Discover Your Bliss

Got eco-friendly font?

Did you know that there's eco-friendly font?  No?  I didn't either.  

You can visit ecofont.eu and download a font that uses 20 percent less ink each time you use it.  Who knew?  

Until you see the font, you might not notice anything different.  What's the difference and how does it use 20 percent less ink when printed?  Holes, simple as that - holes. 

The folks at Ecofont developed a font that is readable, yet has itty-bitty holes that don't use as much ink.  Good for the environment - good for you. 

Their motto:  Less is more. 

And if you're in the professional world and would like an eco-friendly professional font - they have that as well (the professional version isn't free).  

What will they think of next? 

How can you infuse creativity into the ordinary?  What does "thinking outside of the box" do for you? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

September 26th is National Public Lands Day

Alright, so if National Public Lands Day is Saturday, September 26th, then why am I writing about it now?  So you'll have plenty of notice for the upcoming day so you can make plans now. 

What is National Public Lands Day?

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. In 2008, 120,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, removed trash and invasive plants, and planted over 1.6 million trees.  (Per their website)

The National Public Lands Day site is a wealth of information - anything from already scheduled activities to the "how to" to create and lead your own project.  The possibilities are endless. 

What a great idea - coming together to help improve our public lands for all of us to enjoy. 

What will you do to honor this day?  How does public land factor into your everyday life? 

I'd love to to hear your comments and discoveries. 

How to recycle your electronics

I finally did something today that I've been wanting to do for years - I recycled my first laptop (from the late 1990s). 

For the longest time, I had the laptop in my apartment - partly because it still worked and it was my only connection to a 3.5 floppy drive. 

Three computers later, I finally made the decision to part ways with the electronic that paved the way to my current 17" beauty. 

I knew if I took the laptop to the thrift store, it would most-likely end up in the trash - and that didn't make me feel too hot, so I did a bit of research and stumbled upon a cool organization - California Recycles. 

Here's some cool information from their site:

"Tens' of millions of consumer electronics, such as computers, CRTs, and televisions are purchased each year in USA. Recent studies found that over 70% of such products are currently disposed of in landfills. It is estimated that in 2006 over 75% of the electronics not disposed of, will begin to hit the waste stream of record numbers.

The average television contains approximately 8 pounds of lead. The average computer contains 2.5 pounds of lead.

Not every electronics collector is a socially responsible recycler. Many collectors simply break functional electronics and dump the un-saleable remains. We all pay the price for this practice - our country’s landfills contain millions of tons of e-waste. Sadly, the remaining 50 percent of the electronics collected in the United States for recycling is shipped overseas. At California Recycles we are committed to environmentally sound best practices and certification from all those we do business with."


I had no idea that a lot of our electronic waste is shipped to other countries that do not have the containment restrictions that we do - now that's not helping our planet one bit.  

It feels good to have found a place that is responsible and goes above and beyond their environmental call to duty.  It's just downright blissful 

How can you be more responsible when recycling electronics?  How can educating yourself and others support our planet?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.   

Save the planet in style: Ecostiletto

Think that saving the planet has to be reserved for unfashionable people?  Think again.

At EcoStiletto, you can go "green" fashionably and follow the site's motto:  An EcoStilettoista is someone who reduces her Ugg-boot shaped carbon footprint to one the size of a itty-bitty Manolo. Stiletto-size me!

There's a fashion section, health and beauty section and design section - all geared to go green with style. 

The site is interactive as well as user-friendly.  You can check out the latest EcoCelebrity as well as a laundry list of eco-friendly links. 

How do you create your own style?  How do you combine fashion and saving the planet?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Homemade mosquito repellant

I found a pretty easy-to-make mosquito repellent. 

If you're like me and need to have some protection if those little suckers are around and don't like inhaling chemicals, then this might be a good alternative.

 

Combine the following in a glass spray bottle:

• 40 percent rubbing alcohol and 60 percent water (.8 ounces of alcohol and 1.2 ounces of water)

• 20 to 40 drops of citronella essential oil

• 10 to 20 drops each of lavender, eucalyptus, rose and geranium essential oil

Spray the mixture on clothing sparingly; on your skin apply one spritz if used daily, two if used only once or twice a week.  Don't reapply continuously as essential oils and rubbing alcohol can be toxic if used in large quantities.

I've recently discovered Mountain Rose Herbs - great essential oils.

How do you protect yourself from harm?  If you could create a spray to repel anything, what would it be?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

All-natural polish remover

I've been doing my part to go "green" by switching my cleaning products to eco-friendly alternatives.  In addition to cleaning products, I've also transitioned my shampoo, toothpaste and lotions. 

One of the more challenging products I've found to find a "green" replacement is my fingernail polish remover.  Almost every kind I find always contains some elements of chemicals and not-so-healthy ingredients. 

Thankfully, I've discovered an eco-friendly alternative that does its part to keep the earth "green" as well as give back to charitable causes. 

I introduce you to...PeaceKeeper Eco-Easy Nail Polish Remover. 

The company that makes the polish remover (PeaceKeeper) goes above and beyond to give back. 

peacekeeper cause-metics is the first cosmetics line to give all of its after-tax distributable profits to women’s health advocacy and urgent human rights issues. peacekeeper builds a bridge between extraordinary women in the land-of-plenty with extraordinary women who just by chance of birth don’t have our resources or opportunities.

How cool is that?  A wonderful eco-friendly product that also does good in the world. 

PeaceKeeper also promises that their products will be slavery free, fair wages, animal-loving and ethical. 

How does finding what you want with a philanthropic company feel?  How can you give to others while giving to yourself at the same time? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

Oprah's Earth Day Free Stuff & Discounts

Oprah's Earth Day show ended with a bang of discounts and a freebie for all. 

Just in case you didn't watch the show, I wanted to let everyone in on the coupons and offers.

Click here for Oprah's Earth Day offers.

The first offer is a free lunch tote from Wholefoods - so you better print out your coupon pronto before they're all gone. 

The second offer - is nothing but spectacular - a 20% off coupon for any purchase from SIGG.  Oh my gosh - I love SIGG bottles.  I started using one in March 2008, combined with putting a water filter on my kitchen since and haven't had to buy bottled water since - talk about saving the earth!

The final offer is a 20% off coupon for any purchase from To-Go Ware.  Here's the kicker on this coupon - I tried to visit the site last night and it had too much traffic and wasn't available.  I tried going there this morning and it didn't even load.  Hopefully, they'll have their technical difficulties worked out in time for everyone to get a chance to use their Oprah Earth Day coupon. 

All of the products are meant to encourage everyone to choose reusable products instead of disposable and save the earth of the tons and tons of trash in our landfills and oceans. 

How does choosing to make a difference by using re-usable items feel?  What's one thing you can do to support the earth in breathing a healthy breath? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day is celebrated in 175 countries and began in 1970 when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson created it as an environmental teach-in day. 

What will you do to celebrate?  Take your lunch?  Buy organic?  Unplug electronics when not in use?  Plant a tree?

There's so many things one can do for Earth Day - the possibilities are endless!

You can always Google "earth day" and the name of your city or state to find out a schedule of local activities. 

If you have children, today can be a day of celebration and learning.  Remember that children learn best by example - so do what you say.  It will sink into them deeper. 

I am going to call my building manager and find out the status of our sprinkler system for our flower beds so I can get to work planting healthy plants and flowers for all to enjoy. 

How can you make the most of Earth Day?  What's one thing that you can do today that will make a positive impact in the earth's future? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.   

Simplify your life tip: Save money, increase joy

In honor of Earth Day (April 22, 2009), here's an eco-friendly tip that will increase your joy, save you money and help the earth. 

Be sure to take your own bags to the grocery store or shopping center so you can cut down on the amount of plastic and paper bags in use.

How does this save you money?  Stores like Wholefoods and Albertson's will give you 5 cents back for each bag you bring in to use.  Does this make you rich?  No, yet it does help the earth and eventually cut down on the store's cost for bags.  It's a win-win.

Just in case you're on the forgetful side - be sure to place a few extra bags in the trunk of your car in case you're caught shopping with no spare bags.  Your back up bags in the truck will be the perfect replacement (just remember to put the bags back in your trunk after you're done with them). 

How does being prepared to save money and help the environment support you?  How important is helping the earth in your daily life?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Save Money and Energy with your Microwave

Did you know that your microwave will use more energy throughout its lifetime powering the clock than heating up your food? 

 

I had no idea that something as simple as a clock could use that much energy. 

Never fear, you've got two options to end this energy drain and save yourself some green on your next power bill:

• disable the microwave clock function
• unplug the microwave when you're not using it

Pretty simple, huh?  And to think something that presents itself as a silent tool (clock on microwave) can be such an energy and money drain. 

Learning this information is bliss to my ears (and pocketbook and respect of the earth's resources). 

 
What's something in your life that presents itself as innocent or harmless, yet is more important or doing more harm than you might realize?  How can you uncover these little "energy drainers" and what's your first step in making a shift?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.