7 Easy Ways to Keep Your House Cool Without Air Conditioning

Day 7: Its hot. Not that I'm complaining, I love the summers here in the high desert, one thing I absolutely do not miss about Hawaii is the humidity. But sometimes it gets a little too hot, even for me and that's where the following information becomes very useful. If you have an older home like we do, (ours was built in 1978) you probably do not have central air conditioning. Or maybe you do but want to cut down on the astronomical cost of running it 24 hours a day. Here are ten ways to keep cool while being kind to the environment and your wallet:

1. Install Ceiling Fans. A typical ceiling fan uses on average 55-90 watts of electricity per hour of use, whereas a central air conditioning system uses on average 3500 watts! I was able to find basic ceiling fans for as low as $23.97 at the following site: http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Fans-Ceiling-Fans-Indoor-Ceiling-Fans

2. Keep the Sun Out.  I love opening the shades and letting the sun in first thing in the morning. But before it gets too warm outside, I close the shades and drapes again to prevent the direct sun from coming in and warming up the house.

3. All Window Coverings Are Not Equal. Instead of just purchasing standard drapes or curtains, consider energy efficient window coverings. These are made of specially woven material that not only keeps your home cool in the summer but also keeps the cold air out in the winter and can even block outside noise. (A great plus for baby's room!) I found some great ones on sale here: http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?deptid=70751&catid=70821&grptyp=ENS&itemid=15a1150&dep=WINDOW&cat=Curtains+%2B+Drapes&refpagename=X2%252Easpx&refdeptid=70751&refcatid=70751

4. Let The Cool Air In. At night that is. Keeping windows open at night when the air temperature drops allows the house to cool down several degrees. Close the windows in the morning to trap that cool air. For security reasons however, do not do this in single story homes or on the ground floor of a two story home. If you have a single story home, you can still take advantage of this, but be sure to close and lock windows before turning in for the night.

5. Plant A Tree. Not just any tree but one that will grow large enough to provide plenty of shade for your home over time. The benefits of planting just one tree on your property are amazing!  Obviously this will not provide cooling benefits overnight, but once the tree is large enough to provide shade it will continue to do so for many years. To find out which trees work best for your region check out this site: http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/ShadeTrees.htm

6. Get Out the Grill. Nothing says summer to me like the smell of BBQ chicken slow cooking on a grill. (Organic, hormone free chicken of course) But there's more to grilling outside than just that nostalgic smell. Having the oven and even stove top burners on can significantly raise the temperature in the kitchen and surrounding areas of the home. Love to bake? Did you know you can bake bread on almost any outdoor grill? It really works! http://www.breadtopia.com/2007/07/31/grilled-bread/

7. Make Your Own Air Conditioning. Although this is not the most aesthetically pleasing way to cool a room, it definitely works! Instead of simply running a standard floor or table fan, place a large shallow bowl of ice 6-12 inches in front of the fan. As the ice melts, the fan will blow air over the cold water and turn warm air into cool air! This works best in a small area, its a great way to cool down your bedroom before going to sleep. Of course be very cautious not to get fan too close to water, keep out of reach of children and pets.

read this before your next pedicure..

Day 6:  Before I face the harsh reality that summer is almost over, and the fact that my toes will be hidden in socks and boots before long (insert sad face here) I want to really make the most of what warm weather we have left. But as I pulled out my nail polish stash, I stopped to think about whats in these bottles of polish with names like "City Pretty Rose", "Its Bouquet with Me", and "Mint Sorbet".

I've read several articles about the unhealthy chemicals found in many popular nail polish formulas but I admit I usually forget about that when looking for a new color and buy the cutest one I see. What makes this even trickier is most companies do not print an ingredient list on the label, or if they do it's printed so small you need a magnifying glass. (Think they do this on purpose?)  I did some research on the brands I have, I was able to find most ingredient lists online.

Here's some info on the top 3 chemicals recent studies have shown to have seriously toxic effects: 

1. Formaldehyde. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. "Based on eight cases, a significant excess mortality from nasopharyngeal cancer was observed among formaldehyde exposed workers in comparison with the national population."

2. Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP). This chemical has been linked to reproductive issues in children whose mothers were exposed while pregnant. It is a suspected endocrine disruptor. Endocrine disruptors are substances that "interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, action, or elimination of natural hormones in the body that are responsible for development, behavior, fertility, and maintenance of homeostasis (normal cell metabolism)." This should be avoided in all products, not just nail polish. It's used to make rain boots, shower curtains, etc. Anything extra flexible. Good reason to look closer at the ingredient/product list on everything you buy.

3. Toulene. According to Wikipedia, "Toluene should not be inhaled due to its health effects. Low to moderate levels can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color vision loss. These symptoms usually disappear when exposure is stopped. Inhaling high levels of toluene in a short time may cause light-headedness, nausea, or sleepiness. It can also cause unconsciousness, and even death." Obviously the small amount in your nail polish probably won't kill you, but why inhale even a little bit of something so toxic?



The good news is most nail polish companies have either begun to or completely removed these chemicals from their products. However, when I looked at specific manufacturers product information I found one that said "No Formaldehyde, DBP, or Toulene." But in the ingredient list of one particular color it still listed Formaldehyde resin. False advertising much?

Bottom line, always check ingredient lists when available, and stick to manufacturers you know absolutely do not use these chemicals. Zoya Nail Polish for example is touting their new line of nail polish as Formaldehyde, DBP, Toulene and Camphor free as well as Vegan friendly. (No animal by-products of any kind.)

Here's to making the most of the last few weeks of summer! I'm going to do it with pink fingertips and minty green toes. :)

how to get rid of ants without poisoning yourself

Have you ever opened your cupboard or pantry and seen an ant? Just one but you know he has friends. There is nothing worse than finding one, then another, then another, and then realizing they have found their way into a box of cereal or bag of cookies. When I was home on Maui visiting my brother a few years ago I had left a few papayas on the kitchen counter and went to bed. I came into the kitchen for water in the middle of the night and there was a literal army of ants surrounding my papayas. Ugh! Fortunately we don't have quite as many here in the high desert but they still make their presence known. Here's a how to guide for getting rid of pesky ants without spraying poison in the house, laying traps that kids and dogs might get into, or my brothers method-ignoring them.

1.Prevention. Keeping food off the counters, boxes closed tightly, and bags sealed up will deter the ants from coming in the first place. Wipe down counters with a 50/50 solution of white distilled vinegar and water to get rid of any crumbs or spills that might attract ants.
*Green Tip- go to www.vinegartips.com  for lots of other great ways to use vinegar around the house.

2. Keep a Tight Ship. Or house I should say. Replace old weather stripping, caulk around exterior doors and windows, and replace any screens that have holes or bent frames that might be allowing ants and other bugs easy access. For a great how to tutorial on caulking go to http://www.easy2diy.com/cm/easy/diy_ht_3d_index.asp?page_id=35783013

3. Put Them On a Diet. A cornmeal diet that is. Ants cannot digest cornmeal so they eat it and die a short time later. Try small piles of cornmeal outside where you see a collection of ants. I did this yesterday. I checked back this morning and there were several dead ants. This is not a quick process, but very easy and no risk to kids or pets. (My dogs sniffed the cornmeal and moved on but had they chosen to eat it it's harmless in small amounts unless the dog has a corn allergy.) If you don't keep cornmeal in the house, consider doing so. Its great for adding crunch to rolls and homemade bread and can even be used as a carpet deodorizer!

4. Spray Them Away. Put away the can of toxic bug spray. *Green Tip: All you need is a bottle of essential clove oil, distilled water, and a small spray bottle. Fill the bottle halfway with the distilled water and add 5-10 drops of clove oil, shake well to mix. Spray anywhere you see ants. Clove oil is a natural ant repellant. It is also a natural cleaning and antiseptic oil. (Although not a chemical, still a good idea to keep out of reach of children.) You can find clove oil at most health food stores.

And that's it. Four easy ways to get rid of and prevent ants in and around the house. In the coming weeks I'll post more about all natural ways to get rid of other pesky bugs and critters.

Green Tips Shopping List:

Distilled White Vinegar

Cornmeal (Found in the baking aisle)

Essential Oil of Clove  (Found at most health food stores)

the art of multitasking

Today was one of those days. Too much to do, not enough time. As I rushed around this morning, trying to clean before my out of town family arrived, I started thinking about all the multitasking I do (and you probably do too) without even realizing it.

The morning went like this: feed baby while eating breakfast myself, start a load of laundry while feeding the dogs, do a load of dishes while entertaining baby with ridiculous singing and dancing, put away load of dishes while holding baby who was no longer interested in my singing and dancing but insisted on being held, change baby's diaper while talking to grandma on the phone, and finally put baby down for nap. And I only have one kid, I know the multitasking increases with each additional child. Whew!

So to help myself, and anyone else interested in getting more done in less time so you can, oh I don't know, actually drink a cup of coffee before it gets cold or maybe have a few extra minutes to paint your nails or check your email, here are a few tricks I've learned to get it all done and get it done fast.

Cleaning the bathroom- Keep a sponge and some baking soda handy. Next time you take a shower, take the sponge and soda with you. Do a quick scrub of the shower walls and tub, rinse off and get out. Throw some baking soda in the toilet, let it sit while you dry off. Scrub with a toilet brush and flush. Keep a container of (non-toxic) wipes under the sink, after you're done with your hair and makeup, wipe down the counter top, sink, and rest of the toilet. Done. Instead of a big chore you dread tackling, its done before you even realize you did it. Admittedly this works best when you keep the clutter off the counter and put away, its a little time consuming when you're moving every piece of makeup, hair tool, and perfume bottle you own.

Cleaning the kitchen-Next time you're cooking dinner, why not do a little spring cleaning as you cook. While you're waiting for the water to boil for the pasta, wipe down the front of your cabinets with a warm wet rag/dishtowel. Add a tiny dab of dish soap if they're especially grungy. When you take the vegetables out for a salad, instead of taking out just what you need, take everything out, do a quick wipe of the crisper drawer and then put back what you aren't using. After doing the dishes, sprinkle baking soda (seriously it's great for everything!) in the sink, scrub for a minute and rinse. If you're making something that requires standing at the stove and stirring, organize the drawer closest to the stove while you stir. 

I realize there are those who oppose the art of multitasking, saying it actually causes a person to do more but do it poorly. I disagree. There are of course times when you should focus on one thing and one thing alone. Such as driving, talking to your significant other, listening to a story your little one is telling you, or while doing anything remotely dangerous like chopping vegetables or frying anything in hot oil. (Learned that lesson the hard way.)

But when it comes to cleaning, multitasking is the way to go. If you have any tips on how to get more done in less time, leave them in the comments! Its time for this multitasking mama to hit the sack.:)

waste not, want not

Day 2: Pull out the recycling bins.

For about 2 years now I've had the best of intentions when it comes to recycling. I have two bins in the kitchen, one for glass, one for plastic and cans. And I repeatedly pull the beer bottles and water bottles and soda cans out of the trash (the person I live with seems to have amnesia when it comes to the recycling bins) and wash them out and put them in the proper bin. But here's where it goes south. I always forget which Monday is recycling day, (it alternates) and I've been quite lazy honestly about recycling things I know I could but requires a little extra effort. So the bottles and cans tend to pile up in the garage and before I know it our yellow lab is traipsing around the back yard with a plastic water bottle in his mouth as if its a chew toy I left just for him.

So for the past few days I've made a serious effort to think about every single thing I'm throwing away. At least four times today I pulled something out of the trash realizing I could have recycled it- plastic egg carton, cardboard cereal box, empty plastic bread bag, and the cardboard packaging for a new sippy cup.

Now comes the tricky part. What you can and cannot recycle depends on the state you live in and more specifically what will be picked up on your curbside for recycling depends on the municipality you live in. It's worth a phone call to the company that does the pick up to find out exactly what they will accept so you're not wasting your time. I was able to get a hold of someone pretty easily, although it's pretty lame how few things my particular municipality accepts.

Since I was in full blown recycle mode today, I was feeling inspired to apply this to my cooking as well. Instead of tossing the last 2 hamburger buns that had gone stale, I cut them into cubes, tossed them with chopped parsley and a little Parmesan cheese and baked at 450 for 15 minutes. Awesome homemade croutons. I bought a huge bag of carrots last week thinking we would snack on them instead of chips (yeah right) and I knew they were going to go bad before that happened. So I roasted half the bag with some curry powder, cumin, salt and pepper and olive oil and then sauteed the leftover onion and garlic that were at the bottom of the vegetable drawer, tossed all that together in a pot with some vegetable broth and let it simmer for a while

(not sure how long since I was distracted by a fussy baby at this point)  and had some really delicious roasted carrot soup for dinner. I even added a few homemade croutons before pureeing the soup to thicken it, double recycling! That along with the fried green tomatoes from a friends garden, a little pancetta and a quick roasted garlic aioli made for an amazing dinner, one even my meat loving husband devoured.

Not bad for a Monday night. Of course my kitchen is a disaster and now the baby is waking up but I still feel pretty good about everything I accomplished today. I hope reading this has inspired you a little too. :)

P.S-If you'd like the recipe for the Fried Green Tomato Salad or Roasted Carrot Soup email me.

maybe it's better to be a little dirty?

Day 1: Get rid of the nasty chemicals

I've always known too many chemicals are not good, but up until this point I've taken a somewhat half-hearted approach to the issue. I guess I figured it was unrealistic not to have any chemicals in the house since they are in everything! Now I'm realizing it's not so unrealistic, it just takes a little discretion before buying. For example, I've been using these "natural" cleaners. The label says biodegradable, non- toxic, bottle made from recycled material, etc. So I didn't actually read the ingredient list, I just threw it in the cart. They smell great, the packaging is cute, and they do the job. But now I'm looking closer. The ingredient list is still 10+ items long, most of which I don't recognize and cannot pronounce and they contain artificial colors and fragrance. 

So I stopped using these along with the not so natural cleaners I love (I have to admit I love Orange Pledge!) and for the last week I have been using my own homemade cleaners made mainly of distilled water, vinegar, baking soda and essential oils.

Honestly....they work just as well. My baking soda scrub does the same job as the store bought scrub with bleach I used to use.  But now I don't have a headache from the bleach fumes, I don't worry about filling up the tub for baby's bath, making sure there isn't any bleach residue before putting him in, and as an added bonus I'm saving money! The baking soda was 59 cents, I think the store bought scrub is around $3. My only regret is not doing this sooner.

 I found an interesting (and alarming) article on household cleaners and some of the scary things scientists are learning about the effects these chemicals have on the environment, animals, and people. The big take away for me was the info on anti-bacterial soaps, sprays and the like. I hate getting sick and I'm constantly wiping down shopping carts, door handles, and anything else I can with those anti-bacterial wipes. But this wasn't the first article I've read that suggests overuse of those wipes, gels, and sprays might be contributing to super bugs-bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The only thing worse than a sick baby? A sick baby that has an infection that antibiotics can't touch. Then what do we do? Definitely something to think seriously about.

 Check it out: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/avoid-dirty-dozen-chemicals.html

So the first step on my mission to go green is this: avoid chemicals as much as I possibly can, read labels before buying, and forget the Purell. I think I'll go wash my hands.;)

mission to go green

I love a clean house. The feeling of satisfaction that comes when everything is wiped down, vacuumed up, and sparkling clean. Having a new baby in the house however, I came to the realization that not only do I not have the time or energy I used to when it came to my cleaning obsession but those "wonderful" chemicals I used to use to get accomplish this can't be good for my little one or the rest of us for that matter. 

So begins my journey to a greener clean. For the next 90 days I will be making little (and some not so little) changes to my routine in order to live a simpler, healthier, and cleaner life. 

Every day I will post the changes I've made, as well as the benefits and challenges I'm sure will arise as well. 

Happy cleaning!