World Health Day Goes Green: Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption

Today, April 7, 2008, is World Health Day. This year’s theme is Protect Health from Climate Change. Now whether you think there is global warming and resulting disastrous changes going on or not, we can do things that will make a positive impact on our environment and wallet.

The World Health Association has put out an A-Z list of ways we can help. Most of the ideas revolve around going green – reducing our energy consumption and being smarter about waste disposal/recycling. Below are some of the suggestions.

• Calculate your personal carbon footprint. Then reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Go to carbonfootprint.com to get your number.
• Half your emissions by setting the thermostat at a lower number in the Winter (65 degrees) and higher number in the Summer (70 degrees). Keep the filters clean. Evidently almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to cooling. (I didn’t know that.) I am guilty about checking the filters. 
• Off! Turn off appliances when not in use – TV’s, Computers, Coffee Makers, Toasters, Stereos, Lights, VCR/DVD Players and Photocopiers. My TV, Stereo and VCR/DVD Player are all connected to the same power cord. It is easy to turn them all off at the same time. It is not so easy to remember to turn them off.
• Quit plastic bags. Bring your own bags when going shopping. Did you know that Seattle is considering charging customers 20 cents for each disposable bag? Paper and plastic! Click here for the full post on this.

Click here for directions on making your own shopping bags.

Click here for directions on making a canvas bag.

YouTube has directions for those wanting a video (7 minutes), instead of just words, for making a canvas shopping bag.

• Read green blogs. (My idea) Here are a few to check out: Things That Make You Go Green, Tree Hugger, and Tree Hugging Family. Please share the green blogs that you read. Also share your favorite post.
• Use less energy and conserve more of it. Think when using water – turn it off when not needed – like when brushing your teeth, washing hands, soaping clothes or dishes.

When we lived in England, we didn’t have a lot of hot water available for the shower. So once we got wet, the water was turned off while soaping the body and shampooing the hair. Then the water was turned back on for a quick rinse. I still do that – for the most part. 

Another way I am going to use less energy, is by installing and using a clothesline. I’ve never used a clothesline before.

Click here to read how I use an electric blanket to save energy & money.

Check out the whole A-Z list by clicking here.

What are your green ideas?

18 Habits to Instill This 50th Year

When I made up my 51 Things List, I was crazy.  I mixed habits with one-time events. But since these are all things I want to accomplish this year, I’ll stick with my original list.

Of course this list is not comprehensive of ALL the habits I want in my life.  Just ones I’ll concentrate on this 50th year of my life.

Educational Habits

• Practice Typing (6 times a month)
• Listen to/Do Spanish (6 times a month)

Finance Habits

• Participate in an investing group

Others Habits

• Write letters (8 of them this year)
• Do Random Acts of Kindness (8 of them this year)
• Special time with each niece (3 times this year)
• Special time with each of my children (3 times this year)
• Take a walk with Chip (5 times each week)

Personal Habits

• Go to bed by 10 pm (4 nights per week)
• Sabbath rest (2 Sundays a month)
• Do one crafty thing each month
• Find a sport I like (do 3 times a week)
• Invite someone to my house (6 times this year)
• Join an accountability group
• Get my nails done (every 6 weeks)
• Pick up trash ( 1 time every week)

Spiritual Habits

• Tithe to BtN and Missions (6 times each)
• Reflect on day (3 times each week)

These are my proposed habits. What are yours?

April’s New Habit is a Sleeper (SMART Habit Saturday)

I looked over my 51 Things List to see which habit I’ll instil next. 18 if the 51 items are habits.  Unfortunately most are not daily, but weekly or monthlyish habits. That will be harder to accomplish. 

In trying to decide which habit to do next, I considered which one would have the most impact. That would be my sleep habit. If I stay up past 10, I get a second wind that doesn’t shut down until 1 a.m. Since I get up around 6 a.m., that makes for a very tired girl. Staying up late is a consitent pattern with me. Not only am I tired, but I am also peckish. Most of my “poor” eating happens during these hours.

So April’s SMART habit is getting to bed by 10 a.m. 4 nights a week.

Last month’s habit was “getting my church clothes/shoes/purse ready on Saturday. The first thing Saturday morning. Before I do anything else.”  I’ve been mostly successful in that. Let me tell you, my mornings are noticably more peaceful when I do that. Especially because I always wait until the last minute to get ready to go anywhere!

A group of women are participating in SMART Habit Saurday. Click here to see who’s doing what. Lara at The Lazy Organizer is creator and host of these themed Saturday postings.

SmartyPig?

OKay, I’ve just heard about SmartyPig for the 3rd time today. And it’s only 8:07 a.m.

What makes this online savings account so cool?

Yikes, it IS 8:07 a.m.! I need to get going to school. Today’s all day class is “Building a Relational Ministry to Women.” It has been informative and has been making me think. I’ll share my notes later. 

Greatest Hits Edition – Easy Beauty Tip (WFMW)

This week’s Works-For-Me Wednesday is theme day: republish one of our favorite WFMW posts. I wasn’t sure which one was my fav, so I did a little looksee through my archives.

The following post might not be one of my favorites, but I definitely needed to reread it today. I FOUND one of those hairs. I’ve been amiss on my hair duty. Oh, I’ve updated any mentions of age. Read on for more. . . .

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Easy Beauty Tip for the 40+ Crowd (Not 4 The Faint Hearted) 

I don’t mind being 50 – most of the time.
But I do mind the indignities of sprouting hair on my face.

In the morning I’m fine. Then I’ll be out in public, pat my cheek or stroke my chin and discover a 2 inch disaster!

Then I got smart. I keep a pair of tweezers in my car and by my computer. Now when I’m waiting in traffic or waiting for my (dial up) computer to get moving, I check my chin and cheeks.

I haven’t had a wayward hair embarrass me for months now. Don’t buy those cheepie silver tweezers. You don’t have to buy the most expensive ones either. Mine are the turquoise slanted kind.

That’s my Works-for-Me Wednesday tip and I’m sticking by it. Go on over to Rocks In My Dryer  for more of the Greatest WFMW Hits.

3 Soups for Dinner This Week (MPM)

Here’s my menu for the week.

Monday: Roomie cooked: Steamed beets (so tasty); salmon stir fry with brocolli, spinich and mushrooms.

Tuesday: Chicken Tortilla Soup, Jell-o Fruit: Great for April’s Fools Day.

Wednesday: Chef Salad, Carrot Soup

Thursday: Sweet Potato Lentil Stew, Beer Bread

Friday: Pasta Primavera

Saturday: Soup leftovers, salad, bread

Sunday: No plans yet. 

 The Carrot Soup, Sweet Potato Lentil Stew and Beer Bread are all new recipes. If they turn out, I’ll post the recipe.

I’m getting into soups. Have an easy one to share?

 Go here for more Menu Ideas from I’m an Organizing Junkie.

6 April Fool’s Day Ideas

My family never got into pranking on April Fool’s Day, but the RunningShoes family does.

Here are some ideas you might try this year:

1. Make Jell-o Fruit. I made this for one family dinner, not because I was trying to prank but because it looked cool. You make the Jell-o per package directions and pour into scooped out oranges, lemons or limes. After it’s set, you slice like you would a real piece of fruit. Go to NotMartha.org for pictures and step-by-step directions.
2. Make Trickster Cupcakes. These meatloaf  cupcakes are frosted with colored mashed potato frosting. FamilyFun.com has step-by-step directions and a photo.
3. Impossible Word Search. Someone you know like word searches? Click here for the word search and directions. Sure to cause laughs for you, not so much for the “fool.”
4. Read some Weird Historical Facts:  Here’s a few: In 1980, workers in a Las Vegas hospital were suspended because they used to bet on when patients would die. . . .  In ancient China, doctors could receive fees only if their patient was cured. If it deteriorated, they would have to pay the patient. . . .  In ancient Egypt, people shaved eyebrows as a mourning symbol when their cats died.
5. Read the Top 100 April Fool’s Day Hoaxes. My 3 favs are #17 The Sydney Iceberg – Can you imagine seeing a boat tow an iceberg with the Syndey Opera House in the backroung? #38 Dutch Elm Disease Infects Reheads - This tree disease turns red hair yellow. #46 Retrobreeding the Wolly Mammoth - I remember this story and until today thought it was TRUE!
6. Change all the clocks in the house to a different time. One Saturday night I set all the clocks 2 hours fast . The next morning we all got up, of course complaining of how tired we were. “Didn’t it seem like the night went by soooo quickly.” Once we were all in the car ready to leave for church, I gave a nicely wrapped box to my dh. Inside was a note saying, “I’ve given you the gift of time. You have two hours to spend however you like.”  (I don’t remember if this was done on April Fool’s or not.) This probably won’t work in today’s Internet/gadget friendly household.

So what’s your idea of an April Fool’s Day joke? What’s the best prank you’ve pulled?

Wondering about Options, Brings Answer

Do you ever wonder if you are on the right path? Doing God’s will? Last week I wrote a paper for my New Testament class about women and how Jesus interacted with them. While writing this post on a small portiion of that paper, God showed me that answer.

Jesus consistently ignored tradition by speaking seriously with women: by teaching them and by allowing them to participate in ministry with Him.

For instance, Jesus ignored tradition by allowing and commending Mary for her choice to sit at his feet as a disciple. In fact, Scripture records Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus in three different places.  This was not a conventional or even accepted practice for women.

Martha, Mary’s sister fulfilled her required domestic duties and yet Jesus did not commend her for this choice. 

“Martha needed to be reminded of the priority of word over bread. (Matthew 4:4). Luke’s story of Jesus in the home of Martha and Mary puts him solidly on the side of recognition of the full personhood of women, with the right to options for her own life. In socializing with both sisters and in defending Mary’s right to a role then commonly denied a Jewish woman, Jesus was following his far reaching principle of human liberation.”

Evelyn & Frank Stagg, Women in the World of Jesus, page 119

I am grateful that I have options for my life. It is also a bit scary. And it carries with it the weight of responsibility. Time and again this week (when I wasn’t feverish about paper-writing), I ruminated on how to live my life. What to seek first in every moment. 

Several times I asked myself:  “Is it really worth the life of our Lord, what [I'm] doing? (by David Lowes Watson)

All this thinking and writing has given me an answer. From God to me. Yes, at this time in my life, I am doing the worthy. I am sitting at the feet of my Lord, learning. And it’s okay. Jesus said so.

“Thank you, Lord, for this reminder of where You want me at this time in my life. Help me to consistently choose the options that are worthy. . . .

• Not safe . . . .
• Not conventional . . . .
• Not society’s plan . . . .

Unless That’s Your Will for ME.”

How about you, sister? Are you where God wants you?

And the Contests Continues

RunningShoes & I finished week one of our post every day or catch up all in one batch contest. Be sure to check out how to make a poached egg or butter. RS also tells how to teach 3 tricks to your dog or 2 tricks to your cat!

There are other posts too. Go on over, read and comment. Some fun stuf there.

We will continue the contesst again this week. 4 of our posts will be on similar topics. 3 are free days. Want to join us? Leave a commnet and I’ll get you the details.

Also let us know if you have an idea for a post.