handle it and don't want to ruin your cover, but it is okay, I've done things thicker.

Once bound, you can enjoy. I gave some away as presents, kept some for myself, and make sure to show them off to anyone who will appreciate them. It is a great way to reuse something that would just end up in the garbage anyways.

33 mpg

2010-12-21T10:49:00.003-07:00

Cars have come a long way since they first appeared on the scene. Lately you hear more and more about how fuel efficient cars can be. Hybrids are all the rage.

I find it funny to watch commercials for new cars getting 30 mpg. Wow! 30? I will NOT buy one with 30 mpg. Those are normally highway miles, which are better than normal driving around town. My old 1990 Mazda got 33 mpg around town, better on the open road. Now why the crap would I be so impressed with these cars claiming to get great millage that is worse than the older car I own, shouldn't it be the other way around? I think I'll stick with my Mazda.

Don't buy gas guzzlers, there is no need to. And a Hybrid? Really? I guess okay, but you have to plug it in and that energy has to come from somewhere as well doesn't it? Pollute the air as you drive, or before you drive.

Good movie, if you haven't seen it: "Who Killed the Electric Car"