Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends
Green
- The bagging and raking of falling autumn leaves is a common weekend ritual for most people. But there is no point in increasing work for yourself when you can use these fallen leaves for decorating your garden. So instead of bagging leaves and cleaning up your garden, use the following five ways to use them in your garden.
Saving Autumn Leaves
(Read-Get Your Kids to Like Gardening)
1. Compost - Shredded or chopped autumn leaves can ideally be added to a compost pile using a lawn mower, leaf vac, or a shredder/chipper. These leaves can be added as high-carbon, brown material for the compost. The simple tip is to alternate the brown layer of autumn leaves with regular green things in the compost pile (such as fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, weeds, and other types of plants) and leave it in that state for the winter. Turn or aerate the compost pile often and the compost will be completed by the planting time.
The composting can also be used for lasagna gardening, in case you are a
...Read More » - Thu, Nov 29, 2012 10:26 AM EST | Comments
These cleaning agents wash, scrub, and scour - in addition to boasting fresh scents, attractive packaging, and eco-friendly formulas.
See more from HouseBeautiful.com:
10 Quick Home Decorating Ideas
The Biggest Kitchen Design Mistakes
Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
There are many reasons that homeowners may be looking to complete energy efficient home improvement projects such as installing double glazing and fitting insulated garage doors.
With the majority of homeowners falling into the categories of "looking to have lower utility bills each month" or "wishing to reduce the overall environmental impact the family has on the planet" there are now many solutions available that are readily available and cost far less than you may imagine, especially when you factor in the long term cost savings.
Read Also - 5 Ways to Prepare Your Home for fall
Whilst many home improvement projects tend to focus on improving the look of our homes in the desire to make them more appealing and valuable and think nothing of spending vast amounts of money on the latest kitchen or bathroom, the same cannot be said about improving the thermal efficiency of our homes.
Although there are many ways of increasing energy efficiency within the home, some projects
...Read More »- By Amanda MacMillan
Photo: Alison Gootee/Studio D
Well-Served
The couple behind Ladies & Gentlemen Studio salvage vintage serving utensils by restoring shine and giving handles a cheerful color treatment
Server, $60 each; LadiesandGentlemenStudio.com
Skipping a paper towel in favor of a cotton tea towel--like this handwoven, fair-trade version by Creative Women--can make a big impact: It's been estimated that if everyone did this just once a day, Americans would save 571 million pounds of paper a year
Tea towel, from $28; CreativeWomen.net for stores
Cheers!
Photo: Alison Gootee/Studio D
Pack a bottle of organic bubbly in a wine tote (made from old sails!) that encourages re-gifting. Write the date and recipient's name on the bag's "log," and start it on a journey around the world--or at least your circle of friends.
From $35; SeaBags.com
Bottoms Up
Photo: Courtesy of Wine Punts
Made from wine bottles recycled from restaurants, these hip Wine Punts drinking glasses take their name from the dimple
...Read More » Doctors suggest organic food isn't always the best option.
By Leah Rocketto for TheBump.com
To Go Organic or Not?
Stocking up on organic foods? You'll want to read this before throwing them into the shopping cart.
For the past decade, people have bought organic products thinking they're the healthier option. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), however, has released a report stating that organic products may not offer as many nutritional benefits as people think. The AAP also, for the first time ever, offered advice for pediatricians when it comes to talking with patients about feeding their children organic foods.
The best first foods for baby (and a few to avoid)
The report, released today on the AAP website, analyzed several studies regarding organic and nonorganic (or conventionally grown) foods, and the results were mixed. When examining produce, the AAP says that "many studies demonstrate no important differences in carbohydrates or vitamin or mineral content." That being said, some studies f...Read More »
I can't believe I'm about to say this, but Christmas is only days away, and I've yet to put up a tree in my house. I blame it on a crazy schedule -- somehow the month is slipping away, and I haven't found time to get my holiday cheer going on. Maybe you're in a similar boat, or maybe you have a teeny-tiny living space and think you can't fit a tree in your home on top of everything else. Or, heck, maybe the budget just isn't there this year (because, honestly, trees and the decorations they require really aren't cheap)! Or, better yet, maybe you're trying to be a bit greener this holiday season. Whatever the case may be, I've rounded up some cool Christmas tree alternatives that would appeal to any and all of those in situations such as these. Click through for 7 Christmas tree alternatives if you don't want to chop one down! - By Cyd Converse
MORE ON BABBLE
10 simple ways to go green in 201320 awesome ways to repurpose IKEA furniture
...Read More »
10 creative ways to display holiday photo cardLooking to have a greener holiday season this year? Consider setting a pared-down table for your dinner this year -- think minimalist chic combined with lots of all-natural and nature-inspired features. Add some natural linens, beeswax candles and serve food in handmade pottery. It's a win-win situation -- your table will look gorgeous and you'll be saving the planet! Here are 8 fabulous ideas. - By Chelsea Fuss
MORE ON BABBLE
10 ways to keep your home eco-friendly during the holidays
16 natural household cleaners that actually work
25 eco-friendly gifts for everyone on your list
...Read More »I've never been a poinsettia fan. I think they could be pretty in the right context but they've just been overdone for me. If you want to liven up your house this winter and this holiday season with some festive plants, take a look at some of my favorites below! - By Chelsea Fuss
MORE ON BABBLE
10 simple changes you can make to go green in the new year6 simple ways to green your holidays
20 things you can live without to reduce clutter
...Read More »Stocking stuffers have always been one of my favorite things about shopping for the holidays. This year for some reason I've been gravitating towards the earthy variety, think sage, alder, and juniper to start. Add a dash of balsam and a little leather, and you have a selection of some real down-to-earth ideas. Click through for 7 ideas: - By Jan Halvarson
MORE ON BABBLE
6 simple ways to green your holidays
10 holiday DIYs for your home decor
10 simple changes you can make to go green in the new year
...Read More »- Well, this is interesting. Swedish retail giant H&M has taken on a global clothes collection initiative in order to combat textile waste that'll not only benefit the environment, but will benefit you, too.
H&M Store
Come February of next year, you'll be able to pack up the hoards of unwanted or unworn clothing clogging your closet and bring them to H&M stores in all 48 markets, where you'll receive one discount voucher per every bag donated.
The Swedish retailer will be the first of its kind to launch an initiative like this, though they've been somewhat invested in the sustainable fashion movement, debuting an eco-friendly red-carpet line that launched last April.
What's more, H&M will be accepting any brand of clothing-not just its own-in any condition, and plans to repurpose donations in order to thwart the outrageously high percentage (nearly 95%) of clothes that are discarded as trash, when they could be recycled and reused.
As if we didn't already love H&M enough for it's affordable cl...Read More » - The bagging and raking of falling autumn leaves is a common weekend ritual for most people. But there is no point in increasing work for yourself when you can use these fallen leaves for decorating your garden. So instead of bagging leaves and cleaning up your garden, use the following five ways to use them in your garden.
Saving Autumn Leaves
(Read-Get Your Kids to Like Gardening)
1. Compost - Shredded or chopped autumn leaves can ideally be added to a compost pile using a lawn mower, leaf vac, or a shredder/chipper. These leaves can be added as high-carbon, brown material for the compost. The simple tip is to alternate the brown layer of autumn leaves with regular green things in the compost pile (such as fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, weeds, and other types of plants) and leave it in that state for the winter. Turn or aerate the compost pile often and the compost will be completed by the planting time.
The composting can also be used for lasagna gardening, in case you are a
...Read More » 
My only son, Jermaine Edwards, died in 2009 at just 24 years old. Three years later, I'm still being forced by First Marblehead Corporation to pay off Jermaine's student debt - even though he'll never have the chance to use his college education.
Jermaine was a wonderful young man and the light of my life. But he didn't just cast a spell on me - Jermaine had a talent for getting people to love him anywhere he went. When he went to college to study music production, I was happy to cosign his student loans. He dreamed of making a better life for himself. What mother wouldn't have wanted to help her only son do that?
Click Here to Watch Weird VIDEO About The 5 Foods that KILL Abdominal Fat!
Then the unthinkable happened. I still don't know how or why Jermaine died. The doctors say they couldn't find anything wrong with him. But I do know he was a good man, my wonderful son, to the end.
When Jermaine died, I was left emotionally devastated, in a depression so deep I coul...Read More »
Lindsay Lohan is certainly no stranger to spending a night in the slammer, but her latest arrest Wednesday night at NYC club Avenue, where she punched fellow club patron Tiffany Ava Mitchell, marked her first ever arrest on an assault-related charge.
The historic event allegedly took place when LiLo sensed that Mitchell was also vying for the attention of Max George, a member of British boy band The Wanted, with whom Lohan had been reportedly flirting. Earlier that night, Lohan attended a Justin Bieber concert at Madison Square Garden, where George's band was the opening act.
Click Here to Watch Weird VIDEO About The 5 Foods that KILL Abdominal Fat!
Mitchell's husband, Wayne Stevens, who witnessed the fight, said that Lohan told his wife she needed "space" before hitting her in the face.
"She pushed my wife pretty hard, and I don't know why [Lohan] pushed her," Stevens told the NY Daily News. "She comes around and told my wife, 'I need space' ... and then she just pu...Read More »
It is a repeat of last year's final, when Landon Donovan's solitary goal gave Galaxy the victory.
But the build-up to this season's showpiece event has been overshadowed by the former Manchester United man's decision to quit the California club.
"There's an excitement around the team and around the club. It's been an enjoyable week," said Beckham.
The frontrunners for Beckham's signature seem to be French side Monaco after their chief executive officer Tor-Kristian Karlsen told BBC Sport: "We are happy with our current squad, but if there's a chance to get a player of Beckham's stature, we'd be foolish not to explore it."
Click Here to Watch Weird VIDEO About The 5 Foods that KILL Abdominal Fat!
If selected, the Englishman will line-up in the final alongside former Everton loanee Donovan and Robbie Keane, who spent the majority of his career in the Premier League, in his last game for the club.
Having spent six years in America, it will be the third grand final ap...Read More »
MOST POPULAR
Today on Yahoo!
Follow Shine
PICK OF THE DAY
By Kate RockwoodThe back of a soap bottle may not seem like a fascinating read, but ignoring the label can be bad for you and the planet. I remember the first time I idly scanned the ingredient list on my dollar-store body wash. "What the heck is ethyl paraben?" I wondered. Squeaky clean and seated at a computer ten minutes later, I learned that parabens (a common synthetic preservative in soap, body wash, and shampoo) can be hormone disrupters, potentially affecting fertility. Yikes. ...