Make this summer a GREEN summer!

Summer is fast approaching, so what better way to thank Mother Nature for the wonderful, sunny, warm weather than by going green?

1. Skip the toxic fragrance sprays, plug-ins, and fresheners and opt for wide open windows. Why spend upwards of five dollars for synthetic smells like: Fresh Rain, Summer Breeze, or Spring Renewal? Go all natural and let the scents of fresh cut grass, warming sunshine, and summer rain scent your home. 

2. Skip the dryer and hang your clothes outside to dry. Not only will your electric bill thank you, but so will your clothes. The sun naturally brightens whites and infuses your clothes will natural fragrance, no need for scented softeners here. Here's what the website MomAdvice has to say about line-drying: There are many great benefits to utilizing a clothesline. One of the best benefits of line drying your clothes is that they will last much longer than they would if they were just thrown in the dryer. Did you ever think about how much lint is in your dryer when you are done drying it? That is actually all of the worn-away fabric, that would have remained on your garments if you had line dried them. Zippers cause snagging on clothing when tossed in the dryer, but when line dried your garments will remain intact.

The other added benefit is that you save yourself some dough in the process. Did you know that electric dryers are often among the top energy-uses in a home, followed by refrigerators, lighting and water heaters? Not only will you save on your electricity bill, but you can also save on laundry products. The sun is a natural whitener, so no need to buy any bleach. Static cling is created by clothing rubbing together, but if your clothing is hung out to dry it is not necessary to buy any dryer sheets.

3. Say no to toxic insect repellents. Light up citronella candles or try some all natural bug sprays. Wellness Mama has some great recipes that you can check out HERE.

4. Turn off the A/C. Save energy and opt for 'black-out' style curtains instead. You can buy special curtains made especially for reflecting the sunlight to help keep rooms cool, and subsequently keep heat in during the winter months. Find some examples of blackout curtains HERE. 

5. Use your 'food waste' to help grow your flowers. Keep an empty coffee can, drill a few holes into the top, add a charcoal filter and voila! A homemade compost container. When it's full, give your plants a tasty treat! DIYNaturals has a great step-by-step guide to making your own HERE.

6. Say no to the car, and bike or walk. We were all teens once, before we were granted our driver's licenses. So what did we do to get where we needed to go? We biked! There are great 'street-cruiser' bikes out there now, most equipped with baskets for carrying your goods. Carrying a backpack works well too. Bike to the market, or close by stores rather than wasting gas. Improve your carbon footprint this summer by using your car as little as possible.

7. Go on picnics rather than restaurants. There are tons of cute new picnic baskets out there nowadays. So pack one up, head for a grassy spot, and enjoy! Pack lots of fresh fruits and veggies that are biodegradable to cut down on waste you have to bring back with you. There are tons of reusable lunch containers as well, and lots can be found that are not plastic - an added bonus! THIS is a great site to check out for both items!

What other ways do you plan on going green this summer? Let me know!

5 Easy Ways to Green Up Your Day

So you might want to start 'Greening Up' your life but aren't sure where to start, or are looking to ease your way into a greener lifestyle. The main thing that you need to change, is your way of thinking. Rather than thinking convenience, think reuse. Anything that can be used more than one time is what you want to utilize. Check out the 5 tips below to get started!

1. Switch to reusable bags and forego the plastic bag.

Most grocery stores offer reusable bags now. My local store charge $.99 per bag. If you don't want to purchase bags, use tote bags or canvas bags that you may have laying around the house. Purchase cheesecloth to make your own bulk/produce bags, or make (or buy) the crochet or nylon versions you can find online.

2. Bring your lunch in glass containers (Tupperware if you are not anti-plastic) and skip paper lunch bags, and snack or sandwich bags. Anywhere you can reuse items from your home and not have to throw out paper, or plastic goods is what we're aiming for. 

3. Bring your own coffee cup when you stop for your morning coffee. Most places offer mugs for sale and will accept your mug and even give you a discount on your coffee. Tim Horton's does this, if you have them in your area. Also, when going out to eat you can bring your own Tupperware or glass container to stow away your leftovers so you can skip the un-Earth-friendly styrofoam.

4. Buy refill soap for your hand soap, laundry soap, and dish soap.

Method Brand offers (recyclable) bagged refills so all you need to do is refill your dispenser without creating added waste. This generally cuts down on cost too, as they typically cost less than buying a whole new container.

5. Ditch the paper towels for cleaning and dusting and start using old t-shirts.

We all have shirts we don't wear anymore, so instead of throwing them out (definitely donate if they're still in really good, wearable condition. But if you have a man in the house then use those old undershirts and just cut off any gross armpitty places, lol) cut them up into squares and use them to clean up, and just wash regularly when needed.

If you have any tips for "Going 'Easy' Green" let me know in the comments below!