Green! In honor of Earth Day, which is tomorrow, for those of you living under a rock! I'm not a tree hugger by any means, but I do want Little Hauss to be able to enjoy our planet for as long as possible. I'm also happy to save money however I can. There are few ideas I have that might not be genius by any means, but will allow us to do our part no matter how small they may seem!
Here are my goals for this year (yes, YEAR, because some might take time and a little extra cash upfront but will save tenfold in the long run):
1 - Start converting light bulbs to the CFL's - replacing when necessary
**CFL's last up to 10,000 hours compared to a regular incandescent light bulb which is 1,500 and uses 1/4 of wattage - 14 watts compared to 60
2 - Turning down hot water heater to 120 degrees from the normal 140
3 - "Air" dry or half dry clothing when possible. We have such a great space for our clothes to hang in the laundry area, so we should be taking advantage of this instead of using all that energy by using the dryer
4 - Install a 'low flow' showerhead
5 - Make my own cleaning supplies for windows, oven, all purpose, bathtub scrubbing, and even furniture polish - replacing when necessary. The basic ingredients for non-toxic cleaners are baking soda, vinegar, liquid soap/detergent and washing soap (powdered laundry detergent). I have "recipes" for these and will post them later.
6 - Try really hard to start unplugging unused items - laptop during the day, tv's, radios, kitchen appliances, etc. Sometimes this one is hard because Hubby works nights and we are on opposite schedules, but even most of the time will help.
The biggest reason for all the change is to try and save money and it doesn't hurt that it will help the environment at the same time!
Other things I plan to do that will save money:
1 - Make my own bread. I have a perfectly good bread machine that probably hasn't come out of the box in over 3 years, so I have found a whole wheat recipe with very few ingredients that I'll try out this weekend.
2 - Plan better menus. I love planning menus and I do fairly well with coordinating sale items (meats & veggies) with our weekly dinners, but we still have a lot of stuff in our pantry - some of which is opened and needs to be used before it goes bad. So, I am going to take an inventory of what items need to be used and try to incorporate them in our meals.
3 - Not eat out as often. We do fairly well with eating at home most nights, but sometimes we just don't want to cook - so I really want to maximize our eating out experiences. I plan to find out when local restaurants will have specials or buy one get one free/half off, look for coupons and also kid's eat free nights!
4 - Plant a very small, itty bitty garden....might just have tomatoes and fresh herbs in it, but at least its a start. I'm not quite the green thumb, but I love fresh veggies and herbs, so I thought I could try that for now and work my way up to more next year. If not, then there is always the farmer's market - grown locally and organic - and open every day in the summer, so I don't have to stock up weekly!
That's about all for now, but I feel that its a good start and like I said, planning on taking this next year to implement these things. It won't feel so overwhelming and I won't be wasting any of the items I already have to use (cleaning supplies and lightbulbs for example).
Some things that we already do but are good things for you all to try:
1 - wash clothes in cold water only
2 - only wash full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine
3 - don't leave water running (cleaning up kitchen or brushing teeth)
4 - don't flush EVERY time - "if its yellow, let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down" - kind of gross, but with tiny bladder, it wastes much less water by not flushing every single time
5 - turn off lights when you leave a room
6 - open your windows - don't run heat or a/c if not needed - fresh air is good for everyone
7 - use a programmable thermostat - and set a few degrees higher in summer and a few lower in winter - it really does make a big difference in your monthly bill
8 - get on a budget plan with your utility company/gas company - same monthly payment and ours actually went down last year by $10 a month - so that means, we saved $120 in utilities last year!! We are pretty sure it'll go down even more this year!
9 - Eat vegetarian or leftovers at least once a week - beans are the way to go!!! Very cheap and versatile.
10 - Use reusable shopping bags. I have 4-5 that are from all different stores. I take them ALL into the stores. I don't care that only ONE came from that particular store - they work and they hold lots more than regular plastic bags.
Enjoy your Earth Day and hopefully you and your families will implement some of these things as well!
4.20.2009
4.16.2009
neVer forgeT
This is a day I'll never forget as long as I live. It is one of those days that I will know exactaly what I was doing when I heard the news - similar to the 9-11 events many years ago. I can tell you where I was, who I was with, and what I was doing when I found out!
Two years ago 32 wonderful and bright people lost their lives at Virginia Tech. Most students, some faculty, but all very special. ALL HOKIES!
Take time to tell your family and friends that you love them and make as many memories as possible beacuse you never know what the next day holds.
I'm proud to be a Hokie forever and always!
Two years ago 32 wonderful and bright people lost their lives at Virginia Tech. Most students, some faculty, but all very special. ALL HOKIES!
Take time to tell your family and friends that you love them and make as many memories as possible beacuse you never know what the next day holds.
I'm proud to be a Hokie forever and always!
Peanuts and Cracker Jacks
Or cheetos and popcorn!
Tonight, Little Hauss and I ventured to the local minor league baseball game and had a wonderful time! I hadn't planned on staying as long as we did, but he was having so much fun and doing great! It was a double header so we got there towards the end of the first game, grabbed some drinks and watched some of the game while waiting on our friends.
During the break, he got to go in the bounce houses! All four of them! We then met up with our friends and headed to the deck area where the kids could run free and not bother anyone. He did absolutely amazing! He was the perfect gentleman and shared his cheetos and she shared her popcorn! They were too cute! They played and entertained themselves and I got to chat with the girls!
By the time I told him it was time to go home, I realized it was 9:00!!! Good thing tomorrow is a lax day and we don't have to get up to an alarm! Hopefully he'll sleep in a little - my luck, he'll be up at 6:30 as usual!
Here are some memories from the game!
Me and Beff
Little Hauss LOVES his Beff!
Such a gentleman!
Little Hauss and one of his friends from school got to watch the team warm up!
Tonight, Little Hauss and I ventured to the local minor league baseball game and had a wonderful time! I hadn't planned on staying as long as we did, but he was having so much fun and doing great! It was a double header so we got there towards the end of the first game, grabbed some drinks and watched some of the game while waiting on our friends.
During the break, he got to go in the bounce houses! All four of them! We then met up with our friends and headed to the deck area where the kids could run free and not bother anyone. He did absolutely amazing! He was the perfect gentleman and shared his cheetos and she shared her popcorn! They were too cute! They played and entertained themselves and I got to chat with the girls!
By the time I told him it was time to go home, I realized it was 9:00!!! Good thing tomorrow is a lax day and we don't have to get up to an alarm! Hopefully he'll sleep in a little - my luck, he'll be up at 6:30 as usual!
Here are some memories from the game!
Me and Beff
Little Hauss LOVES his Beff!
Such a gentleman!
Little Hauss and one of his friends from school got to watch the team warm up!4.15.2009
Life is Good
Our trip was wonderful and we had some really great weather! We enjoyed a few days on the beach and on the cloudy days, the MIL and I shopped while the boys played golf and did other boy things! Little Hauss was amazing the whole time - ride down and ride back and everything in between! We ate dinner out every night and I had enough shrimp to feed a small village!!! We also had nightly ice cream trips and I even got to read an entire book!!! We missed daddy lots and are glad to be back! Now, I guess I'll start counting down until my next trip!!!
Little Hauss checking out the water - FREEZING by the way, but he didn't seem to notice!
This was way more effective than using a shovel!
My future Heisman Winner!
The ONLY time I touched the water and did you notice my reverse flip flop tan? This is what happens when you spray on your sunscreen while you are still wearing your flip flops!!!
Little Hauss enjoyed about an hour or so nap under the umbrella and about 4 towels!! It was a little chilly in the shade!
Little Hauss checking out the water - FREEZING by the way, but he didn't seem to notice!
This was way more effective than using a shovel! 
My future Heisman Winner!
The ONLY time I touched the water and did you notice my reverse flip flop tan? This is what happens when you spray on your sunscreen while you are still wearing your flip flops!!!
Little Hauss enjoyed about an hour or so nap under the umbrella and about 4 towels!! It was a little chilly in the shade! Really?
I'm pretty sure he forgot his pants! Not sure what he was trying to accomplish with this "fashion" statement, but it wasn't good on any level!!! Oh, the things you see at the beach!
I'm almost 30 and lets just say, I'm very blessed with my "assets"! I've always had 'em, don't mind them, most of the time, and wear flattering things that depending on the occassion, flaunt them in the most respectable way!!! I have changed my fashion over the past few years now that I'm a married woman and a mother and it is NOT acceptable to be showing your stuff too much! I don't think that some of the people we saw on the beach got this memo. You know the ones I'm referring to - besides the grandpa in the above photo ! Now, I know I don't have the same body I did in my college days and even if I did, I'm not sure that I would run around in a string bikini - I wouldn't go so far as to say, that at my age, even being a mother, if I could, I wouldn't wear a modest two piece, but nothing that has barely there nipple covers and has shoestring straps!
I was embarrassed for these women that I saw and I didn't even know them.....grandmothers wearing the tiniest bikini you ever saw!!! High cut legs, or really low rise string bottoms leaving absolutely NOTHING to the imagination with either strapless - yes, I said strap LESS tops or itty bitty triangle tops - I'm sorry but after a certain age, you need SOME support! The one that I knew was a grandmother (because her daughter and grandson were there with her) was also wearing daisy duke denim shorts with a way too small tank top showing off her tummy! I found out later that she was a stripper - yes, the grandma - So I guess she thinks she looks good!
I'm almost 30 and lets just say, I'm very blessed with my "assets"! I've always had 'em, don't mind them, most of the time, and wear flattering things that depending on the occassion, flaunt them in the most respectable way!!! I have changed my fashion over the past few years now that I'm a married woman and a mother and it is NOT acceptable to be showing your stuff too much! I don't think that some of the people we saw on the beach got this memo. You know the ones I'm referring to - besides the grandpa in the above photo ! Now, I know I don't have the same body I did in my college days and even if I did, I'm not sure that I would run around in a string bikini - I wouldn't go so far as to say, that at my age, even being a mother, if I could, I wouldn't wear a modest two piece, but nothing that has barely there nipple covers and has shoestring straps! I was embarrassed for these women that I saw and I didn't even know them.....grandmothers wearing the tiniest bikini you ever saw!!! High cut legs, or really low rise string bottoms leaving absolutely NOTHING to the imagination with either strapless - yes, I said strap LESS tops or itty bitty triangle tops - I'm sorry but after a certain age, you need SOME support! The one that I knew was a grandmother (because her daughter and grandson were there with her) was also wearing daisy duke denim shorts with a way too small tank top showing off her tummy! I found out later that she was a stripper - yes, the grandma - So I guess she thinks she looks good!
4.09.2009
I hope I survive
In less than 2 hours, Little Hauss and I'll be on our way to the beach! We have to make a stop on the way to pick up my mother in law from work but from there we'll only have about 4 1/2 hours or less until we are breathing in the salty air!
I will NOT be taking the laptop with us. This is going to be a REAL vacation! Family, Fun, Sun, Sand, Water and NO internet - I hope I can survive a week laptop free! I am so excited though, I can't stand it! I'm a little sad that Hubby can't join us and will be stuck here working and such while we are soaking up some rays! Don't feel sorry for him yet....he enjoys the quiet time and he's even got a day trip planned on Saturday to the hills of Charleston, WV. Hopefully he wins big in his card games!
A few other things before I forget -
First of all, I passed my test!!!!!! I got the letter in the mail yesterday!!!!! Now, onto the next and final test - probably in June!
Second - We finished our audit at work yesterday and passed with flying colors! The actual audit process wasn't difficult because we were so prepared, but it was mentally exhausting. I worked over 35 hours in 3 days! My brain was mashed potatoes and I went to bed before 9 last night!
Third - I chopped my hair again!!! I love my new do! Check out the new profile pic and you can see!
Happy Easter to everyone...I'll fill you in on all the beach events when we return!
I will NOT be taking the laptop with us. This is going to be a REAL vacation! Family, Fun, Sun, Sand, Water and NO internet - I hope I can survive a week laptop free! I am so excited though, I can't stand it! I'm a little sad that Hubby can't join us and will be stuck here working and such while we are soaking up some rays! Don't feel sorry for him yet....he enjoys the quiet time and he's even got a day trip planned on Saturday to the hills of Charleston, WV. Hopefully he wins big in his card games!
A few other things before I forget -
First of all, I passed my test!!!!!! I got the letter in the mail yesterday!!!!! Now, onto the next and final test - probably in June!
Second - We finished our audit at work yesterday and passed with flying colors! The actual audit process wasn't difficult because we were so prepared, but it was mentally exhausting. I worked over 35 hours in 3 days! My brain was mashed potatoes and I went to bed before 9 last night!
Third - I chopped my hair again!!! I love my new do! Check out the new profile pic and you can see!
Happy Easter to everyone...I'll fill you in on all the beach events when we return!
Eggcellent Fun
Last weekend we went to our Church Spring Festival and had a wonderful time hunting easter eggs, juming in the bounce house, and playing with friends!
Little Hauss was very excited about his easter egg hunt! This year they divided the parking lot and grounds into sections based on age, so every child had a fair chance of getting plenty of eggs! Well, we were a little late, so we missed these instructions and Little Hauss was too cute when he started picking up an egg in the wrong section - I told him that wasn't his section, and he sweetly placed the egg back where he found it! Wouldn't want to get caught snatching an egg that wasn't in your designated section - especially at church!
Here are some visuals of our beautiful day!
Finally - a family photo
Fun in the bounce house
Cool orange and yellow easter egg!
Found one!
I think he has a mouthful of candy!!!!
Little Hauss was very excited about his easter egg hunt! This year they divided the parking lot and grounds into sections based on age, so every child had a fair chance of getting plenty of eggs! Well, we were a little late, so we missed these instructions and Little Hauss was too cute when he started picking up an egg in the wrong section - I told him that wasn't his section, and he sweetly placed the egg back where he found it! Wouldn't want to get caught snatching an egg that wasn't in your designated section - especially at church!
Here are some visuals of our beautiful day!
Finally - a family photo
Fun in the bounce house
Cool orange and yellow easter egg!
Found one!
I think he has a mouthful of candy!!!!
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