Archive for January, 2008

Sell Or Recycle Your Old Gadgets

My husband and I both recently got new cell phones. In the past, I think I would’ve just left my old one to lay around or gave it to my kid to play with. Not anymore. The new phone came with a recycling bag that I can just send it back to the company to [...]

My husband and I both recently got new cell phones. In the past, I think I would’ve just left my old one to lay around or gave it to my kid to play with. Not anymore. The new phone came with a recycling bag that I can just send it back to the company to be recycled. Love that idea. I could also sell it back and get a credit to my account. Either way, I’m doing something with it, rather than ignoring it and collecting more unneeded and unwanted junk.

Everything from cell phones to laptop computers are full of hazardous materials that pose serious risks to human health and the environment. The growing concern is that gadget hoarders will eventually run out of space and “take a bunch of stuff at once and fill their landfill.” Don’t do it. Resell or recycle them instead.

Get more info on how to do this….you will be reading a good article too.

Menu of the Week: January 7

It’s a new year and I plan on making an effort to get back into my weekly meal planning. I really notice a difference in the way we eat and spend money on food when I don’t meal plan. This week, I am doing a very simple and kid-friendly menu. Here goes:
Monday: Chicken Nuggets ….. [...]

It’s a new year and I plan on making an effort to get back into my weekly meal planning. I really notice a difference in the way we eat and spend money on food when I don’t meal plan. This week, I am doing a very simple and kid-friendly menu. Here goes:

Monday: Chicken Nuggets ….. but not just any. These are from Jessica Seinfeld’s book Deceptively Delicious and they really are delicious. Here’s the recipe. I make them with pureed broccoli. I will serve a salad on the side for my husband and I, and some cut up cucumbers, tomatoes and olives for my son.

Tuesday:  Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Wednesday:  Beef Stew (also from Seinfeld’s book, although it will be the first time I’m trying it so I can’t comment yet)

Thursday:  Grilled Chicken, Black Beans and Rice, Caesar Salad

Friday: Spinach Pizza, Wedge Salad

What’s on the menu in your house this week?

Home Security Tips

Home security is an interesting topic. It’s something we all think about, but don’t usually talk about much. Generally it’s not that hard to safely secure your home. Burglars have a few simple things in mind when checking out a potential break-in. Is the house easy to break in? Is it private? Is there anything [...]

Home security is an interesting topic. It’s something we all think about, but don’t usually talk about much. Generally it’s not that hard to safely secure your home. Burglars have a few simple things in mind when checking out a potential break-in. Is the house easy to break in? Is it private? Is there anything worth stealing?

One of the best and most obvious home security tips is to always lock your doors before leaving. Windows and sliding glass doors should also be locked. Doors should be metal or have a strong wood core with hinges placed on the inside. A deadbolt lock that extends at least an inch into the door jam can deter the majority of thieves who do not want to take the time to mess with it. A blocking device, like a sturdy piece of wood or a steel bar to hold your sliding glass door shut is a wonderful extra safety measure.

Next is to make sure you have an alarm system. A motion detector light is helpful too.  A robber does not want to call attention to what he or she is doing. Anything that disturbs secrecy, like a loud dog, a bright light, or an alarm system can deter them.  Even if you don’t actually have a dog, you can put up a sign in your yard that says “beware of the dog”.

Do not leave your computer, amusement system, or additional valuables where they can be well seen through your windows. The less temptation you give robbers, the less probability that they’ll make you one of there targets.

Fashionable Canvas Shopping Bags

We recently had a discussion on the forums about what type of shopping bags we all use. It seemed that although not many of us do, the majority of us are interested in making the eco-friendly switch to canvas. Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags every year and these mountains of refuse can [...]

We recently had a discussion on the forums about what type of shopping bags we all use. It seemed that although not many of us do, the majority of us are interested in making the eco-friendly switch to canvas. Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags every year and these mountains of refuse can last up to 1000 years.

Check out these stylish “bring your own bags”:

You can get 5 for $35 at Envirosax. If you spend $20 on Method products, you can get their cool canvas bag for free. Yansny has some really chic ones, although a bit on the pricey side. Then of course there is reusablebags.com and I’m sure if you ask your local supermarket, they have them available as well.