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Showing posts from May, 2009

The Power Vampires are Eating You Alive!

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This is true!! I ran an experiment, recording the power useage with all my crap plugged but not in use, and then with it all unplugged or shut off using off switches on the power strips. OMG!! The savings are incredible. Go ahead. Try it for yourself. My Mom turned me on to this one. (pun intended) Daily Update Latest Environmental News Friday, May 29 2009 Vampire power costs There's a lot of interest in the fact that many electronic devices in our homes are using energy even while they are turned off or not being used.  But, how much money do these energy vampires really suck up? For many people, the standby power used by one device will seem minuscule, but the costs can add up when you take into account just how many things we all have plugged in. What's more, many households, have multiple televisions, computers, cordless phones, and others. All... More on this story >> HOME PAGE LIVING GREEN TRANSPORTATION FOOD + HEALTH R

Olive Oil as a Beauty Aid?

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Olive Oil is a beauty aid? This blog says so!     Lena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com

Humor: SOUTHERN WOMEN

We've all see this truism about the south. Well, after I refresh your memory, I've got my own additions to this: Southern women appreciate their natural assets: Clean skin. A winning smile. That unforgettable Southern drawl. Southern women know their manners: "Yes, ma'am." "Yes, sir." "Why, no, Billy!" Southern women have a distinct way with fond expressions: "Y'all come back!" "Well, bless your heart." "Drop by when you can." "How's your Momma?" Southern women know their summer weather report: Humidity Humidity Humidity Southern women know their vacation spots: The beach The rivuh The crick Southern women know the joys of June, July, and August: Colorful hi-heel sandals Strapless sun dresses Iced sweet tea with mint Southern women know everybody's first name: Honey Darlin' Shugah Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts: Fried Green Tomatoes Driving Miss Daisy Steel Magno

Recycle--Beads from Plastic bottles

Beads from plastic bottles!! How cool is this?   http://www.threadbanger.com/thread-heads/post/1897/how-to-make-beads-from-old-plastic-bottles   Lena Austin http://www.lenaaustin.com/ http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/  

Threadbanger-- Funny FREE knits and crochet patterns

I had to share these when I found them.   You have just got to see these to believe it. I laughed. Which do you like best? I'm trying to decide between the crochet thong, the shark hat, or the adorable toilet paper.   http://www.threadbanger.com/post/12543/weekly-diy-roundup-funny-knit-patterns   Just click on the words in brownish-orange to be taken to the patterns.   Lena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com  

National Curb Day Today! I'm so there.

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I love this idea! I have a pile of stuff that didn't sell in my garage sale last month. Why not put it out on the curb and let the neighbors have it? Last time I put a refrigerator on the curb, it took less than an hour for two guys and a truck to grab it and run. We waved and wished them well from our window.   I'm doing this today! Daily Update Latest Environmental News Friday, May 15 2009 Curb Day: How to empty your house of old junk (this Saturday) (Photo: Jim Green / Getty Images) Want to ditch your unwanted possessions and find new treasures, too? Try the first national "Curb Day" this Saturday, May 16, when, thanks to the effort of one man with a penchant for trash, people around the country will swap old but useable stuff by leaving it curbside for passersby to pick up, take home, and make their own. What better way to put into practice the green mantra: Reduce, reuse, recycle? It may take time for Curb Day to ... More on thi

Fw: Yahoo! Green Daily Update

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Wow!! What a great idea. I'll put my stuff out for Curb Day.   Lena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com   ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Yahoo! Green <alerts@yahoo-inc.com> To: voiceomt2002@yahoo.com Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 3:41:58 PM Subject: Yahoo! Green Daily Update Daily Update Latest Environmental News Friday, May 15 2009 Curb Day: How to empty your house of old junk (this Saturday) (Photo: Jim Green/Getty Images) Want to ditch your unwanted possessions and find new treasures, too? Try the first national "Curb Day" this Saturday, May 16, when, thanks to the effort of one man with a penchant for trash, people around the country will swap old but useable stuff by leaving it curbside for passersby to pick up, take home, and make their own. What better way to put into practice the green mantra: Reduce, reuse, recycle? It may take time for Curb Day to catch o... More on this story &g

Lena's red glad

Want to see my new gladiola bloom? I'm so proud of this mailbox garden!   http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u323/voiceomt2002/Garden%20and%20Herbs/HPIM1068.jpg   Lena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com  

Five Simple ways to Save Time and Money on Your Lawn

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I'm always struck when I travel outside the United States how rare it is to see large expanses of lawn in residential areas in most other countries. Americans are truly grass crazy. We're downright sod-o-maniacs, you might say. But our dandelion-free, putting green-perfect lawns are tough on the environment and tough on our wallets. Between the water they require, the pesticides and fertilizers, and pollutant spewing, four-cycle lawnmowers , our lawns really aren't as green as they look. And with U.S. lawn care services now a $12 billion annual industry, our lawns are cutting a lot of the green out of our bank accounts as well. Basic lawn-care service averages about $120 to $150 per month, which could easily be an expense of $1,000 a year or more depending on where you live and the length of the growing season. Author Michael Pollan wrote, "A lawn is nature under totalitarian rule." Down with the dictator!, I say. Why not reduce the size of your lawn this s

Picnic Hot Dog Platter

Picnic Hot Dog Platter Prep: 10 min. Grill: 20 min. Ingredients 12 frankfurters , uncooked bratwurst, smoked pork sausages , veal sausages, turkey sausages, vegetarian frankfurters, or other favorites 1 dozen frankfurther or bratwurst buns or French-style rolls , split 1 recipe Tart Apple Mustard , Bacon Brown-Sugar Mustard, and/or Early Girl Tomato Mustard (recipes follows) Other condiments , such as chopped pickled peppers , sliced tomatoes, pickle relish , and crumbled cooked bacon (optional) Directions 1. Pierce uncooked sausages all over with a fork or cut several shallow crosswise slits in each uncooked sausage. 2. In a grill with a cover arrange preheated coals around a drip pan. Test for medium heat above the pan. Grill uncooked sausages on grill rack above the drip pan turning once for 20 to 25 minutes or until brown and a thermometer registers 170 degrees F. Grill frankfurters and cooked sausages on grill rack above the drip pan for 10 minutes or until brown and

Forward: From Michelle Hasker-- Easiest Peanut Butter Fudge

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----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Michelle Hasker <michellehasker@yahoo.com> To: trsblue@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2009 4:22:46 PM Subject: [trsblue] now that i'm hungry THE EASIEST PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla 3/4 cup peanut butter Put sugar and milk in pan and bring to a boil. Boil two and a half minutes. Remove from heat and add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir just until mixed well. Pour into greased pan (the smaller the pan, the thicker the fudge will be). Cool and cut. __._,_.___ Messages in this topic ( 1 ) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Calendar Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity   3 New Members   4 New Photos Visit Your Group Give Back Yahoo! for Good Get inspir

Green Manufactured Homes! How cool is that?

Now this is a manufactured home I'd happily live in! I love the idea of the new iHome!   http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090506/ap_on_re_us/us_clayton_i_house   Lena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com  

From Trash To Treasure

Look at this great article on what to do with your clutter-- http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/68/from-trash-to-treasure.html I'll add that I use Craigslist, and Freecycle mostly. However, if I ever wanted to get rid of something I know is a collectible, such as my Rusty Warren album, I'd go to Amazon.com in a heartbeat to increase my chance of getting a fair price.

The Scavenger's Blog-- The No-Cost Garden

I thought I was a pretty frugal gardener, but these folks make me look like a spendthrift. http://scavenging.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/the-2009-no-cost-garden/   I am seriously impressed with their methods and manifesto, and I'll implement their ideas immediately. While I already was a seed saver, I have to admit I started small this year, going with only lettuce, chard, zuchinni, cucumbers, and one pumpkin plant.   Why so small? Because there's a difference between being frugal and time management. I know me, and I have only a few hours a week to work in my garden. The time it takes to manage, water, weed, harvest, and replant a large garden is more than I'm willing to invest. I've played "gardener" before, and I don't want to end up with a weed-infested, overgrown mess because I was too ambitious in the spring.   However, some of the Scavenger's ideas are well worth implementing immediately. I will begin putting crushed eggshells in my garden

The Frugality Fad hits the Big Time

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This article from my favorite GRS really hits home. It's like the poor are suddenly the arbiters of fashion, and my Depression-Era grandmother's recipe for Pot Liquor Stew is big news. Making mayonnaise from scratch is "in" and "going green" instead of tasty and fun?   Huh? How about those of us who always hung our clothes out on a clothesline and grew our own food in a garden? Is it really finally fashionable to embellish thrift store clothes or (gasp) sew your own? Candles aren't just for romance or "atmosphere" but a way to actually light the way?   Hey, I'm suddenly fashionable! Get Rich Slowly The New Age of Thrift Posted: 04 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Over the past few months, the mainstream media has been filled with stories about the New Frugals and the return to thrift. People who once lived beyond their means, financing their lifestyle with debt, have "found religion". They've begun to embrace f