Season of Giving

“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”

— Albert Einstein

Tomorrow is December 1st; the start of Hanukkah for some and the first day to begin an Advent calendar for others.  In general, this is known as a "Season of Giving".  With that in mind, I was delighted by a Facebook page that my husband found today.  It's called Karma Experiment.  The purpose of this page is to give people a forum via which they can gift something away - no strings attached.  The onus lies completely with the giver - choosing what to pass on to others, posting a photo, and shipping - at no cost to the random recipient.  A complete act of love.

Let's all give it a try... 
 

Help us make recycling work in America. More than a celebration, America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling programs in the United States. One day to inform and educate. One day to get our neighbors, friends and community leaders excited about what can be accomplished when we all work together. One day to make recycling bigger and better-365 days a year. Let's make recycling work in our communities. Get Involved:

Shred, Baby, Shred!

"All of the animals except for man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it." 

~ Samuel Butler

Being a professional organizer, I love, Love, Love shredding outdated or useless paper!  Oh my goodness, the amount of paper that we all get stuck under sometimes is the most daunting obstacle to peace in our lives, don't you think?  It covers our counters, our coffee tables, our cars, our purses, our desks and our dining room tables!  Some people will actually swear that it breeds when they leave the house.  I've seen enough of it to think that they might be right!  

Well, today I treated myself to a little excursion.  My hair-stylist, Mandy at Media Hair Stop, has often mentioned that she brings her shredded paper to the local SPCA so I decided to give it a try.  What a wonderful experience!  I showed up with a bag of paper shreddings and an old torn sheet to donate.  I was surprised at how happy they were to receive my ragged gifts.  They said they can use old sheets or towels and ALWAYS need shredded paper to use as cat litter.  It was great satisfaction to know both that my house was liberated from it's documentary dilemma and that a worthy institution might benefit from my diligence!

You can bet that the Media SPCA will see me on their doorstep next month!  Why not give it a try?  Find your local SPCA and start shredding!

Recycling Batteries

"We have found the sources of hazardous waste and they are us."

— US EPA, from "Everybody's Problem: Hazardous Waste"

A household electronics waste collection was being held locally last week and I was happy to read that this also included the collection of batteries!  
This made me happy because about a year ago I decided that it was irresponsible to throw old, used batteries in the trash with all of the chemicals that they contain.  
 I put a quart sized plastic container near my kitchen garbage pail and used that to collect the refuse until I found an acceptable alternative to sending it to a landfill and voila!  One finally arrived.
I loaded up my old printers, grabbed my battery bucket and off I went to the collection event. 

Further investigation has shown that rechargeable batteries are the best choice as far as prevention - but only if they are then recycled.   
Another useful tidbit I've learned is that some retail stores (Home Depot, Radio Shack, Sears...) have used-battery take back programs.
Want to test your knowledge?        Take a Quiz!

How cool is this?!?!

"Eventually we'll realize that if we destroy the ecosystem, we destroy ourselves."

— Jonas Salk , American physician and microbiologist, 1914-95

Biodegradable peanuts!  No, not the ones you eat and not the ones in the comic strip.  The ones you pack boxes with.  Packing peanuts!

My husband received a package today and called me over to the sink after he had opened it.  He handed me a packing peanut from the box and asked me to hold it under the hot water he had running in the sink.  I held it there for just a second as it instantly dissolved in my hand.  The box included a card stating that the material used to make them is "starch based, non-toxic, static free, reusable and compostable..." 

How cool is this?!?!

If you want to know more details about this environmentally friendly choice, take a look at this YouTube video.

'Off to College' Furniture Excursion!

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed."

— Mahatma Gandhi

My daughter's move from underclassman dorm room to apartment life this past weekend afforded me the opportunity to check out a local thrift store that I've heard tell of.
The apartment Rebecca and her friends chose was unfurnished and thrift store shopping seemed like the environmentally (3R's), fiscally (tight budgets) and mentally (no worries about new furniture being used by college students) responsible way to handle this challenge.
So.... off the the Habitat ReStore we went!

Habitat ReStores are thrift stores set up to collect and re-sell all sorts of appliances and home furnishings from lighting to dishwashers, coffee tables to kitchen sinks (really).  At the one we visited, the staff checks the quality and operational ability of donated items and then prices them to sell.
The best part was that, at the same time we were skipping to the car with Rebecca's new kitchen table and chairs, we were feeling the contentment of knowing that our money was going to Habitat for Humanity - an organization making noticeable differences right here in our own city.
Look and see if there's a ReStore in your area - it's a fun outing and you just might pick up a $5 coffee table...we did!

Saying "Yes"

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

— Edmund Burke

Over the past several weeks I have had the opportunity to travel to several states for a few various reasons - visiting colleges that my son was considering, taking training programs, attending a national conference for professional organizers...

During this busy time one theme has emerged and re-emerged in various places from various people and has been stated in different ways.  The theme is this:

Changing the world is up to ME.

Some of the ways that it has been said are:

            "If it's to be, it's up to me."

                                                     "If not you, then who?"

                   "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

So, this week  my blog is a challenge.  It is a challenge that I am posing to myself and that I ask my readers to consider accepting for themselves.  

The challenge is simply this:  Say "YES" to whatever possibilities for bettering the world present themselves to you over the next 2 weeks.  Donations, volunteerism, interpersonal requests for support, neighborhood planting/cleanup/recycle events.... 

The opportunities confront us almost daily if we choose to acknowledge them - donate a dollar outside the grocery store, offer to watch a neighbor's kid for an hour, participate in a school or church outreach event.  

And remember, whatever you choose to DO, the resulting "change" is up to YOU. 

BE the Change

and enjoy the new world you are creating!

Wrap It Right

"Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations."

- Jean Paul Richter, German Romantic novelist and humorist

I am on a flight back to Philadelphia from having spent the past week in Seattle, WA. My family and I lived out in the Seattle area from 2001-2004 and we took a short trip out there to visit a couple of colleges that have accepted my youngest son.

Being in Seattle for a week reminded me of the strong “coffee culture” that we left behind. Although there are many places around the U.S. to find a good cup of coffee, there is no place that fully encompasses the total coffee experience quite like Washington State. In the short time I was back, I found it hard to move from one activity to the next without first stopping at a Starbucks. This is not much of a stretch as there is some type of coffee shop or espresso stand everywhere you go. Everywhere. Even way up in the mountains at the foot of a trail you’re about to hike in the middle of nowhere!

One thing I came across on this trip was a Caribou Coffee Shop in the Minneapolis airport. At the shop they had a stand of re-usable coffee sleeves. While I stood waiting, I read the sign by the sleeves giving stats about how many coffee sleeves are used and discarded daily. Thinking about this and about how much coffee this trip encompassed, I really liked the idea. It’s one of those things that could seem frivolous to some but, if stopping for coffee (or any other hot drink) is part of your daily grind (sorry, I couldn’t help myself!) then getting or making your own re-usable sleeve is a small way to start making a big difference. Even though the cardboard sleeves are often recycled and biodegradable, why not keep from adding to the tons of garbage we create. Besides, the re-usable ones are sort of nifty!

I’ve looked up a couple of sites, like Caribou Coffee and She Sews Lovely, where you can order one of these sleeves. They can range from as low as $1 to $8. Check ‘em out!

I’m going to order one and plan on having a “craft day” this summer to make some myself - keep an eye out for some pics!

Fast - Pray - Give

For many, this time of year is known as Lent.  "Lent" is the term given to the forty days leading up to Easter.  It is normally characterized by fasting.  

The primary question asked by people who are familiar with the tradition of Lent is, "What are you giving up?"  And traditionally the answers are "chocolate," "ice cream," 
"TV," and the like.  

In actuality Lent is meant to be a tool that we use to prepare our hearts and homes.  A way of turning down the static that the everyday frenzy of life creates so that we can focus on our values and take some time to see if our life is aligned to those values. 

To sum this up, it is a time to: 

-Fast (from the excesses that have built up over the past year),  

-Pray (think about our goals & values, hopes & dreams, actions & in-actions), and  

-Give (put our values into practice). 

I have found a wonderful website that makes getting involved in Lent fun and easy.  It has a Lenten calendar that offers very brief inspirational messages as well as different goals for each of the forty days.  Look on the right side of this page to find the link to Busted Halo and join in. 

By practicing what we preach 

we can all be 

a Ray of Hope in this world, 

no matter what our faith or belief.

Some more cleaning products...

A company called biokleen recently sent me some of their product samples and I have been trying them out over the past 2 weeks.  They sent me samples of their Laundry Liquid, Bac-Out Stain and Odor Eliminator, and some Dish Liquid.

The Laundry Liquid: It is a 32oz bottle that washes 32 regular loads (64 HE loads).  It is scented with grapefruit & orange extracts.  I actually like using this detergent.  I personally think that the smell is pleasant and not overpowering.  My clothes come out clean and there are not a lot of extra soapy suds in the washer like some of the regular detergents I've tried. 
The Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator:  Also a 32oz bottle, is scented with lime extract.  The bottle lists it's uses to include not only stain and odor removal from laundry and carpets but also general cleaning, including bathrooms & mold/mildew removal.  Although I do like the smell of lime, I really didn't find this product to work very well.  It didn't leave much of any type of smell (either limey or clean) after I cleaned the house with it.  I also tried it on some laundry stains and saw no results.
The Hand Moisturizing Dish Liquid:  Another 32 oz bottle scented the same as the laundry liquid.  I've been using it liberally to wash pots, pans and dishes and am finding that liberally is how I have to use it.  It does not go nearly as long a way as my regular dish liquid.  I am constantly pouring more onto my sponge.  To be fair though, I am still washing dishes with the water running the entire time and the bottle does recommend that you fill the sink, add a capful to the water, and then wash them.  I also do not feel that it has been mild or moisturizing to my hands at all.  One other use listed on the bottle is as a pet shampoo.  Maybe I'll find better luck using it like that.
Finally, Biokleen's products must be purchased in stores (Whole Foods carries them as well as other health stores) and not through their website.
Of the three products I would only comfortably recommend the laundry detergent.
In the meantime, my dish-washing habits remind me that I need to work on trying to conserve water a bit better!  If you have any suggestions about water conservation let me know.

Household Cleaners

"Many common household cleaners today can contain potentially dangerous toxins that can lead to illness, fatigue, and disease. Businesses, hospitals, and schools are switching to our environmentally safe, effective cleaners to increase health among family members, clients, and employees while decreasing disposal costs of traditional household toxins and preserving our environment."

- Seaside Naturals

Seaside Naturals is the first company that accepted my invitation to send me some green cleaning products to use and review.  I received their multipurpose cleaner and Lavender Linen Water products almost 2 weeks ago and have been using them liberally.  Here's what I've found:
I can clean my whole bathroom with the Seaside Naturals Multi-Purpose Cleaner - mirrors, tile, floor and walls.  As a glass cleaner it is working beautifully with no streaks.  I have sprayed it onto mildew and the mildew (surprisingly) wiped right off.  I also really like not having to use multiple products.  It makes my inner-organizer very happy.     I have also used the mpc in my kitchen.  It's working great on my stove-top as well as my counter-tops and white porcelain sink.    The smell is lemony and for once I don't feel like I'm burning out my lungs or destroying the skin on my hands when I clean.  And, although my 19 year old daughter says it smells like Chinese chicken salad, the smell is a clean one.      As for the Lavender Linen Water, I used it on couches, bed-skirts and shoe storage.  The fragrance is a little soapy smelling and it really doesn't last too long.  I tried spraying it on a couple of light bulbs (as recommended) but with no real result.

I plan on ordering refills of the Multi-Purpose cleaner and recommend that it is well worth trying.  I am also planning on joining their affiliate program this week and a link will be added to this blog and my All Right Organizing website for your convenience.                                      

Simple Green has also sent a few small product samples  and coupons that I will distribute  at my speaking engagements.  If you have any experience with their products let us hear about it.

Finally, I received several products from Biokleen, including laundry detergent, dish detergent and stain remover - along with lots of samples.  I am just starting to try these products and their reviews will be forthcoming.  

 

Going Green in January

"In the long term, economic sustainability depends on ecological sustainability."
— “America’s Living Oceans” [Pew Oceans Report, 2003]

In October of 2009 I had the good fortune to attend a presentation given by Jean-Michel Cousteau at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia as part of speaker series offered by Widener University. Jean-Michel is the son of famed marine biologist Jacques Cousteau. His presentation was fun and friendly and very eye-opening. Because of his involvement with global environmental issues and actions he was able to shed light on the true inter-connectedness of life on this planet - the web of existence of which we are all a part and how actions at one point on the globe have world-wide ramifications.

Wow. That's a lot to think about. The GLOBE is very large. My personal small actions are nothing against that magnitude.

Ok, so I've decided to think on a smaller scale. My house. My own business.

One New Year's resolution I have made is that I am going to switch from buying the harsh chemicals that I normally use for cleaning and try out some "GREEN" products this year. To this end, I have already reviewed some products and contacted a few companies whose products I think I might like to try.

To make it easier for others to bypass some of this legwork, I will let you know via this blog and my website which products I like. Please take a look and join me in this mission to take ownership of our world.

I pray that these small steps will empower us toward the environmental and economic sustainability that our families, towns, country and world need!